AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Promising News from Arkansas for Senate Climate Bill STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: promising-news-from-arkansas-for-senate-climate-bill CATEGORY: Energy Policy CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 12/11/2009 11:38:13 AM ----- BODY:

As Senators Kerry, Graham & Lieberman unveiled their Senate clean energy & climate framework yesterday, prospects for progress got a boost from Arkansas:

Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., said today he may rethink his position on a proposed cap-and-trade program in light of the recent Environmental Protection Agency ruling that greenhouse gas emissions are a threat to the public health.

Also today, the chairman and CEO of Entergy Corp. told an audience in Little Rock the EPA has sent a signal to Congress to act on climate change, and U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln said she has concerns about the agency’s ruling.

“I’ve always been reluctant on cap and trade, but it (the EPA ruling) might put that in a different light,” Pryor said in a conference call with reporters. “I’ll just have to look at that and really spend some time reflecting on that and talking to not just colleagues but talking to people who really understand this and see if that does change my view on cap-and-trade.” [...]

“I strongly urge EPA to wait for Congress to find a solution that creates jobs, grows our economy, and increases our energy independence, all while having the impact of reducing greenhouse gases,” Lincoln said.

Considering Arkansas' risks of climate change & opportunities from clean energy, it's critical that Senators Lincoln & Pryor play key roles in shaping & passing clean energy & climate legislation.

Before the weekend, please take a moment to tell your senators we need clean energy & climate action now.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: As Senators Kerry, Graham & Lieberman unveiled their Senate clean energy & climate framework yesterday, prospects for progress got a boost from Arkansas Senators Lincoln & Pryor. ----- KEYWORDS: Mark Pryor, Blanche Lincoln, Arkansas, Congress, Senate, global warming, climate, clean energy ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Climate Denial Event Gets Derailed, Then Speaker Goes Unhinged STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: climate-denial-event-gets-derailed-then-speaker-goes-unhinged CATEGORY: Global Warming CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 12/10/2009 03:43:00 PM ----- BODY:

"Have you seen the video of the youth climate activists crashing the global warming denier event?" a coworker asked me this morning in the break room. He laughed and shook his head, adding, "I almost felt bad for the Americans for Prosperity guy."

Americans for Prosperity (formerly known as "Citizens for A Sound Economy") is one of the country's best-funded global warming denial groups, with "Citizens for A Sound Economy" receiving at least $380,250 from ExxonMobil. But the vast majority of its funding came from foundations supported by Koch Industries, the largest privately-owned dirty energy company in the U.S. (and one of America's biggest polluters).

AFP had hoped to get their climate denial message webcast to over 40 events back here in the United States. Instead, those events witnessed students demanding clean energy -- and one of the AFP speakers coming unhinged, with Lord Christopher Monckton (the 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley) venomously insulting the climate activists as "Hitler Youth":



You can read the whole story at ItsGettingHotInHere.org.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Americans for Prosperity had hoped to get their climate denial message webcast to over 40 events back here in the United States. Instead, those events witnessed students demanding clean energy -- and one of the AFP speakers coming unhinged. ----- KEYWORDS: Americans for Prosperity, Lord Christopher Monckton, climate deniers, global warming, Copenhagen, COP15, environment, climate ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Standing Up for the Roan Plateau STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: standing-up-for-the-roan-plateau DATE: 12/10/2009 02:37:38 PM ----- BODY: In a recent Men’s Journal article, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar described the Roan Plateau in Colorado as "one of those treasured landscapes of America," and "a place where we have fish and wildlife resources, beautiful streams."

Click to send Secretary Salazar a message!Yet unfortunately, the previous administration opted to lease the last untouched piece of the Roan Plateau --a whopping 55,000 acres--for natural gas development.

On top of the plateau, the leaseholder also wants to drill 3,200 wells-- a dramatic increase from the environmental-impact analysis that accounted for just 210 drilling pads.

BUT, all hope is not yet lost!

When the Bureau of Land Management leased these lands in August 2008, they faced an outcry from diverse groups opposing the deal.

In addition to wildlife and nature enthusiasts -- hunters, fisherman and even ranchers sent out resolutions to preserve the area they admired for its striking shale cliffs, streams full of cutthroat troat, and healthy populations of elk and mule deer.

With a new administration we have a new chance to make sure the voice for protection of the Roan is loud and clear.

Right now, Secretary Salazar has the opportunity to cancel these leases before drilling threatens the biologically diverse area that he also so clearly admires.

Take a moment today to send this quick message to Secretary Salazar , urging him to cancel these leases before this treasured American landscape is devastated by drilling.

By Kolleen Kawa, National Wildlife Federation ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Christine Dorsey TITLE: Live from Copenhagen! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: live-from-copenhagen DATE: 12/10/2009 09:07:17 AM ----- BODY:

Hello from Copenhagen! This is Christine Dorsey, communications director for National Wildlife Federation, and I’m on the ground in Copenhagen at the United Nations climate conference, or as it’s known around the world, COP15 – that’s short for the 15th Conference of Parties (to a global climate treaty).

You’ve probably heard or read about this meeting, where heads of state from all over the world are convening for two weeks to negotiate a new agreement on how to tackle global climate change. As you might imagine, this is a complicated effort. There is a lot to consider – how quickly must we cut global warming pollution? What level of action should the world expect from wealthy, “developed” nations like the U.S.? What about “developing” nations like China and India, that historically have not emitted nearly the same amount of CO2 as industrialized nations, but are expected to soon surpass countries like ours, due to their fast-growing economies?

Global negotiations of any sort are never easy, and these are no different. To help you better understand this process go to www.nwf.org/copenhagen to read more about the issues at stake in the negotiations.

Unfortunately, the U.S. is joining this process late in the game, and there is a fair amount of frustration among other nations that our efforts to reduce our global warming pollution are not nearly aggressive enough. We’ve spent the last eight years on the sidelines, so the Obama administration has its work cut out for it to re-gain the trust of the rest of the world and offer up a plan for doing our fair share. News that President Obama will attend the last day of the negotiation is an excellent sign that the U.S. is serious about finding a path forward to a new global agreement.

I’ll be following the talks from the conservation perspective: National Wildlife Federation is working to improve elements of the agreement that would protect tropical forests – which can house enormous amounts of carbon dioxide, not to mention wildlife. We’re also helping keep the pressure on the U.S. negotiators to come to the table with a plan that aggressively reduces U.S. global warming pollution.

You will no doubt see some distracting headlines along the way. Climate deniers backed by Exxon-Mobil and other Big Oil interests are out in full force using every dirty trick in the book in a desperate attempt to derail climate progress.

But they are far outnumbered by those of us who know the truth: the Earth’s climate is rapidly changing, and the burning of fossil fuels is the culprit. We have an obligation to our families to address this problem, and now is our time to act.

Check back here often to follow the progress. I just got off the plane, so I promise photos and video later! And please post comments and questions for our NWF delegation.

Photo via Flickr's White Red Flower

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: This is Christine Dorsey, communications director for National Wildlife Federation, and I’m on the ground in Copenhagen at the United Nations climate conference, or as it’s known around the world, COP15 – that’s short for the 15th Conference of Parties (to a global climate treaty). ----- KEYWORDS: Copenhagen, COP15, climate, United Nations ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Duke Energy: Blowing the Minds of the Talking Heads STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: duke-energy-blowing-the-minds-of-the-talking-heads DATE: 12/09/2009 06:15:33 PM ----- BODY:

Why do the talking heads on radio & TV love scandals like Swifthack? It allows them to conveniently cram clean energy & climate issues into pre-fabricated black & white storylines. Liberals vs. conservatives! Treehuggers vs. corporations!

So what happens when the call to action comes from not just a corporation, but from America's third-largest electric utility?

At a White House meeting with President Obama today, Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers said: "Passing climate change legislation will give us the 'rules of the road' needed to invest in clean energy to put more people to work."

Rogers, head of America's third-largest electric utility, joined Obama and leaders from the U.S. energy, environment and labor sectors to discuss the role of climate change legislation in stimulating new energy technologies and jobs.

"This country needs major investments in new energy technologies, including clean coal, advanced nuclear, wind, solar, smart grid and energy efficiency," Rogers said. "The sooner we pass climate change legislation, the more rapidly Duke Energy and other electric utilities can make these investments and create jobs."

You might remember Duke Energy dropped out of ACCCE, a coal lobbying group, over its refusal to negotiate clean energy & climate legislation. Duke has also joined the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, a coalition of businesses pushing for climate action now.

Climate action isn't a matter of left or right -- it's a matter of right & wrong. Tell your senators we need solutions, not more polluter-pushed scams.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Duke Energy, America's third-largest electric utility, backs President Obama's call for comprehensive climate and energy legislation. ----- KEYWORDS: Duke Energy, climate, global warming, environment, energy ----- -------- AUTHOR: Max Greenberg TITLE: Great Waters Reflection STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: great-waters-reflection-1 DATE: 12/09/2009 04:55:42 PM ----- BODY:

NWF joined more than 30 other organizations and 9--count ‘em, nine--members of Congress from across the country yesterday to launch America’s Great Waters Coalition, representing 9 large U.S. water ecosystems--the Gulf of Maine, Long Island Sound, Chesapeake Bay, Everglades, Coastal Louisiana, Mississippi River, San Francisco Bay, Puget Sound, and the Great Lakes.

These habitats and others face sewage contamination, invasive species, habitat destruction, climate change effects and critical ignorance. Luckily, we still have a shot at restoring them and, in doing so, restoring ecosystems that sustain people, wildlife and the economy.

Guest lawmakers (Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN) and Representatives Norm Dicks (WA), Elijah Cummings (MD), Tim Bishop (NY), Jay Inslee (WA), Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX), Mike Quigley (IL), John Sarbanes (MD), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL)) also made it clear that, economic and ecological benefits aside, the fight to restore these ecosystems is deeply personal.

Senator Jay Inslee (WA)--son of Jimi Hendrix’s biology teacher--came across as Experienced —not to mention ‘Bold as Love’—in his appeal for water resource protection. It was as if he said, ‘ Hey JoeYou Got Me Floating. My One Rainy Wish is that we not Wait Until Tomorrow to preserve America’s great water ecosystems. Crosstown Traffic.’ (Seriously, though, Inslee talked about Puget Sound, its threatened ecosystem, and his love of the Northwest's waters.)

Representative Elijah Cummings (MD) decried the lax environmental standards that have led to dirty drinking water and mutated aquatic wildlife in the Chesapeake and elsewhere, while Representative John Sarbanes (MD) recalled crabbing with his grandparents in the same waters, before neglect severely damaged the largest estuary in the U.S.

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL) invoked Marjory Stoneman Douglas, an Everglades conservation pioneer, and the need to carry on her fight wherever water habitats are imperiled.

By the end of the event, it was clear that America’s waterways touch us--restore us--at least as much as we touch them. From Washington to New York, everyone had a story about the Great Waters, and nobody left the launch unaware of the stakes.

Me? Throughout early childhood, all I wanted to do was visit the Everglades. When I finally got the chance, at about age 10 or 12, I thrilled to the bugs and muck and left with approximately 4,000 blurry photos--There! It’s a snake! I think! Maybe a vine…?--and a passion for protecting the wild, wet things of our country. It was great to see leaders and decision-makers sharing our concern.

America’s Great Waters Coalition includes the following organizations: Alliance for the Great Lakes, American Rivers, Audubon New York, Biodiversity Project, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment, Committee on Middle Fork Vermilion River, Corsica River Conservancy, Environment America, Environmental Defense Fund, Everglades Law Center, Florida Wildlife Federation, Freshwater Future, Friends of the Chemung River Watershed, Gulf of Maine Restoration and Conservation Initiative, Gulf Restoration Network, Illinois Council of Trout Unlimited, Indiana Wildlife Federation, Izaak Walton League of America, Lake Erie Region Conservancy, League of Conservation Voters, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, National Audubon Society, National Parks Conservation Association, National Wildlife Federation, People for Puget Sound, Planning and Conservation League, Restore America’s Estuaries, Save The Bay – San Francisco, Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, Sierra Club, The Watershed Center - Grand Traverse Bay, The Wetlands Initiative, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, Trout Unlimited, Washington Wildlife Federation, Western Lake Erie Waterkeeper Association.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Max Greenberg TITLE: Great Waters Reflection STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: great-waters-reflection DATE: 12/09/2009 02:26:22 PM ----- BODY:

NWF joined more than 30 other organizations and 9--count ‘em, nine--members of Congress from across the country yesterday to launch America’s Great Waters Coalition, representing 9 large U.S. water ecosystems--the Gulf of Maine, Long Island Sound, Chesapeake Bay, Everglades, Coastal Louisiana, Mississippi River, San Francisco Bay, Puget Sound, and the Great Lakes.

These habitats and others face sewage contamination, invasive species, habitat destruction, climate change effects and critical ignorance. Luckily, we still have a shot at restoring them and, in doing so, restoring ecosystems that sustain people, wildlife and the economy.

Guest lawmakers (Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN) and Representatives Norm Dicks (WA), Elijah Cummings (MD), Tim Bishop (NY), Jay Inslee (WA), Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX), Mike Quigley (IL), John Sarbanes (MD), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL)) also made it clear that, economic and ecological benefits aside, the fight to restore these ecosystems is deeply personal.

Senator Jay Inslee (WA)--son of Jimi Hendrix’s biology teacher--came across as Experienced —not to mention ‘Bold as Love’—in his appeal for water resource protection. It was as if he said, ‘ Hey JoeYou Got Me Floating. My One Rainy Wish is that we not Wait Until Tomorrow to preserve America’s great water ecosystems. Crosstown Traffic.’ (Seriously, though, Inslee talked about Puget Sound, its threatened ecosystem, and his love of the Northwest's waters.)

Representative Elijah Cummings (MD) decried the lax environmental standards that have led to dirty drinking water and mutated aquatic wildlife in the Chesapeake and elsewhere, while Representative John Sarbanes (MD) recalled crabbing with his grandparents in the same waters, before neglect severely damaged the largest estuary in the U.S.

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL) invoked Marjory Stoneman Douglas, an Everglades conservation pioneer, and the need to carry on her fight wherever water habitats are imperiled.

By the end of the event, it was clear that America’s waterways touch us--restore us--at least as much as we touch them. From Washington to New York, everyone had a story about the Great Waters, and nobody left the launch unaware of the stakes.

Me? Throughout early childhood, all I wanted to do was visit the Everglades. When I finally got the chance, at about age 10 or 12, I thrilled to the bugs and muck and left with approximately 4,000 blurry photos--There! It’s a snake! I think! Maybe a vine…?--and a passion for protecting the wild, wet things of our country. It was great to see leaders and decision-makers sharing our concern.

America’s Great Waters Coalition includes the following organizations: Alliance for the Great Lakes, American Rivers, Audubon New York, Biodiversity Project, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment, Committee on Middle Fork Vermilion River, Corsica River Conservancy, Environment America, Environmental Defense Fund, Everglades Law Center, Florida Wildlife Federation, Freshwater Future, Friends of the Chemung River Watershed, Gulf of Maine Restoration and Conservation Initiative, Gulf Restoration Network, Illinois Council of Trout Unlimited, Indiana Wildlife Federation, Izaak Walton League of America, Lake Erie Region Conservancy, League of Conservation Voters, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, National Audubon Society, National Parks Conservation Association, National Wildlife Federation, People for Puget Sound, Planning and Conservation League, Restore America’s Estuaries, Save The Bay – San Francisco, Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, Sierra Club, The Watershed Center - Grand Traverse Bay, The Wetlands Initiative, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, Trout Unlimited, Washington Wildlife Federation, Western Lake Erie Waterkeeper Association.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: great waters, great lakes, water pollution, congress ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jennifer Janssen TITLE: Asian carp: History Offers an Important Lesson STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: asian-carp-history-offers-an-important-lesson CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 12/09/2009 10:10:33 AM ----- BODY:


American philosopher George Santayana once made a chilling comment about those who forget the lessons of history, saying: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Santayana's comment is particular relevant considering the current, frantic effort to keep Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes.

T_J_OBrien_Lock_and_Dam_Corps A heated debate is brewing over whether to close locks in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to prevent Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan and, ultimately, colonizing all the Great Lakes. Shipping interests argue that closing the canal would hurt their industry.

The question at hand is whether dramatic -- perhaps radical -- action is needed to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. That's where history can teach government officials an important lesson.

The historical record shows that the plague of invasive species wreaking ecological and economic havoc in the Great Lakes was a largely preventable problem. This ecological train wreck wasn't avoided because federal agencies in the U.S. and Canada repeatedly ignored the threat that ocean freighters' ballast water discharges posed to the lakes until it was too late.

The results have been devastating. The 57 invaders that ocean freighters dumped in the Great Lakes over the past five decades now cause between $200 million and $400 million damage annually. Two of the worst invaders, zebra and quagga mussels, are causing the most profound ecological changes in the Great in recorded history.

Now the lakes face a major new threat in the form of Asian carp. The massive fish, which can grow to 100 pounds, could take a huge bite out of a food chain that sustains the Great Lakes $7 billion per year fishery.

One species of Asian carp, the silver carp, rockets out of the water when agitated by boat motors. The fish pose potentially lethal threats to boaters and would create unprecedented challenges for the Great Lakes' $11 billion recreational boating economy.

Asian-carp-jumping To allow beastly Asian carp to infest the Great Lakes, for the sake of a much less valuable shipping trade in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, makes no sense.

Then again, it made no sense for the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards to ignore repeated studies that showed ocean freighters were importing zebra mussels and dozens of other foreign species into the Great Lakes in ballast water tanks.

The U.S. and Canada refused to crack down on those ballast water discharges until 2006 -- 25 years after the problem was documented -- because government agencies put the shipping industry's interests above the health of Great Lakes ecosystems and the numerous services the lakes provide.

Government agencies face a similar choice today: Protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp by closing locks in the Chicago canal, or bow to a marginal shipping trade and keep the locks open.

The moment is at hand when government officials charged with protecting the Great Lakes must decide whether to heed the lessons of history or repeat the appalling mistakes of the past.

Take Action: Tell the Corps of Engineers to learn from the past and protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp today.

- By Jeff Alexander, Great Lakes Regional Center

 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Couric: Pictures Worth 1,000 Emails STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: couric-pictures-worth-1000-emails DATE: 12/08/2009 07:25:19 PM ----- BODY:

Via DeSmogBlog

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Amanda C. Cooke TITLE: Can Nature Make People More Caring? New Studies Say It's Possible. STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: can-nature-make-people-more-caring-new-studies-say-its-possible CATEGORY: News CATEGORY: Science DATE: 12/08/2009 09:28:50 AM ----- BODY:

The benefits of nature have been widely documented—active time in the outdoors improves classroom performance, gets kids off the couch, and can help prevent children from being “coronary time bombs”.

New research shows that nature can also make people more caring. According to an article in the journal Scientific American, researchers at the University of Rochester have shown that experiences with nature can positively affect intrinsic aspirations and generosity. Exposure to nature, according to the series of studies, can affect our priorities in life—making us more compassionate and focused on the well-being of others.

How did researchers test the hypothesis that time outdoors can alter what we think is important in life?

The researchers ran a series of studies, during one of which randomly assigned individuals immersed themselves in a slide show that depicted either scenes of human-made or natural environments. After watching the images, participants completed a series of questions scoring their aspirations and priorities in life.

The results showed that people who watched the nature images placed lower priority scores on extrinsic life aspirations—like financial success or popularity—and higher priority scores on intrinsic life aspirations, characterized by deep and enduring relationships, for example.

Spending time with plants, animals, and friends outside can improve our physical and mental health, self-esteem, and classroom performance. This new research suggests that protecting our natural environments can also protect human nature—and how caring we are with others.

Related Reading:

TIME OUT: Using the Outdoors to Enhance Classroom Performance

Nutraceuticals World: Obesity Costs U.S. $147 Billion a Year

Washington Post: Doctors send patients outdoors for physical, mental health cures

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: How did researchers test the hypothesis that time outdoors can alter what we think is important in life? ----- KEYWORDS: nature, time outside, health benefits of nature, self-esteem, physical and mental health, classroom performance ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Eight Reasons More Outdoor Time Improves Kids' School Performance STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: eight-reasons-more-outdoor-time-improves-kids-school-performance DATE: 12/05/2009 09:46:23 AM ----- BODY:

Be out there American children spend an average of six hours per day watching television, web surfing and playing video games,  By contrast, they spend an average of 30 minutes in outdoor sports and just four to seven minutes per day in unstructured outdoor play.  This causes many kids to lose their connection to nature and, importantly, renders them less able to learn in school.  Here are some of the main the reasons parents and teachers should know about how outdoor play times makes for better school performance.

1. Improved attention spans -- the intense, ever-chaging and prolonged stimulation of electronic media cuts into the ability of children to sit quietly and focus on their school work. Some studies show that children with attention deficit disorders benefit markedly from an hour playing outdoors in nature.

2. Better overall fitness -- we have long known that children in good physical condition are better learners.  Children who sit indoors warching TV for hours a day lack the conditioning to be effective effectrive in the classroom.

3. Less agressive behavior -- the common "shoot 'em up" violence in television and video games teaches children that agression is a viable way to solve problems and teachers see it in class behavior.

4. Less anxiety and depression -- children's moods lighten up when they have enough outdoor play time and helped them be better learners.  

5. Less isolation -- outdoor play usually involves relating to other children.  It improves social skills and improves the ability for children to learn in teams. 

6. Improved eyesight -- staring at electronic screen all day and not getting time outdoors has now been shown to cause higher levels of near sightedness in kids.   

7. More interest in science -- children who appreciate the outdoors are more likely to relate to science education in a contect and outdoor classroom programs have been shown to increase interest in science learning. 

8. Higher test overall scores -- There is considerable evidence that outdoor time and nature edcation has measureable effects on children's grades and overall performance on statewide tests in reading, math, science and motivation to learn.  

 If you would like to learn more, you can download NWF's Kids and Outdoor School Readiness Report

Also: check out NWF's Ecoacademics Weblog which lists studies of how school work improves through nature and environmental education.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: rtbertoldi EMAIL: rtberrtoldi@yahoo.com IP: 173.67.120.15 URL: http://schoolat4.blogspot.com DATE: 12/06/2009 11:29:05 PM I am a huge believer that children, especially boys, need a great deal of time outdoors either at play or just enjoying and learning about nature. This not only brings about the benefits shown above, but I think kids who are exposed to the outdoors are more likely to be productive and active in their adult lives. Getting kids to enjoy and understand outdoor activities and nature may be the key to getting our population back to health. With enthusiasm for the outdoors, people of all ages are for more likely to go out and exercise. I am currently attempting to construct a system for educating boys specifically, based upon movement and hands on education. This system will include the standard academic subjects without forgetting about life skills and fun things like outdoor survival and navigation. Please contribute your ideas and feedback @ http://schoolat4.blogspot.com and continue to enjoy this great blog as well! ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Blast From the Past: Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: blast-from-the-past-only-you-can-prevent-forest-fires DATE: 12/05/2009 08:59:00 AM ----- BODY:

The Ad Council has posted some of its older public service announcements to YouTube. Check out this one on preventing forest fires featuring Bambi. I can still practically recite it word for word, seems like it ran in every other commercial break when I'd be watching cartoons as a kid:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: The Ad Council has posted some of its older public service announcements to YouTube. Check out this one on preventing forest fires featuring Bambi. ----- KEYWORDS: forest fires, trees, Bambi ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Good News For Climate Deal? Obama Shifts Copenhagen Schedule STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: good-news-for-climate-deal-obama-shifts-copenhagen-schedule DATE: 12/04/2009 05:31:14 PM ----- BODY:

UPDATE 6:52pm: NWF President & CEO Larry Schweiger just issued a statement on Obama's schedule change, saying, "By attending the global climate talks in Copenhagen during the heart of the negotiations, President Obama can make the difference between inaction and action, between failure and success."

The White House has just confirmed what was first reported by the Associated Press:

President Barack Obama on Friday abruptly altered the timing of his upcoming appearance at an international climate summit in Copenhagen, hoping to capitalize on steps by India and China and build a more meaningful political accord, a White House official told The Associated Press.

The move means Obama will be at the summit on Dec. 18, considered a crucial period when more leaders will be in attendance, as opposed to his scheduled stop in Denmark on Wednesday on his way to Nobel Peace Prize events in Oslo.

How significant is the schedule shift? Jeremy Symons, the National Wildlife Federation's senior vice president, calls Obama's schedule shift "a strong signal that he will be there personally to try and close a deal." Wouldn't that be a great Christmas present for the world?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: The White House has just confirmed President Obama is shifting his climate summit schedule. ----- KEYWORDS: Copenhagen, climate, global warming ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: bill EMAIL: d10caterpillar@yahoo.com IP: 70.2.17.118 URL: DATE: 12/08/2009 03:32:51 AM that would only be a christmas present to the grinch maybe! jeremy symons are you just a total idiot or what? read a little of the preposals. africa is like we can do this if we get a bunch of money! let me ask a question- who regulates china,russia,india, and all the other countries like the EPA? stop learning from modern progressive liberals in college- ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: NWF Scientist Responds to Climate Email Theft STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-scientist-responds-to-climate-email-theft CATEGORY: Current Affairs CATEGORY: Global Warming CATEGORY: Politics CATEGORY: Science DATE: 12/04/2009 02:38:10 PM ----- BODY:

Global warming deniers have been feverishly pushing emails stolen by hackers from the accounts of climate scientists. Their argument? If any climate scientist ever discussed the best way to sort through mountains of climate data, then global warming isn't happening. If that sounds like a bizarre conspiracy theory with no connection to fact or reality ... well, welcome to the world of global warming denial.

DrAmandaStaudt

There's only one group of people more upset about the hacked emails than the deniers: The climate science community. The National Wildlife Federation's Dr. Amanda Staudt just responded to the ginned-up controversy and didn't mince words:

The latest attack on climate science is simply another attempt to distract from the reality that the world is warming more than ever and the buildup of heat-trapping pollution in our atmosphere is higher than it’s been in 15 million years.

While opponents want to draw attention to decade-old emails, here is what is happening right now to the planet:

Please take a moment to tell your senator that we need clean energy & climate legislation now more than ever.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: There's only one group of people more upset about the hacked emails than the deniers: The climate science community. ----- KEYWORDS: climate, climategate, global warming, environment, science ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Richard Whiteford EMAIL: savebiosphere3@verizon.net IP: 72.92.82.25 URL: DATE: 12/04/2009 05:44:25 PM What climate deniers are really denying is for future generations to survive on this planet. Think about the moral implications of that. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jason EMAIL: jckst@yahoo.com IP: 71.60.29.155 URL: DATE: 12/06/2009 04:40:05 PM Personally, I tire of all the naysayers in the climate change organizations of the world, even though temperatures have NOT risen over the last century, said scientists are still trying to convince the world that global warming is real and manmade. Well, CO2 levels were much, much higher during many, many of Earth's last 5000 years, and yet, man and Earth thrives. The poles always fluctuate their volume of ice yearly, and to deny even that is mismanagement of information by the scientific community. Sure man is polluting the environment, but in reality, nature has polluted the environment much worse than man ever can. Every volcano that erupts releases more greenhouse gases than man has released since the advent of the automobile. It's time to man-up and call the global warming scare tactics for what they are--fear mongering by the likes of Greenpeace and the IPCC, just to name a few. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: grantm@nwf.org IP: 64.202.139.214 URL: DATE: 12/07/2009 11:54:14 AM Jason, thank you for demonstrating the state of global warming deniers' arguments at this point: Just making stuff up. I blame global warming on aliens! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Keeping Score on Global Climate Talks STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: keeping-score-on-global-climate-talks CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 12/03/2009 12:17:13 PM ----- BODY:

As the international climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark prepare to get underway next week, a team of scientists has introduced a new tool called the Climate Scoreboard. The Sustainability Institute, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Ventana Systems has designed the Scoreboard to show the estimated temperature increase in 2100 if current proposals within the negotiations were to be implemented. Watch this video for a preview & learn more at ClimateScoreboard.org:

The Climate Scoreboard Video from Climate Interactive on Vimeo.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: As the international climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark prepare to get underway next week, a team of scientists has introduced a new tool called the Climate Scoreboard. ----- KEYWORDS: climate, global warming, environment Copenhagen, ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: 5 Tips for Sharing the Road (and the Love) With Wildlife STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: sharing-the-road-and-the-love-with-wildlife- CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 12/03/2009 11:33:23 AM ----- BODY:

LOGOI've been inspired by Subaru's Share the Love Event, where Subaru donates $250 to one of five charities (NWF included!) for every one of their cars purchased or leased, and I wanted to post some helpful tips on how you can share the love--and the road--with wildlife.

With many people on the road traveling to visit family or friends over the holidays, here are a few tips you can follow to make sure you share the road with wildlife.

Tips for Sharing the Road With Wildlife

1) Think about Wildlife While Driving: This may seem like a silly suggestion, but the more you mentally prepare for your reaction to seeing an animal in the road, the more likely you will respond quickly enough to avoid it!

2) Go the Speed Limit: I know I know, it's hard to do sometimes--but really going the speed limit will allow you more time to react to wildlife such as deer darting across the road. While this may be the more obvious tip, it is probably the best thing you can do! The more reaction time the better.

Deer 3) Turn on Your Brights When No Cars are Coming: At night, turning on your brights will help spot deer and other animals crossing the road because their eyes will reflect the light.

4) Pay Attention to Signs: Most wildlife warning signs are there because there have been previous incidents--so paying special attention when you see the signs is an obvious but easy way to avoid a collision. Also keep in mind that just because you are on a busy road does not mean wildlife are unable to surprise you there.

5) Know When Animals Are Active: This is another important one, many animals that often get hit are nocturnal and so are either active very early in the morning or in the evening. Animals like deer are also active at these times but are mostly looking for a place to bed down for the night.

More Links:

A BIG thank you goes to those of you who have participated in Subaru's Share the Love Event and chosen NWF as your charity. If you've recently bought a Subaru it's not too late!

Looking forward to years of sharing the love with wildlife. With you all it's possible.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jennifer Janssen TITLE: Momentous battle to save the Great Lakes is on STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: a-momentous-battle-to-save-the-great-lakes-from-one-of-the-worst-invasive-species-imaginable-is-being-waged-in-an-artificial CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 12/03/2009 12:15:14 AM ----- BODY:

A momentous battle to save the Great Lakes from one of the worst invasive species imaginable is being waged in an artificial canal south of Chicago.

Watch Andy Buchsbaum, Director of the NWF Great Lakes Regional Center, explain what Asian carp mean to the Great Lakes:




The effort to beat back Asian carp before the menacing fish conquer the Great Lakes is sort of an ecological equivalent of the 1815 battle of Waterloo, when Europe's defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte changed the course of history.

Andy Buchsbaum will give us an insider's view as the battle happens in his blog, Great Lakes on the Ground.

Government agencies are killing Asian carp in a six-mile stretch of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, a glorified sewer that connects Lake Michigan to the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. Scientists fear two species of Asian carp — the bighead and silver carp — have breached a $9 million electric barrier in the canal that was designed to keep the invaders out of Lake Michigan.

AsianCarp_tall_fishandwildlifeservice
Researchers recently collected 32 DNA samples of Asian carp between the fish barrier and Lake Michigan; some of those samples were collected just six miles from Lake Michigan. In other words, Asian carp — which breed like mosquitoes, can grow to 100 pounds, hog the food that fish need and rocket out of the water when agitated by boat motors — are on the brink of laying siege to the Great Lakes.

The use of rotenone to kill Asian carp in the shipping canal is a last-ditch effort to keep these beasts out of the Great Lakes. It's certainly not a long-term solution.

The National Wildlife Federation and other conservation groups are urging government agencies to take immediate, necessary measures — such as closing the navigational locks that provide an entry point for the fish and physically separating Lake Michigan from the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal —to keep Asian carp out of the lakes.

The outcome of this historic conflict with Asian carp will affect the health of America's freshwater seas for the foreseeable future.

The government agencies entrusted with protecting the Great Lakes must make sure the Asian carp meets its Waterloo in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Failure is not an option.

Take action to keep out Asian carp in the battle for the Great Lakes!

- By Jeff Alexander, NWF Great Lakes Regional Center

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF Activist Joins White House Clean Energy Economy Forum STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-activist-joins-white-house-clean-energy-economy-forum CATEGORY: Energy CATEGORY: Energy Policy CATEGORY: Environmental Education CATEGORY: Global Warming CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 12/02/2009 05:21:38 PM ----- BODY:

The Obama administration is hosting Clean Energy Economy Forum at the White House tonight. Officials have invited young activists from across the country to join a discussion about America’s energy future – and its connection to the world’s climate crisis. You can watch it live at WhiteHouse.gov or on Facebook.

Among the guests – the National Wildlife Federation’s Praween Dayananda, our campus field coordinator. I caught up with Praween in front of the White House today as he ran from one meeting in DC’s Thomas Circle to another at the Old Executive Office Building:


Check back later in the week, we’ll have a review of the summit from Praween!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: The Obama administration is hosting Clean Energy Economy Forum at the White House tonight. ----- KEYWORDS: energy, environment, green, campus, education, college, activism, White House, Clean Energy Economy Forum ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Can Wyatt Cenac Make You Laugh About Climate Change? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: can-wyatt-cenac-make-you-laugh-about-climate-change CATEGORY: Film CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 12/01/2009 04:26:23 PM ----- BODY: ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Daily Show, Wyatt Cenac, Grist, global warming, humor, comedy, funny, climate, environment ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Inhofe Insults Pro-Energy Reform Veterans STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: inhofe-insults-proenergy-reform-veterans CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 11/30/2009 04:05:30 PM ----- BODY:

Across the country, veterans have been speaking out about the national security threats of our addiction to oil and how it's fueling global warming.

Some of the most prominent examples came in July, when a series of retired military officials addressed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Lee F. Gunn, a retired Navy Vice Admiral testified, "Climate change poses a clear and present danger to the United States of America." And Dennis McGinn, a retired Navy Vice Admiral and member of the Center for Naval Analysis Advisory Board, told the committee, "A business-as-usual approach constitutes a threat to our national security."

OperationFree

Additionally, a veterans group called Operation Free has been traveling the country. They're working to draw attention to the threats posed by our energy status quo and the opportunities of clean energy.

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) has a name for those veterans: Attention hogs.

That's what Inhofe told the New York Times Magazine:

There are a lot of generals who don’t like to be out of the limelight. They’d like to get back in.

In the same interview, Inhofe boasted of his plans to draw attention to himself by serving as a self-appointed "a one-man truth squad" at the climate treaty negotiations in Copenhagen. Inhofe is also the same person who said he was excited to block clean energy & climate legislation because, "I will be able to stand up and say, ‘No, it’s over. Get a life. You lost. I won!’” Does that sound like a man interested in only low-key, civil, reasoned debate?

It sounds more like the man whose dedication to keeping America hooked on polluting fossil fuels earned him Big Oil's MVP.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) has a name for those veterans: Attention hogs. ----- KEYWORDS: energy, environment, Inhofe, veterans, climate, global warming ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: NWF Partners with the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: nwf-partners-with-the-marine-corps-toys-for-tots-foundation CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 11/30/2009 10:17:18 AM ----- BODY:

Toysfortots_ad The National Wildlife Federation is proud to partner with the U.S. Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to help provide needy children with new, unwrapped toys this holiday season.

And you can help.

By symbolically adopting an animal through NWF's Adoption Center and asking that it go to Toys for Tots, you will not only provide a child with a cute plush animal, but also a certificate of adoption, a beautiful poster of the animal, and other items based on the donation level.

Your gift also helps NWF in our efforts to protect our nation's wildlife.

How to Adopt for a Tot

1. Go to NWF's Adoption Center.
2. Choose any adoption package $30 or more for your donation.
3. Click "Add to Order."
4. If you are ordering other items in addition to the Toys for Tots adoption, continue shopping and adding items to your order.
5. When you're ready to pay, click "Proceed to Checkout."
6. Enter your billing information.
7. At the "Change Shipping Address/Method" enter the Toys for Tots address:

Toys for Tots (first name)
Toys for Tots (last name)
1641 Commons Parkway
Macedon, New York 14502-9190
800-756-3752

Note: You will not be charged additional shipping charges for shipping to Toys for Tots. If you have other items in your order, click the link to "Ship To Multiple Addresses."

8. Click the Continue Checkout button to proceed to the Order Review and Payments page to complete your transaction.

If you have any problems with your Toys for Tots donation, please call 1-800-756-3752, and we will be happy to assist you with your order.

 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: toys for tots, wildlife, animals, shop ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Seven Safe Ways For Kids To Have More Outdoor Play Time STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: seven-safe-ways-for-kids-to-have-more-outdoor-play-time DATE: 11/22/2009 10:01:36 AM ----- BODY:

BOT logo Today's parents are concerned about the safety of their children when they are playing outdoors.  There is more traffic on the streets and more worries about other harms befalling them such as "stranger danger."   While the neighborhood may be very safe -- conscientious parents still want some added assurance.  Here are some proven Be Out There ways that parents across America are providing safe outdoor play time for kids.  

The yard – is still a great place to catch a  few minutes outdoors.  Even better if a few steps are taking to make it more interesting.  Most kids are good about sticking to their own properties.  Make the rules clear, tell them not to wander off and let them play awhile.

 

Play Groups – kids playing outside together are quite safe.  In some neighborhoods parents have arranged regular outdoor play times where kids meet and have fun together for an hour or two.  The kids love it and so do the parents.

Day care – most child care facilities are required to provide outdoor play space for children but not all of them use it on a regular basis.  A reminder to the center from parents about the importance of outdoor time for growing minds and bodies goes a long way.

 

“Buddy” walks to school – only about one-in-nine kids walks to school these days even if they live within a few blocks.  That is down from about half of kids 25 years ago.  Parents living fairly close to school can arrange for two or three kids in the neighborhood to meet up and walk to school together.  It is good exercise and good companionship.

 

After school programs – whether that are educational classes or extended day programs, they are another important way for children to get outdoor play time.  Friendly parental reminders to teachers and after school staff can help here too.

 

School recess – kids need an outdoor break during their school day.  They need to breathe some fresh air, run around, blow off steam and have fun with one another.  In recent years schools have been so focused on statewide test performance that many have cut out recess breaks.  Parents can look into this and bring it up as an important opportunity for children to have more outdoor time.

 

Time for two (or three)– there are many moments each week when a the mom or dad is busy indoors and the kids are  planted in front of the television.  It doesn't take much to convert these moments into a walk around the block, a visit to a playground or a quick game in the backyard.  Parents who look for these opportunities whether a few minutes or an hour will have happier and healthier children.

 

For more information on ways to get children outdoors and places to enjoy outdoor time vists NWF's Be Out There site.  

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Bays and Lakes: We Can Help Our Kids Develop A Sense of Place STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bays-and-lakes-we-can-help-our-kids-develop-a-sense-of-place DATE: 11/22/2009 09:04:48 AM ----- BODY:

Lois_Capps Last week the House Natural Resources Committee voted 22 to 13 to send an important new piece of legislation to the House floor.  It received strong support from the National Wildlife Federation, The Campaign for Environmental Literacy, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and others.  The bill was introduced by Congresswoman Lois Capps from California and has several dozen co-sponsors. 

The bill, H.R. 3644, would authorize a five-year nationwiide education program designed to expose school children to the rivers, bays, estuaries and great lakes, near which they live.  The legislation is based on a the recognition, years ago, that a majority children grwoing up within the Chesapeake Bay watershed could easily make it to adulthood without ever having any meaningful educational connection to the Bay.  This spawned the Bay Watershed and Training Program or "BWET" -- and many of the school and educator programs it has supported are so hands-on that students actually have a good chance of getting wet during their lessons. 

By making this program nationwide in scope, school children in the San Francisco Bay region, the Puget Sound, The Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico and many other critical coastal and marine areas can be exposed to meaningful watereshed experiences.  It may seem unthinkable that a child could grow up in Baltimore, for example, without ever visiting the Chesapeake or in Milwaukee without seeing the Lake Michigan, but, think again,   With today's children spending six hours a day watching TV and playing video games and having less connection than ever to the outdoors, a educational program that connects them to the watersheds in which they live on is a critical need.   NWF testimony on the Bill.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Amanda C. Cooke TITLE: 'Generation E' Is Leading Campus Sustainability Revolution STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: generation-e-is-leading-campus-sustainability-revolution CATEGORY: Environmental Education DATE: 11/20/2009 04:37:49 PM ----- BODY: GenE

NWF's Campus Ecology program has released its anticipated study of Generation E: Students Leading for a Sustainable, Clean Energy Future, which highlights the unique and critical role college students play in the climate flight.

Published just weeks before the international climate negotiations kick off in Copenhagen, Generation E is a story of student and youth leadership.The report highlights 165 college and university examples in 46 states, covering 35 categories of creative student effort. American students are stepping up and responding to the challenge of climate change.

Generation E illustrates the creative ways our campuses are responding to the shift toward a sustainable, clean energy future.

“‘Generation E’” stands for the three “E’s” of sustainability: ecology, sustainable economics, and social equity,” said Julian Keniry, Senior Director of Campus and Community Leadership. “It also stands for a tremendous amount of energy and excitement on college campuses today. The values of sustainability define and unite the current generation like no other issue of our time.”

An executive summary and the full Generation E report, including a list of 165 highlighted schools, are available online at www.nwf.org/GenE.

Campuses featured in Generation E and all other schools are encouraged to enter NWF's Chill Out competition this fall. Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming is a competition that rewards and recognizes all the cool things campuses are doing to reduce the impacts of global warming.

To enter, students, faculty and staff need to submit a two minute video that shows how their college or university is working to reduce global warming pollution. Entry forms are at CampusChillout.org.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: generation e, campus sustainability, green colleges and universities, student leadership, copenhagen, climate change, chill out ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Two New Threats to Polar Bears & How You Can Help STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: two-new-threats-to-polar-bears-how-you-can-help CATEGORY: Endangered Species CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 11/19/2009 02:08:50 PM ----- BODY: PolarBears

We're learning some alarming new data about just how fast polar bear habitat is melting away in the Arctic Circle. According to National Snow and Ice Data Center data, Artic sea ice extent has slipped below 2007's historic lows for about a week now.

Take a look at the latest satellite imagery, noting the huge gap of open blue sea just off Alaska's coast where ice should be. The 1979-2000 median ice level is outlined in red (click to enlarge):

N_daily_extent_hires

Keep in mind that the 1979-2000 median line already reflects a steady decline in Arctic sea ice. What's worse, reduced sea ice cover has an amplifying effect on global warming. While ice reflects most of the sun's rays, dark sea water absorbs the heat.

But even considering the long, steady decline, the recent drops are absolutely stunning. Take a look at the annual trendline, with sharp declines in 2007 & 2009:

N_plot_hires

“The loss of Arctic sea ice has huge implications for polar bears,” said Dr. Doug Inkley, our senior scientist here at the National Wildlife Federation. “U.S. Geological Survey studies and models indicate that two thirds of polar bears will disappear by 2050, due to ice loss.”

The alarming Arctic Sea ice loss comes at a crucial moment for America's polar bears. The federal government has just proposed designating more than 200,000 square miles of sea, ice and land as critical polar bear habitat. The designation won't save polar bears by itself, but it could give them a fighting chance. And with global warming slowly eating away at their hunting grounds, polar bears need all the help they can get.

But there's a catch -- the U.S. Interior Department may allow Big Oil to drill more in the same area. Drilling would not only disturb habitats polar bears need to raise their young, it would increase the risks of devastating oil spills.

Please take a moment to email the Interior Department right now. We need to keep our commitment to protecting polar bears.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: We're learning some alarming new data about just how fast polar bear habitat is melting away in the Arctic Circle. ----- KEYWORDS: polar bears, climate, global warming, environment, Arctic Sea, Alaska ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jennifer Janssen TITLE: Our Chance to Shut the Door on Aquatic Invasive Species STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: ocean-freighters-that-discharge-ballast-water-from-ports-around-the-globe-into-the-great-lakes-have-infected-americas-fres CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 11/19/2009 12:25:37 PM ----- BODY:

Ocean freighters that discharge ballast water from ports around the globe into the Great Lakes have infected America’s freshwater seas with a plague of foreign species. Invasive species introduced into the Great Lakes have spread across the country and made it as far as California.

ZebraMussels_250x167 The invaders — such as zebra mussels, quagga mussels and round gobies — have disrupted fisheries, killed thousands of water birds and triggered toxic algae blooms that threaten public health and wildlife.

Now we have a chance to end the practice of ocean freighters using the Great Lakes as a dumping ground for filthy ballast water from around the world. The Coast Guard is taking comments on a proposed rule that would make ships sterilize their ballast water -- but not quickly enough to shut the door on new invasive species.

The Coast Guard needs to hear from you. Take action to keep invasive species out of America's waters.

-By Jeff Alexander, NWF Great Lakes Regional Center

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Off-the-Charts Cute: Baby Otter Video STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: offthecharts-cute-baby-otter-video CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 11/18/2009 01:30:06 PM ----- BODY:

Otters are so cute, you could take a video of one reading the classifieds and it would be entertaining. But a baby otter? Playing with toys?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Otters are so cute, you could take a video of one reading the classifieds and it would be entertaining. But a baby otter? Playing with toys? ----- KEYWORDS: otter, wildlife, video, cute ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Alex Biswas EMAIL: IP: 70.161.143.164 URL: http://profile.typepad.com/kichona DATE: 11/19/2009 06:50:02 PM how did you get to play with a baby otter? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: grantm@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 11/20/2009 03:57:24 PM I wish it was me that got to play with a baby otter! I just found the clip online. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Max Greenberg TITLE: After Review, Overturn LA Stadium Plan STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: after-review-overturn-la-stadium-plan CATEGORY: Current Affairs CATEGORY: Politics CATEGORY: Sports DATE: 11/17/2009 11:36:11 AM ----- BODY:

“This is the best kind of action state government can create—action that cuts red tape, generates jobs, is environmentally friendly and brings a continued economic boost to California.”

--California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, on signing a bill allowing the construction of a new LA-area football stadium.

The Governator, generally a friend to the green set, has apparently confused 'action' with achievement.

Brushing aside inconvenient environmental standards to get the ball rolling on the latest push for a stadium and, presumably, an NFL team, the governor has far overstated the curative properties of pigskin. Understandable, given the tremendous obstacles facing the state and the collective need for a heroic, cyborg-from-the-future-esque champion.

So, yes, action abounds. It is true that the state leadership’s drive to bring football to Los Angeles will cut red tape and, in the most technical sense, generate employment opportunities. In fact, backers of the project say the stadium would “create over 18,000 jobs and generate over $320 million in salaries for residents of the region.” Californians would dearly like to believe it. Between Kobe Bryant’s nagging groin injury and months of economic hardship and wildfires, a little good news would be a welcome change.

Unfortunately, the stadium plan is neither “environmentally friendly”--the state Senate actually killed a lawsuit brought by a group of Walnut, CA residents demanding a more complete Environmental Impacts Report and waived environmental laws that govern California development to push construction)--nor likely to bring about a true net economic boost.

Writer David Berri nails it in a recent Huffington Post piece, quoting a paper from Brad Humphreys (president of the North American Association of Sports Economists (NAASE)) and Dennis Coates (former President of NAASE):

There now exists almost twenty years of research on the economic impact of professional sports franchises and facilities on the local economy. The results in this literature are strikingly consistent. No matter what cities or geographical areas are examined, no matter what estimators are used, no matter what model specifications are used, and no matter what variables are used, articles published in peer reviewed economics journals contain almost no evidence that professional sports franchises and facilities have a measurable economic impact on the economy.

Along with Humphreys and Coates, Berri name-checks Robert Baade (current president of the International Association of Sports Economists (IASE) and a hero of the “sports proliferation=/=general prosperity” crowd), and economist Gregory Mankiw, a chorus of bright referees. Put simply: “cities with sports facilities don't see higher rates of economic growth. And cities with sports facilities don't see more jobs.” They all say this, or some variation on it, and they should certainly know.

But you don’t need to be an economist to appreciate some of Berri’s basic points.

First, an LA football team would most likely relocate from elsewhere in-state—-San Diego, Oakland, or San Francisco. This, at the very least, casts severe doubt on the notion that the new arrangement would be a statewide boon. Berri:

“…[H]ow it would (sic) help the state of California by re-locating a team within the state? If teams and stadiums do generate jobs, won't moving a team out of San Diego, Oakland, or San Francisco cost jobs?”

Post-relocation, too, problems abound. Berri points out that money spent by Los Angelenos going to football games wouldn’t represent brand new revenue, but reallocated revenue. A fan would most likely attend an in-town NFL game instead of seeing a concert rather than keeping both entertainment expenses. The money not spent elsewhere would take a toll on revenue and jobs—-maybe not in Majestic Realty Co.’s $800 million palace, but in theatres, clubs, concert halls, and galleries elsewhere in greater Los Angeles.

And what of the offseason? A fancy new stadium would need a reason to exist during the summer and spring, too…i.e., the 40-plus (minimum) weeks of the year when the Los Angeles Sharktopuses or Sun-Vikings wouldn’t be in town and doing battle. What jobs would it generate then?

California shouldn’t be flouting environmental regulations to break ground on such a questionable project. Remember what made you a bipartisan green darling, Gov. Schwarzenegger, and rethink the notion of a new stadium as economic cure-all.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: David Berri, Schwarzenegger, Los Angeles ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: "The Eyes of the World are on the U.S." STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-eyes-of-the-world-are-on-the-us CATEGORY: Global Warming CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 11/16/2009 05:27:30 PM ----- BODY:

Over the weekend, we learned world leaders are scaling back expectations for the upcoming Copenhagen climate summit. Here's what Jeremy Symons, National Wildlife Federation senior vice president, had to say about the decision at Politico's forum, The Arena:

If there were ever any doubts about the global significance of Congressional action to enact a clean energy and climate plan for America, the run-up to Copenhagen should erase them. The eyes of the world are on the United States, which has the greatest capacity to lead the green economy renaissance that will lower pollution levels and safeguard our children’s future. Copenhagen remains a critical moment to engage all nations in a more ambitious global effort that keeps pace with the latest climate science.

With Senate action on clean energy legislation now delayed, a successful outcome at Copenhagen would be akin to a successful visit to a tailor to buy a new suit. You pick the fabric and style, take measurements and agree on a date to make the final adjustments and close the deal. Similarly, the nations of the world should come out of Copenhagen with an agreement on the architecture and timeline that will shape the final deal. The extended timeline should be months, not years. It should give Congress the time needed to get a strong clean energy and climate bill to President Obama for his signature in early 2010, but also recognize that delay increases the cost of the climate response and the risk of climate disasters.

President Obama needs to provide the leadership to take full advantage of Copenhagen and ensure a successful outcome. And the Senate needs to recognize that prompt action on a U.S. climate bill will not only repower America’s economy with clean energy, but also galvanize global cooperation on climate change.

Learn more about NWF's international work in our Climate Change, Deforestation & Agriculture section.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: The eyes of the world are on the United States, which has the greatest capacity to lead the green economy renaissance that will lower pollution levels and safeguard our children’s future. Copenhagen remains a critical moment to engage all nations in a more ambitious global effort that keeps pace with the latest climate science. ----- KEYWORDS: Copenhagen, National Wildlife Federation, climate, global warming, United Nations, environment ----- -------- AUTHOR: Aislinn Maestas TITLE: Consequences of Copenhagen, Part II: Local Efforts STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: consequences-of-copenhagen-part-ii-local-efforts DATE: 11/16/2009 01:20:16 PM ----- BODY:

Today we present part 2 of a 4 part series on the upcoming United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen, where leaders from around the globe will come together to negotiate a new global climate treaty.

The Boulder Bubble

Local governments vow to press ahead with emissions reductions regardless of the outcome at the upcoming Copenhagen talks. Can those efforts carry the day if international negotiations devolve to bickering and stalemate?

By Douglas Fischer, Daily Climate Editor

Here's what this affluent Rocky Mountain city of 100,000 does about a revenue shortfall in the darkest economic hour since the Great Depression:

It raises its carbon tax.

The city just west of Denver was the first in the nation to slap a levy on carbon emissions so it could meet Kyoto Protocol obligations. As it became apparent this summer the city was slipping and needed more cash to revitalize emissions-cutting programs, town leaders raised the modest tax – tacked to city utility bills – to its maximum.

With diplomatic efforts to seal a post-Kyoto accord approaching a decidedly uncertain fate this December in Copenhagen, state and local leaders pushing their own emissions reductions efforts see only one choice: Proceed.

The number of cities and regional governments undertaking this transition to a low-carbon economy is growing. These efforts, leaders vow, will continue whatever the outcome of political debates in Copenhagen, Brussels or Washington, D.C.

There are, in other words, two trains heading out of the station: Those driving local change are confident their programs will continue to accelerate even if global discussions get waylaid in Copenhagen next month.

"The community is on board with this," said Sarah Van Pelt, author of Boulder's climate action plan who is now a special projects coordinator for the city's environmental division. "Right now our biggest detractors are saying why aren't we doing enough."

San Diego is tying recycling, water use and energy efficiency to climate; Berkeley, Calif. has rewritten property rules to boost solar installations; New York and California are shifting state policy to encourage a new, low-carbon economy. Twenty-nine other states have some sort of a renewable fuel standard, requiring utilities to mix a certain percentage of those fuels into their power mix.

"If nothing happens on the federal level, it's unfortunate but it's not the end of the world," said Cara Martinson, legislative analyst for the California State Association of Counties. "We'll start to see a lot more of these regional activities. It'll start to be a bottom-up approach if the national framework breaks down."

Whether these local efforts can produce the reductions required to avert the worst climate disruption is much debated. Many climate experts are skeptical. The necessary cuts are substantial, they require economy-wide transformation and the initiatives need to be policed by a fixed, enforceable global treaty.

"It's hard to see how they could be sufficient," said Doug Boucher, director of tropical forests and climate initiative at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The Copenhagen talks are seen as crucial for several reasons. It's the date the international community – after years of negotiations – set as the time to draw up a comprehensive global solution to climate disruption.

Industry and governments need to know where emissions targets are headed post-Kyoto. December is the last chance to get a treaty ratified and in place before Kyoto expires in 2012, said Jennifer Morgan, director of the World Resources Institute's climate and energy team who has been involved in global climate talks for more than a decade.

Local efforts help, she agreed. But the global problem needs a global solution.

"It's a huge problem around the share of the commons in the atmosphere, and it's a very large economic issue," she said. "Countries need to have a sense that other main contributors to the problem – and their competitors – are moving together toward a solution.

"It's more than just the sum of the parts."

California, even more than Boulder, exemplifies local determination to curb emissions regardless of national or international stalemate. The state of 37 million people agreed in 2006 to tackle global warming. It has a mandatory greenhouse gas reporting system covering 90 percent of the state's industrial emissions. By law, the state has to ratchet those emissions down to 1990 levels by 2020 – a 24 percent cut from business-as-usual projections.

But scientists say the world needs to slash emissions 80 percent by 2050 to avoid catastrophic climate change. Boulder hasn't met Kyoto's modest target of a 7 percent cut over 1990 levels despite its tax and one of the nation's most eco-conscious populations, though city leaders say they expect to get close.

California faced a $26 billion spending hole earlier this summer that it filled in part by pulling money from local governments. While the state managed to protect many of its climate programs, local efforts aren't so lucky.

"A lot of this stuff might be put on the far back burner for a while," Martinson acknowledged.

California's municipalities, in fact, aren't seen as "agents of reduction" under the state's framework. There's no emissions bar under which cities must slip by a certain date.

"We are looking to forward-thinking municipalities to come up with innovative solutions," said Stanley Young, spokesman for the California Air Resources Board's climate programs.

"They're more nimble, certainly, than the state. In a sense they're able to be the test bed for these new approaches."

But at this point, he said, "it's all voluntary."

Still, cities are laying an important foundation that must be in place regardless of the target ultimately set by global leaders: They're figuring out the nuts and bolts of how to cut emissions.

"Demand-side reduction requires sophisticated implementation. It needs to show up at the local level and show up for the end-user," said Steve Pomerance, the former Boulder City Councilman who helped write Boulder's carbon tax earlier in the decade.

It's no surprise that Boulder would take the lead here.

The city is affluent – near the top 10 percent in the United States in per-capita income, according to the U.S. Census Bureau – and brainy. The University of Colorado, the National Center for Atmospheric Research and several other research institutions make the city a hub for science and innovation, repeatedly propelling the city to the top of Forbes' annual list of America's smartest cities. (link: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/250167)

It's also a green city, with a network of dedicated bike and hiking trails and the nation's oldest open-space program hemming development. Trails, sun, snow and mountains draw a young, outdoorsy demographic that boasts one of the most liberal voting records in the West.

In 1982 the city limited building heights that shaded lots to the north to preserve solar access on the neighboring lot. In 1987, long before most city councils had heard of global warming, the city reassessed its water plan to account for lower runoff expected in a warmer climate. It bought a crucial upstream reservoir to secure extra storage.

In 2002, with the Bush Administration stalling, Boulder decided it would meet the Kyoto protocol, and the council quickly concluded it needed a way to pay for the necessary climate change programs. Many argued for a fee, which didn't require voter approval.

Pomerance, a key player in both the solar shading law and the reservoir purchase, pushed for a tax. "Go to the voters. Say straight out here's what you want to do," Pomerance said in an interview. "That way you have a mandate. (Otherwise) you're always swimming upstream politically."

In 2006, 60 percent of Boulder's voters approved the tax.

And the city discovered the hard work had just begun.

The tax is modest – $11 a year tacked to a typical household's energy bill. This summer the council raised the levy to its maximum, $21 per year for the average household. It will bring in $1.8 million next year.

The city offered home energy audits. It pushed biofuels and rooftop solar. It discounted energy-efficient lighting, furnaces and insulation. And six years in, the city found emissions have grown instead of shrunk.

That's the true difficulty in solving climate change, Pomerance says: World leaders can agree on targets. They can agree on a cap. But then what?

"That's just the first eighth-inch on top of a 10-foot pile of work. There's all these other pieces that have to go along with it," Pomerance said. "I'm a local politico. All I'm looking at is the implementation – 'OK, that's fine, now what do we do?' "

San Diego has taken a whack at that question, too.

Almost two years ago a coalition of environmental groups, utilities, and government agencies decided to combine various conservation and efficiency campaigns into one umbrella marketing effort – Stand for Less.

Nowhere on the campaign's website or advertising materials are the words "global warming" or "greenhouse gas emissions." Instead, the focus is on using less, recycling more, saving water, consolidating errands.

The goal, said Mark Oldfield, a spokesman for the state's Department of Conservation, which is coordinating the effort, is to see whether by tackling these very concrete efforts, a more abstract goal – California's climate change objectives – can be achieved.

"It's a very simple metric," Oldfield said. "We didn't want to make it brain surgery. We wanted to look at it and see clear-cut numbers."

The program is in its infancy. It has set no targets, and its survival is questionable: After spending $1 million on start-up and an initial media campaign, the department saw its advertising budget slashed as California worked its way out of a budget hole.

"Our effort in San Diego is somewhat limited," Oldfield acknowledged. "We can't impact a lot of things directly."

"But we're hoping that by targeting recycling and other things, we can impact indirectly some bigger things."

And this is where an international agreement could truly help, said Morgan, WRI's climate director.

"Local initiatives working very specifically and practically on engaging unions and companies and policy makers in making those shifts are absolutely essential," she said during a telephone interview from the Bonn climate talks earlier this summer.

"You also need to have a national policy. It makes the local job easier – 'If you go for renewables, then you get these tax incentives.' "

"And on the international level, you get a level of ambition that the country is going to work on this with the rest of the world," she added.

"It's really about making people see the interdependencies that exist."

Local leaders certainly don't mean global efforts should be underestimated. JKoehn-250

Back in Boulder, city leaders already are looking for goals beyond 2012, when Kyoto expires. Its ability to establish a post-Kyoto target, said Jonathan Koehn, the city's environmental affairs manager, will depend "most certainly" on the city's ability to decarbonize the energy supply.

And that will require an international push.

"We can meet our current target with energy efficiency (measures) and Boulder residents making differences in their everyday lives," he said. "But to move beyond that we have to have move on a different playing field.

"It doesn't mean we stop the local efforts," Koehn added. But no agreement in Copenhagen would prolong the onset of "meaningful and widespread" changes in the near future.

Of course, that near future holds plenty of work – and change – for local governments – with or without a framework.

"The best we can expect from Copenhagen is targets," Pomerance said. "It doesn't solve problems. It just forces you to start figuring out how to deal with them."

"The high-level targets need to be connected to plans on the ground," he added.

"What's going to happen is Congress puts in cap-and-trade, and they're going to crank (carbon limits) down by 2050 – or hopefully sooner – and issue zero permits to coal plants. And the utilities will say, 'Well, what's step two?' "

"That's where the issue is going to show up. What it's going to eventually come down is plan," Pomerance said. "And what it's ultimately going to come down to is what are cities going to do, what are counties going to do, what are states going to do."

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Study: Alternative Energy To Produce 1.9 Million New U.S. Jobs STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: study-alternative-energy-to-produce-19-million-new-us-jobs DATE: 11/15/2009 08:02:35 AM ----- BODY:

RenewableEnergy1 A recent study by three universities provides an estimate of many new green jobs coming from alternative energy development in the U.S.

Smart Grid News.com reports:

"A collaborative study by three universities concludes that U.S. renewable ene rgy policies could create as many as 1.9 million new jobs around the country. In addition, the study shows that those policies would account for an increase in annual household income of more than $1,000 and that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could increase $111 billion by 2020.

While the study has a long-winded title, Clean Energy & Climate Policy for U.S. Growth and Job Creation: An Economic Assessment of the American Clean Energy & Security Act and the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act, the news it presents is encouraging."   See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Annual List of Candidates for Endangered Species Act Released STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: last-week-the-usfws-released-their-yearly-assessment-of-plants-and-animals-that-are-candidates-for-protection-under-the-endan DATE: 11/13/2009 12:09:04 PM ----- BODY:

NPS-Rodney Cammauf 

Last week the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services released their yearly assessment of plants and animals that are candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The good news is that this year, four species were removed from the candidate list as the USFWS decided they no longer require extensive protection!

One success story is that of the brown pelican that has recovered primarily due to the banning of the harmful pesticide DDT.

While this offers some hopeful news for a few select species like the brown pelican, with the looming effects of climate change, the opposite scenario also continues to unfold.

America's wildlife and wild places are already feeling the impacts of rising global temperatures:

Furthermore, an ever increasing number of animal species face difficulty breeding, migrating and providing care for their young as their habitats shrink.

The facts are clear. We can't wait for more species to become endangered. If climate change worsens we will see less butterflies, coral reefs, Florida panthers and mallard ducks.

Labeling a species as endangered might bring awareness and temporary aid, but it will not curtail the greatest threat facing all wildlife today.

By Kolleen Kawa, National Wildlife Federation

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: J.Redfern EMAIL: jredfern@northwestel.net IP: 76.9.52.208 URL: DATE: 11/13/2009 02:08:07 PM Seal populations have hardly been "crippled". Less hype more fact please. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kolleen EMAIL: kawak@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 11/23/2009 02:11:43 PM There is cause for concern: http://marinesciencetoday.com/2009/10/19/two-of-the-three-spotted-seal-populations-are-safe-from-endangerment-or-extinction/ "A petition in 2008 by the Center for Biological Diversity to have four types of seals listed under the Endangered Species Act prompted a full status review. The main concern about the conservation status of the species stems from the likelihood that their sea ice habitat has been and will further be modified by global warming and the subsequent loss of sea ice as well as acidification, which may alter prey populations." ----- -------- AUTHOR: Aislinn Maestas TITLE: Consequences of Copenhagen, Part I: The stakes STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: consequences-of-copenhagen-part-i-the-stakes DATE: 11/12/2009 04:00:22 PM ----- BODY:

Today we present part 1 of a 4 part series on the upcoming United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen, where leaders from around the globe will come together to negotiate a new global climate treaty.

An 'all-in' bet for the planet.

The planet's quickening pace toward irreversible climate change grows far more dire if world leaders fail to find a way to stem emissions this December, experts warn.

By Douglas Fischer, Daily Climate Editor
 

This is the consequence of failure at Copenhagen: A marked shift in scientific effort from solving global warming to adapting to its consequences, a hodge-podge of uncoordinated local efforts to trim emissions – none of which deliver the necessary cuts – and an altered climate.

Climate experts, scientists and negotiators say that, absent international agreement, the children and grandchildren of those living today will negotiate a world where planetary geo-engineering is a part of daily life, sea-walls defend coastal cities, the world's poor are hammered by drought, floods and famine and our planet is heading toward conditions unseen for the last 100 million years.

The December talks are, in other words, the last, best chance to change course before chaos descends.

"The choice facing the present generation is an awesome one," said former Vice President Al Gore during a speech before the Society of Environmental Journalists last month. "Never before has a single generation been asked to make such difficult and consequential decisions that will have implications for all succeeding generations."

Failure, Gore added, would be "catastrophic" – not only given the urgency of changes already underway, but because it challenges the efficacy of the rule of law as "an instrument of redemption."

Collapse in Copenhagen could not just become an obstacle to further progress, however. It also might force society to confront choices and decisions few in the scientific and policy world want to face.

"Copenhagen is mitigation," said Guy Brasseur, director of the Climate Service Center in Hamburg, Germany. "If that fails, we move to adaptation and geo-engineering."

Adaptation will require hundreds of billions of dollars on the low end. It will force a vast transfer of wealth, technology and aid from industrialized counties to developing ones. That buys no more than a Band-aid for those most at risk, said Saleemul Huq, head of the climate change group at the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development.

"We've failed our primary task of preventing harm," said Huq, lead author of the adaptation and mitigation chapter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's fourth assessment report. "Now we are going to be tasked with protecting those most vulnerable to harm. And soon we are going to be confronted with globally catastrophic harm."

"There really is nothing to do but adapt today."

That's where Copenhagen comes in.

The diplomatic gathering, from Dec. 7 to 18, has one goal: create an "ambitious global agreement incorporating all the countries of the world" to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

It will be the 16th in a line of negotiations extending back 20 years, some more successful than others, all aimed at curbing humanity's appetite for fossil fuel.

There is deep pessimism that it will succeed. Deep divides on how best to tackle the problem exist between developed countries. Even deeper divides separate developed from developing worlds.

But there have been surprises before.

At the 2007 talks in Bali, all signs pointed to failure until delegates awoke the day after the talks were to end and discovered key players had worked through the night to reach an agreement.

"You don't know the answer before you actually get there, and very often you don't know the answer before the last couple of days," said Doug Boucher, a climate expert for the Union of Concerned Scientists who has participated at several international talks.

"It's really the extreme pressure of the final deadline that gets countries to make the compromises, make the bargains necessary to get to the final agreement."

And there will be pressure.

Previous negotiations all pointed to 2009 as the year to draw a line in the sand, but it's more than just a diplomatic deadline. By virtually every metric – emissions, deforestation, fuel use, land development, economic growth – business-as-usual projections point to catastrophe.

"Civilization will experience the greatest disruption in its history," said Jeffrey Kiehl, a senior scientist at NCAR's climate change research program. "We're applying a forcing to the planet that it hasn't seen for tens to hundreds of millions of years, ... when there was no ice at either pole."

"I don't think we want to go down that path."

The effect of those forcings is a matter of much speculation and study. What has become increasingly clear is that many of the most sophisticated climate models have underestimated the earth's capacity for abrupt and radical shifts – swings that make many of the worst-case economic and climate forecasts from just a few years ago look almost rosy.

A recent report by the United Nation Environment Programme found many upper-range predictions deemed probable over the long term by its climate change panel two years ago are already occurring.

Author and reporter Dianne Dumanoski noted in her recent book, "The End of the Long Summer," that the only thing certain about the coming century is "its immense uncertainty."

"It will take conscious effort to resist taking refuge either in despair – in the conviction that 'it's too late' – or in the alternative, to bask in groundless, sunny optimism that 'we'll figure out something, because science always does.' "

Addressing this planetary emergency will require a new map, Dumanoski said – a rethinking, in effect, of civilization itself. Social systems must be retooled to withstand severe disruption. Climate change must be seen as far more than just an "environmental" dilemma or even an energy issue. Indeed, she added, humanity must come to see that seemingly small, inconsequential choices in every aspect of modern society can have – and are having – a profound and deleterious impact on the planetary system.

"There is no hope for accommodation in the current path," she said.

****

Efforts to change all this are already falling far short of what many analysts consider necessary, said David Victor, a professor at the University of California, San Diego's Laboratory on International Law and Regulation who studies climate policy. These failings, he wrote in an essay published in the Oxford Review of Economic Policy, arise from "a political logic that will soon be difficult to rectify." Deep cuts are costly. They are difficult to sustain, require radical change, and will, for many countries, be hard to administer.

Hence the need, many experts agree, for the pressure of a global agreement.

The status quo isn't working, they add: Countries and companies are eyeing each other warily, floating proposals for tepid cuts with the promise of steeper reductions if the rest of the world antes up as well. Australia in August tried to commit to the globe's most aggressive reduction scheme: a modest 5 percent cut in emissions from 2000 levels by 2020 with a promise of a 25 percent cut if other developed nations went along. It never got out of the country's Senate.

In Washington, D.C., climate legislation has been eclipsed by the health care debate, and key Democratic lawmakers say a far-reaching House bill should be sharply scaled back. California's progressive efforts to reduce emissions have been swamped by budget crisis.

"Countries need to have a sense that other main contributors to the problem ... are moving together toward a solution," said Jennifer Morgan, director of climate and energy policy for the World Resources Institute. "Countries will likely not go to the outer edges of what's possible."

But what's possible? The list of chores is daunting.

Scientists say greenhouse gas emissions must be cut 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050 to avoid the worst disruption. By comparison, the maligned Kyoto Protocol called for the industrialized world to trim emissions between 6 and 8 percent from 1990 levels by 2012.

Emissions from the 40 industrialized nations agreeing to binding cuts are down five percent – on target to meet Kyoto. But that's only because the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent economic decline of much of the Eastern Europe that has sent emissions in those countries plummeting.

Take out those countries and add developing nations, and global emissions have jumped 10 percent since 1990, according to the United Nations.

What's more, by 2050 the world population is expected to near 9 billion. That's the equivalent of adding 10 more United States to the globe – along with all the roads, fast food joints, sewage treatment plants, factories and power plants, homes and stores that accompany growth.

Indeed, it's the growth that's the problem, most climate experts argue. America's average per-capita carbon footprint is about 20 tons of planet-warming emissions a year. A typical European's is 10 or 12 tons. In China, 4 tons and growing. But some three billion people worldwide emit less than a ton a year. (A sustainable global per-capita footprint – one that avoids the worst warming – is about 4 tons per person, scientists figure.)

Those three billion are the poorest of the poor: they heat with wood, cook with dung, have little or no access to electricity or clean water.

How to let them partake in a First World economy without cooking the planet is another major stumbling block awaiting delegates in Copenhagen.

****

For the scientists, their job in some ways is done. Climate disruption is now a political question, an economics issue, a security threat.

"Clearly it's hard to think how we could better present the case," said Brasseur, the Climate Service Center director. "The science has been very clear."

"It is now up for society to decide."

And signs do suggest society is starting to decide: China is talking with the U.S. on emissions reductions and has launched a Green Revolution with the goal of catching Europe by 2020. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden, who assumed the EU presidency in July, has called on European nations to tax carbon emissions regardless of global negotiations.

There is time, Brasseur said, but not much: If delegates cannot seal the deal in Copenhagen but can make sufficient progress to deliver an agreement within five years, the talks can be considered successful.

WRI's Morgan, who has spent a decade playing key roles at UN climate talks, takes a harder line. After December, there is not enough time to get a treaty ratified and in place by 2012, when Kyoto expires, she said. Countries and industries need to know what market mechanisms and signals will be in place post-Kyoto.

Amid the contention, there is one bright spot: Industrialized countries have realized they have an obligation to help the world's poor, said Huq, the London-based adaptation expert.

Of the many pieces to the climate treaty puzzle, this is the area closest to agreement, Huq said. He is confident Copenhagen will produce some consensus on this point.

"There is simply no way (delegates) can look themselves in the mirror and not do anything about it," he said. "This now is no longer disputed territory."

In some ways, that's the great irony of climate change. So many of the initial impacts from a carbon-intensive lifestyle are first hitting those who use the least amount of carbon: Drought in the Sahel, floods in Bangladesh, changing agriculture patterns in India, parts of Asia and Africa, increased water stress for millions living downslope of the Andes and Himalaya.

That will change, scientists predict, and discussion over how to adapt will move quickly from the Third World to the First.

Soon – absent steep cuts and the pressure of a global treaty – politicians across the United States will confront questions that make budget woes and health care costs seem downright quaint, said Brasseur.

"Where will I get my water? What is my strategy (for adaptation)? .... How am I going to have enough food to feed all of California?" he said, rattling off a hypothetical list.

By then the solutions may carry a frightful cost.

"The later we take action, the more we have (climate) impact," Brasseur said.

"And that impact is going to be irreversible."

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mariana EMAIL: leishman_aguilar@hotmail.com IP: 190.43.25.248 URL: DATE: 11/27/2009 03:35:42 PM The consequences that cause the disease can lead to death, and so this disease is painful and people suffering from it suffers greatly by the constant pain caused by taking medications that are opioid narcotics such as Lortab, Vicodin, hydrocodone, which are very effective in suppressing the pain that causes the disease, we hope that people care and know findrxonline adequately informed as well as notes on your site. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Two New Reasons to Break Our Oil Addiction - Now STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: two-new-reasons-to-break-our-oil-addiction-now DATE: 11/10/2009 10:31:03 AM ----- BODY: IdaTrack

We're getting two major reminders this week about how urgent it is for America to break its addiction to oil. First, Tropical Storm Ida came ashore along the Gulf Coast, cutting energy production:

Marathon Oil Corp (MRO.N) had shut its Ewing Bank production platform after evacuating workers, a spokeswoman said on Sunday. The Ewing Bank platform can produce 11,700 barrels of oil and 10.5 million cubic feet of natural gas a day.

The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, or LOOP, which takes in an average of 1 million barrels of foreign crude from cargo ships daily, stopped offloading tankers shortly after noon CST Sunday (1800 GMT) due to deteriorating sea conditions, according to a spokeswoman.

The news sent already-jittery oil markets jumping, pushing prices up $2 a barrel. And the problem is only expected to get worse, as global warming fuels more intense hurricanes.

If all that wasn't scary enough, the Guardian (UK) reported a whistleblower's warning that the world doesn't have nearly as much in oil reserves as we think:

The world is much closer to running out of oil than official estimates admit, according to a whistleblower at the International Energy Agency who claims it has been deliberately underplaying a looming shortage for fear of triggering panic buying.

The senior official claims the US has played an influential role in encouraging the watchdog to underplay the rate of decline from existing oil fields while overplaying the chances of finding new reserves.

Learn more about how you can protect our future -- for our children and for America's wildlife -- at the National Wildlife Federation's Climate Action Center. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Two major reminders about how urgent it is for America to break its addiction to oil. ----- KEYWORDS: energy, environment, oil, peak oil, Ida ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Kids Ask: Will President Obama Lead at UN Climate Summit? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: kids-ask-will-president-obama-lead-at-un-climate-summit CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 11/10/2009 09:39:34 AM ----- BODY: ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Aileo Weinmann TITLE: Tribal Leaders Address Climate Impacts, Clean Energy Bill STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: tribal-leaders-address-climate-impacts-clean-energy-bill CATEGORY: Energy CATEGORY: Energy Policy CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 11/09/2009 11:36:11 AM ----- BODY: DSCF0488_KramerRachel_TribalLands

PHOTO: (from left) Mike Williams, chairman of Alaska Inter-Tribal Council; Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico; Jerry Pardilla, executive director of the National Tribal Environmental Council; and John Echohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund.

Sitting in the ballroom of the Renaissance Hotel, I was impressed to see dozens of powerful leaders from American Indian tribes all across the U.S. gathered together discussing the serious concerns they have about how climate change will impact tribal lands, as well as the great potential they see for how tribes can benefit from a clean energy economy that reduces carbon pollution.

NWF partnered with three major tribal organizations: the National Congress of American Indians, the National Tribal Environmental Council and the Native American Rights Fund to host a lunch meeting to discuss congressional action on climate change.

The tribal leaders are in town for the White House Tribal Nations Conference to discuss a host of issues important to Indian Country, but they took time out to convene on Wednesday to share perspectives on climate change’s impacts to tribes, climate legislation, tribal efforts to adapt to climate change impacts and how tribes are prepared to provide clean energy solutions.

Jacqueline Johnson-Pata, executive director of National Congress of American Indians said that renewable energy is one of the most significant economic development opportunities available to tribes during these difficult economic times, particularly tribes in remote areas, many of which have never experienced meaningful economic opportunities.

John Echohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund, pointed out that Indigenous Peoples have contributed very little to the global carbon footprint, yet they are suffering disproportionately from the effects of climate change. And  Jerry Pardilla, executive director, National Tribal Environmental Council, said that it is incumbent upon the Obama Administration and Congress to include Indian tribes and their leaders in the development of policies and strategies to reverse these impacts.

The lunch meeting really highlighted how important the tribes are in finding solutions to climate change that also bring much-needed jobs and economic security to communities most vulnerable to its impacts.

For example, the Intertribal Council On Utility Policy estimates that the total tribal wind generation potential is about 14% of the total U.S. electric generation – based data from the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Greening Our Schools: The Challenge For NWF Eco-Schools USA STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: greening-our-schools-the-challenge-for-ecoschools-usa DATE: 11/08/2009 09:43:17 PM ----- BODY:

Eco-schools_rgb_notext_80w America's increasing focus on things that are "green" most certainly extends to our K-12 schools -- all 130,000 of them. The new NWF Eco-Schools USA program will help many U.S. schools to become more effective at educating and preparing students for new, greener, ways of thinking, working and living.    It offers a proven system for organizing people and priorities at a school for more energy efficiency, water efficiency, improved waste management, eco-landacaping, nature study, climate change study and more.

Importantly, Eco-Schools USA, like its counterparts in 46 other nations, teaches a participatory and democratic process for young people to address important environmental subjects and, in due course, to also learn to solve the problems of life.  The Eco-Schools USA system includes: 

* Seven core steps to complete school greening, 

* Eight exciting study, project and community servcice pathways, and

* Access to a diverse and growing international network of 30,000 existing ecoschools from around the world.

To learn more about Eco-Schools USA and how you and your schools can participate, please visit our Eco-Schools USA self-guiding website  

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Senate Progress for Clean Energy & Climate Action STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: senate-progress-for-clean-energy-climate-action CATEGORY: Global Warming CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 11/06/2009 09:08:33 AM ----- BODY:

The Senate Environment & Public Works Committee passed the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act yesterday on an 11-1 vote. Committee Republicans boycotted the vote, but even if all had voted against it, the bill would've passed comfortably. Even the one Democrat who voted against the bill, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), went out of his way to emphasize he hoped to vote for a final bill when the full Senate considers it.

Here's how National Wildlife Federation Senior VP Jeremy Symons reacted to the vote:

The bill’s success in committee today, combined with yesterday’s announcement by Senators Graham, Kerry and Lieberman of plans for a bipartisan bill, add up to a big boost for action in the Senate. A month ahead of the global climate talks in Copenhagen next month, Senators have sent a signal to the President and the nations of the world that Congress is getting closer to the finish line.

The National Wildlife Federation thanks Sen. Boxer for her unwavering leadership and the bill’s supporters for their commitment to clean energy jobs, energy security, and protecting America’s natural resources for our children and grandchildren. It’s unfortunate Senator Inhofe kept his team on the bench for today’s markup, proving once again he’s the oil industry’s biggest ally in Congress. But the focus now shifts to Senators Graham, Kerry and Lieberman as they work to deliver bipartisan clean energy and climate solutions.

Learn more about the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act in NWF's Climate Action Center!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: The Senate Environment & Public Works Committee passed the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act yesterday on an 11-1 vote. ----- KEYWORDS: Congress, Senate, Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, climate, global warming, environment, energy, green ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Report from Barcelona UN Climate Talks STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: report-from-barcelona-un-climate-talks CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 11/06/2009 08:19:58 AM ----- BODY:

The following is a guest post from Eric Palola, senior director of the National Wildlife Federation's Forests for Wildlife program. It is cross-posted from NWF's Forest Justice.

The Mediterannean Sea is no more than a stone’s throw from the train whisking me north to Barcelona from the little port town of Sitges. I am a simple commuter this morning, joining thousands of Catalonians, some sleeping and some bantering in the heavy lisp of the Catalan dialect.

The train is the second stage of a commute that started with a bike ride and will finish with bus ride to the vast conference center holding the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) talks in a recently redeveloped industrial zone of Barcelona. Fabric billboards suspended from lampposts herald the talks as “securing a global deal on climate change”. But most of Spain seems ambivalent. Unemployment hovers near 20%, the highest within the European Union, and the country’s national daily El Pais is preoccupied with estimates that Spain may actually see negative growth in 2010.

Against this backdrop thousands of delegates and observers have converged to set the stage for a Copenhagen climate deal. The talks are struggling but there a still several days to go. As seems typical of these meetings, the most affluent and influential countries, the ones who hold all the cards in terms of needed greenhouse gas reductions and future climate financing are being non-committal. Maybe it is just a diplomatic game, but the developing countries are furious.

Alongside the big issues of future targets and timetables for emissions reduction, one of the key fault lines in the negotiations for REDDs – the acronym for Reduced Emissions for Deforestation and Degradation. (Check out NWF's REDD fact sheet [PDF].)

Emissions from poor land use, especially from forest loss and conversion have risen to the top of the agenda in the post 2012 commitment period. At issue is how the tremendous rates of deforestation occurring in many tropical regions, some 13-15 million hectares per year, can be slowed if not stopped altogether. The stickiest issues involve what forms of payment to developing countries will provide enough incentive to leave forests standing, and in turn, what assurances the international community can extract to confirm their money wasn’t simply wasted on graft and corruption and those forests are in fact still standing.

REDDs is a hot topic here. At least a dozen formal “side meetings” touch on the subject covering the nuances of financing schemes, deforestation monitoring and verification systems, determination of deforestation baselines and trends, and the development of “multi-stakeholder and transparent” forest governance systems. Acronyms fly like butterflies on the wind: RIL (reduced impact logging) MRV (monitoring, reporting and verification) or IFM (independent forest monitoring). The negotiation of REDDs has generated it own vernacular. Yet, a strong underlying concern is how valuing forests purely for their carbon may trump other social and environmental aspects, especially in forest regions with strong cultural histories of indigenous forest peoples.

Later tonight, after many REDD meetings, I’ll do my bus, walk, train, and bike commute in reverse. My Catalonian hosts have noticed the string of dry days and unusually warm weather. They’re worried about global warming, but just as worried about local water quality. I’m told that beach erosion is high on the town’s list of concerns. The signs of global warming are everywhere, yet the signs in Barcelona are still mixed despite the euphoria of the billboards.

Photo via Flickr's adoptanegotiator

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Against this backdrop thousands of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change delegates and observers have converged to set the stage for a Copenhagen climate deal. ----- KEYWORDS: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, global warming, environment ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Save Ice Cream! #HelpHoneyBees STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: save-ice-cream-helphoneybees CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 11/05/2009 11:19:04 AM ----- BODY:

Häagen-Dazs knows the importance of honeybees to ice cream. Pollination is "essential for ingredients in nearly 50 percent of our all-natural superpremium flavors," according to their website, HelptheHoneyBees.com.

In an effort to raise awareness for the decline in honeybee populations around the world, they are helping fund research for scientists to learn more about the problem and find solutions. Over the last three years, one in three honeybee colonies has died. Scientists are calling the phenomenon CCD for Colony Collapse Disorder. In CCD cases, all of the bees in a colony abruptly disappear, deserting the hive.

Honeybee_cygnus921_Flickr

Fast Honeybee Facts:

How You Can Help Honeybees:

More Honeybee info:

"The Buzz on Native Pollinators" - National Wildlife® magazine: As European honeybees decline, indigenous bees and other pollinating animals can provide a backup--with a little help from their human friends.

"Busy with Bees" - National Wildlife® magazine: In Bavaria, a team of industrious scientists uses high-tech tools to study the secret lives of honeybees--work that could shed light on the pollinators' mysterious disappearances.

Three Ways to Plant for Pollinators

Get more tips from this National Wildlife® magazine web exclusive.

  1. Select plants that provide a lot of nectar and pollen. Many ornamentals have been specifically bred to produce little or none of these essential foods.

  2. Plant a diversity of species so your yard will provide bees, butterflies and other animals with nectar and pollen from spring through fall. To attract bats and nocturnal moths, consider night-blooming plants in addition to day-bloomers.

  3. Be a "messy" gardener: Leave some patches of unmulched soil and brush piles that bees, birds and other animals can use to construct nests. Consider building or purchasing a bee house for wood-nesting wasps and bees.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kirsten@Nexyoo EMAIL: social@nexyoo.com IP: 99.17.207.90 URL: http://www.nexyoo.com DATE: 11/05/2009 11:47:43 AM Thanks for sharing this! I heard someone say the other day that because they hadn't heard any press coverage of CCD lately, they thought the problem had gotten better. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: @h0neyb EMAIL: hbeehoney@gmail.com IP: 173.66.140.253 URL: http://beedoodles.com DATE: 11/05/2009 08:50:54 PM This is so awesome!!! Save the little Bees!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Prof. R.C.Sihg EMAIL: sihagrc@rediffmail.com IP: 210.212.120.36 URL: http://sihagrc.tripod.com DATE: 11/07/2009 01:16:22 AM Role of honeybees in crop production Normally four kinds of breeding barriers are found in the angiosperms. These include: self-incompatibility, differential sexual maturity, unisexuality and heterostyly (Frankel and Galun; 1977, Faegri and Van der Pijl, 1979;Sihag,1997). Agricultural plants too are not the exceptions. Examples of the crops showing complete or partial self-incompatibility are presented in table 1. In the flowers of these crops, either the self-pollen will not germinate or the pollen tube fails to reach the ovule. The fertilization of the ovule(s) is not possible. Therefore, conspecific pollen must come from other flowers ( i.e.cross-pollination is obligatory). In some crops, anthers mature much before the receptivity of the stigma of the same flower (Table 1). Therefore, self-pollination is not of any use in these crops and cross-pollination is a pre-requisite for seed set. In some other crops the stigma matures much before the dehiscence of the anthers and when the pollen is liberated in a flower its stigma has already become non-receptive (Table 1). Here too, pollen to a receptive stigma must come from the other flower(s). In some crops, the flowers are unisexual although male and female flowers are borne on the same plant (Table 1). Here pollen must come from a male flower to a female flower for seed set/fruit formation. Some plants are unisexual i.e. the plant bears either male flowers or female flowers (Table 1). Here also pollen must come from the male to the female Table 1: Breeding and pollination status of different crop plants. S.No. Common name of the crop Botanical name of the crop Breeding status Pollination status 1. Rapeseed toria Brassica campestris L. var. toria SI CP 2. Sarson Brassica campestris L. var. sarson SI CP 3. Rocket cress Eruca sativa Mill SI CP 4. Sunflower Helianthus annuus L. SI CP 5. Clove Oil Syzygium aromaticum SI CP 6. Cauliflower Brassica oleracea L.var. botrytis SI CP 7. Turnip Brassica rapa L. SI CP 8. Radish Raphanus satcvus L. SI CP 9. Apple Malus sylvestris Mill. SI CP 10. Almond Prunus amygdalus Batsch SI CP 11. Plum Prunus domestica L. SI CP 12. Pear Pyrus communis L. SI CP 13. Carambola Averrhoa carambola L. SI CP 14. Sweet cheery Prunus avium L. SI CP 15. Sour cherry Prunus cerasus L. SI CP 16. Passion fruit Passiflora spp. SI CP 17. Citrus Citrus spp. SI CP 18. Grape Vitis vinifera L. SI CP 19. Apricot Prunus armenica L. SI CP 20. Jujuba Zizyphus jujuba Mill. PT CP 21. Carrot Daucus carota L. PT CP 22. Celery Apium graveolens L. PT CP 23. Parsnip Pastinaca sativa L. PT CP 24. Fennel Foeniculum vulgare L. PT CP 25. Coriander Coriandrum sativum L. PT CP 26. Cumin Cuminum cyminum L. PT CP 27. Lavender Lavandula spp. PT CP 28. Black pepper Piper nigrum L. PG CP 29. Pawpaw Asimina triloba L. PG CP 30. Cherimoya Annona cherimola Mill. PG CP 31. Papaya Carcia papaya L. US1 CP 32. Datepalm Phoenix dactylifera L. US1 CP 33. Chinese gooseberry Actinidia chinensis Planch US1 CP 34. Asparagus Asparagus officinalis L. US2 CP 35. Coconut Cocos nucifera L. US2 CP 36. Oil palm Elaeis guineesis US2 CP SI = Self-incompatible, PT = Protandrous, PG= Protogynous, , US1 = Flowers unisexual, US2 =Plants unisexual, CP=Cross-pollinated flowers. Still in some cases, male and female parts are not at the same height, which may also necessitate cross-pollination. Due to these breeding barriers, therefore, flowers of many crops require cross-pollination for seed/fruit set (Sihag; 2001). Honeybees are considered to be the best pollen vectors and pollinators of crops due to their following characteristics:- i) Their larvae are dependent on nectar and pollen as their food. ii) They bear hair on their bodies for carrying pollen from one flower to the other flower. iii) Their population can be manipulated as per the requirement. iv) They have high floral constancy i.e. individual bee makes repeated visits to the same type of flowers. v) The colonies can be transported from one place to the other place. In large number of crops, honeybees have been reported to increase their see yield (Free, 1993). That is why; beekeeping too has been characterized as one of the inputs in agriculture (Sihag, 2001). For more readings please consult: Faegri K. and van der Pijl, L. 1979. The Principles of Pollination Ecology. Pergamon Press. 291 p. Frankel, R. and Galun, E. 1977. Pollination Mechanisms, Reproduction and Plant Breeding. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 281 + xiP. Free, J.B. 1993. Insect Pollination of Crops. Academic Press, London, 684 p. Sihag,R.C.(Ed.).1997. Polination Biology : Basic ad Aplied Pnciples.Rajendra Scientific Pubishers, Hisar, 210p. Sihag, R.C. 2001. Why should beekeeping be utilized as an input in agriculture? Current Sci. 81: 1514-1516. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Chamber Softening Anti-Clean Energy Stance? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: chamber-softening-anticlean-energy-stance DATE: 11/04/2009 12:27:36 PM ----- BODY:

Republicans on the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee are continuing their boycott today, refusing to work on amendments to the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act. But the bill's supporters got some good news late yesterday:

The prospects of enacting a Senate bill got a tiny boost Tuesday when R. Bruce Josten, the chief lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sent a letter to Boxer and the committee's ranking Republican, James M. Inhofe (Okla.), suggesting that a bipartisan approach along the lines of the compromise Kerry is trying to forge with Graham might work.

"The challenge of drafting comprehensive climate legislation is not 'whether' to do something, but 'how,' " Josten wrote.

It remains unclear whether the missive will translate into a shift in the trade association's policy, however. Jeremy Symons, senior vice president of the National Wildlife Federation, said he remains "cautious," given the chamber's historic opposition to mandatory limits on greenhouse gases.

Is the Chamber getting serious on clean energy & climate action? Will they support a cap on global warming pollution that holds polluters accountable for their emissions? We'll find out.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Senate Republicans are continuing their boycott today, refusing to work on amendments to the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act. But the bill's supporters got some good news late yesterday from the US Chamber of Commerce. ----- KEYWORDS: US Chamber of Commerce, energy, environment, Congress, Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Katie Couric Interviews Al Gore STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: katie-couric-interviews-al-gore DATE: 11/04/2009 11:01:47 AM ----- BODY:
Watch CBS News Videos Online ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Al Gore, Katie Couric, environment, green ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Help Whet Kids' Appetite for Watershed Conservation STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: help-whet-kids-appetite-for-watershed-conservation DATE: 11/03/2009 02:01:13 PM ----- BODY:

Ashley Spratt, FWS

When students in my suburban hometown entered seventh grade, we took a trip to explore the ecosystem of the Fox River -- the tributary that divided our town in half.

Children that grew up in the area knew how the wildlife that lived along the river were endangered by toxins in the watershed.

With help from our science teacher, we also learned how whole chains of animals thrived because of this river--from the mayflies and crawfish to small mammals.

After trudging home full of river mud, we felt compelled to revitalize our river and assure that the water would be cleaner for the next generation of students.

Teaching children about the watershed in their area helps them understand the importance of caring for their local water supply.

Whether they can walk alongside a prominent river or if they must venture out to see a small creek, they must understand water does not begin and end in their faucet.

Currently, U.S. representatives are working on a bill to promote environmental literacy on watersheds. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has already implemented the Bay-Watershed Education and Training and Environmental Literacy Grant programs, but it needs support to reach more youth.

So, please take a moment today to urge your representative to support this bill to increase environmental education programs in communities across the nation.

By Kolleen Kawa, National Wildlife Federation

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Sen. Inhofe: Big Oil's MVP STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: sen-inhofe-big-oils-mvp CATEGORY: Global Warming CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 11/03/2009 01:58:46 PM ----- BODY:

Did you know the American Petroleum Institute puts out a legislative scorecard and voter guide? I didn't ... until it was uncovered by National Wildlife Federation researchers. Turns out Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) got a perfect score.

That goes a long way towards explaining why Sen. Inhofe is organizing a rare boycott today as the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. Sen. Inhofe must be concerned that Republicans outside of his committee may be willing to craft a bipartisan compromise on energy legislation. Basically, Sen. Inhofe has decided his committee members will take their ball and go home, organizing the Republican members of his committee to skip out on this week’s markup of the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act and obstruct the overall legislative process.

“Senator Inhofe has taken his team off the field before the real action has even started. Behind the scenes, you can be sure Big Oil is giving Sen. Inhofe a standing ovation,” said Jeremy Symons, senior vice president of the National Wildlife Federation. “The oil industry has led a multi-million dollar assault on clean energy legislation to protect its profits at the expense of America’s energy security. Now, Sen. Inhofe is once again coming through in the clutch for Big Oil.”

To commemorate Sen. Inhofe’s status as Big Oil's MVP, the National Wildlife Federation has issued a limited-edition trading card with some of Sen. Inhofe’s career milestones. Check it out:

InhofeCardFrontBack

Among the highlights:

“The Clean Energy Jobs Act will ease our dependency on oil, create new jobs by investing in made-in-America clean energy, and reduce pollution to protect our children’s future,” said Jeremy Symons. “Senators should roll up their sleeves and show up to work on the energy reform America needs now.”

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: To commemorate Sen. Inhofe’s status as Big Oil's MVP, the National Wildlife Federation has issued a limited-edition trading card with some of Sen. Inhofe’s career milestones. ----- KEYWORDS: Jim Inhofe, global warming, climate, energy, environment, National Wildlife Federation, politics, Congress, Big Oil ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tom from Vermillion, Ohio EMAIL: tgalinsky@gmail.com IP: 24.165.178.253 URL: DATE: 12/07/2009 06:26:16 AM http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00005582 Refer to the above link to see Inhofe's compaign contribution resources. The "spin-meister" needs to get some of his own medicine regarding to so called "climate gate" scandel. It is my firm conviction that if anybody is "cooking" the books. It is the Oil Companies listed on the above web page. Somebody needs to throw the facts back into his face! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Boxer Reaches Out to Republicans on Clean Energy Bill STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: boxer-reaches-out-to-republicans-on-clean-energy-bill CATEGORY: Global Warming CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 11/02/2009 11:23:49 PM ----- BODY:

Via Talking Points Memo, late breaking news on the Clean Energy Jobs Act:

Faced with the GOP plan, [Senate Environment & Public Works Committee Chair Barbara] Boxer said the Democrat majority on the committee decided to "reach our hand across the aisle" and accommodate some of the GOP concerns.

Boxer will begin the markup as planned Tuesday, but will extend the deadline for amendments until "the close of business" that day, allowing Republicans who have boycotted the process to participate past the original deadline.

In addition, Boxer said she'll pause the markup process tomorrow afternoon and invite an EPA official to come before the committee and answer any and all remaining questions about the cap-and-trade bill Republicans may have.

Now that Boxer has addressed their concerns, will Republicans come to the table to negotiate the real reform America has been waiting for? We'll find out on Tuesday.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: New developments for the Senate clean energy & climate bill -- Barbara Boxer is reaching out to Republicans. ----- KEYWORDS: Congress, politics, energy, environment, Barbara Boxer, Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Amazing Video of Deep-Sea Dazzlers STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: amazing-video-of-deepsea-dazzlers CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 11/01/2009 09:02:14 PM ----- BODY:

Can you believe this creature is a native of Earth? Looks like one of the aliens from The Abyss:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: jellyfish, wildlife, animals ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Wildlife Vampires - Part 4 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wildlife-vampires-part-4 CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 10/31/2009 06:00:00 AM ----- BODY:

This is the the final post in our series on wildlife vampires. Be sure to check out:

Candiru Wiki Happy Halloween! We've saved the best for last.

There are several species of diminutive candiru catfish that inhabit South American rivers. They seek out larger fish and use their spiny mouths to attach themselves to the gills of their victims, where they make an incision with their teeth and drink their fill of fish blood.

Candiru also have spines on the body which they jab into the flesh of their victim, making any attempt at forcible removal extremely painful.

Some species actually burrow inside the bodies of their prey, leaving a wound that looks like a bullet hole. Once inside they suck blood from the internal organs. Few things are more horrifying than even the thought of that!

VIDEO: Watch this video of the candiru from the BBC:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Aislinn Maestas TITLE: Congress gives Interior programs a treat STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: congress-gives-interior-programs-a-treat DATE: 10/30/2009 02:30:31 PM ----- BODY:

Money

Yesterday, Congress handed out a giant treat to agencies charged with protecting and managing our nation's wildlife and natural resources. The House and Senate have approved a $32.2 billion Interior and Environment Appropriations bill -- a $4.7 billion increase over 2009 funding levels -- which gives a much needed boost to conservation programs across the board and provides agencies the resources they need to take on new climate change initiatives. The bill includes:

$450 million to protect lands for conservation, recreation, and wildlife habitat under the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

$641 million to protect the nation's Great Bodies of Water, including the Chesapeake Bay, Puget Sound, Long Island Sound, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Champlain, and Lake Pontchartrain. $475 million of this money will go toward Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

$385 million for programs that address global climate change, including $67 million for priority climate change research at the U.S. Geological Survey, $15 million for USGS's National Global Warming and Wildlife Science Center, which will help safeguard wildlife threatened by climate change, and $55 million for on-the-ground monitoring and climate safeguards in national parks, national wildlife refuges, and other public lands.

$90 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program, which provides state wildlife agencies and their partners a broad suite of proactive conservation tools.

$503.3 million for the National Wildlife Refuge System to provide critically needed staff, implement climate change strategies, and improve conservation efforts.

Here's what NWF's Legislative Director, Corry Westbrook, had to say about the news

"Like a shot of adrenalin, this bill will breathe new life into our nation's conservation programs.For too long, key conservation programs and agencies and have been shortchanged and undercut. Congress has reached the bar set by President Obama by delivering the best Interior appropriations bill we have seen in years.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Wildlife Vampires - Part 3 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wildlife-vampires-part-3 CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 10/30/2009 08:00:00 AM ----- BODY:

This is the third post in our series about real life wildlife vampires.  Click here for part one and part two.

Oxpeckers and Vampire Finches

Oxpecker flickr There are several bird species that form symbiotic relationships with larger animals.  The larger animals tolerate the birds’ presence on their bodies, leaving the birds free to feast upon ticks and other parasites that are lodged in the skin feeding upon the animals’ blood.  It’s a win-win situation. But oxpeckers are birds that take it one step further.  Not only do they feed upon parasitic invertebrates, they are happy to consume bits of flesh and blood of their host animals while they’re at it. 

Vampire finches inhabit the Galapagos Islands and supplement their diet of seeds, insects and nectar with the blood of other birds, usually the blue-footed booby.  They peck a hole in the flesh of the booby to get the larger bird’s blood and strangely, the boobies hardly seem to notice.

Leeches

Few animals evoke the “icky-creepies” in people as much as worms do with their slimy squirminess and their faceless, legless bodies.  When such a creature also feeds upon human blood, it only adds to the horror factor.  Such is the case with leeches.  These parasitic worms attach themselves to their host and bloat themselves on blood.  While most leeches are external parasites, some species will swim into nasal cavities and stay there, feeding and growing. Capable of holding undigested blood in their stomachs, parasitic leeches can go months between feedings.

VIDEO: Watch some leeches in action!

Oxpecker Photo:http://www.flickr.com/photos/arnolouise/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Boxer Pushes to Move Senate Climate Bill Forward STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: boxer-pushes-to-move-senate-climate-bill-forward CATEGORY: Global Warming CATEGORY: Politics CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 10/29/2009 05:00:38 PM ----- BODY:

Denier in chief Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) is threatening to try to block the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act, the historic clean energy & climate legislation before the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee. But Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) isn't taking no for an answer:

Responding to the Republican complaints, Boxer insisted that she is holding "an unprecedented number of legislative hearings" on the climate bill, with more than 50 witnesses who have been asked to offer their comments after reading the entire 923-page proposal.

"We have an analysis that I'd say is one of the most thorough ever done," Boxer said.

The California Democrat said U.S. EPA took two weeks to study her proposal, and she also lumped in the five weeks that the agency took this spring to analyze H.R. 2454 (pdf), the House bill written by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.).

Have you contacted your senator to urge them to pass strong clean energy & climate legislation this year? It only takes a minute through our Climate Action Center. From polar bears to panthers, wildlife will thank you for it!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Barbara Boxer, climate, global warming, Congress, energy, environment ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Hearing Raises New Questions About Coal Lobby Group STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: hearing-raises-new-questions-about-coal-lobby-group CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 10/29/2009 03:57:04 PM ----- BODY:

The House Select Committee for Eneregy Independence & Global Warming held a hearing this morning on the coal lobby letter fraud. A firm called Bonner & Associates sent phony letters to three members of Congress opposing the American Clean Energy & Security Act that passed the House in June.

But as Mother Jones' Kate Sheppard reports, there are now new questions about whether the head of a coal lobby group may have lied under oath:

In testimony before Congress on Thursday, Steve Miller, CEO for American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a major coal industry lobby group, stated under oath that his organization "has never opposed the Waxman-Markey bill."

But ACCCE's previous statements indicate otherwise. On the day that the House passed the legislation, Miller himself issued a press release stating, "ACCCE cannot support this bill, as it is written because the legislation still does not adequately protect consumers and the domestic economy."

You can read much more on today's TPM hearing liveblog.

And don't forget, if you think you may be a victim of similar forgeries, you can contact our Polluter Fraud Tipline.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: politics, coal, energy, environment, Congress, coal, Bonner, ACCCE, lobbying ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Wildlife Vampires - Part 2 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wildlife-vampires-part-2 CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 10/29/2009 12:00:00 PM ----- BODY:

Here's the second post in our series about real life wildlife vampires....

Mosquitoes

For mosquitoes, it’s the ladies who are the bloodsuckers.  Both sexes feed on flower nectar as their main source of nutrients.  Only when she’s ready to reproduce does the female mosquito seek out a blood meal.  She needs the added protein boost in order to lay her eggs and create a whole new generation of lady vampires.

Lampreys

These eel-like creatures are something right out of science fiction horror.  Their disc-shaped mouths are filled with circles of razor-sharp teeth, which they use to bore into the flesh of their victims.  They can remain attached for days or even weeks, all the while sucking in blood and body fluids.  One species, the sea lamprey, has been introduced into the Great Lakes where it has become a problematic invasive exotic species.  This lamprey can grow to almost 2 feet in length and the native lake fish it feeds upon often don’t survive the draining.

VIDEO: Lampreys don't typically bother humans, but not always.

Even scary wildlife isn’t safe from habitat destruction, global warming, pollution and other human-caused problems. Read more about real life wildlife vampires at nwf.org/nationalwildlife.

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The development of uranium mining around the Grand Canyon has been a tug of war between mining companies, local residents and government agencies.


While visitors to the Grand Canyon area see impressive vistas, rock formations and wildlife populations, some of these companies see an opportunity for destructive and consumptive land use.

GrandCanyon_NPS

Fortunately, Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, restored protection of this one million-acre area surrounding the Grand Canyon again this July. The ban restricts all new uranium mining projects for a two-year period in which the U.S. Department of the Interior will evaluate mining impacts on the lands.


Mining companies claim that because their projects must follow Clean Water Act and National Environmental Policy Act standards, they are safe. Yet no total assessment of uranium mining in the Grand Canyon area has been undertaken until now.


Although an exploration permit does not guarantee actual drilling will be approved, Grand Canyon admirers and residents of the area have every reason to be concerned with the impacts of mining. The canyon is one of our nation's most impressive natural destinations and it’s disheartening to think this refuge for wildlife and outdoor activists alike is not free from harmful mining practices.


One tributary of the Colorado River--Horn Creek--is under investigation due to its high radioactive levels. The Colorado River is not just a stream meandering along the Grand Canyon, it also provides water to millions of people and wildlife surrounding the desert area.


Not only is the radioactivity of water a concern, but also the leaching of mercury and arsenic from these mines. Residents relying on water from the Colorado River can't settle for an answer that its "safe enough" until a proper assessment is done.


There has been an outpouring of support for the ban of new uranium mining from American Indian tribes, Arizona residents and city and county officials, but you don't have to be a resident of the West to show how much you value the preservation of America's Grand Canyon lands.


Add your voice today by telling the Bureau of Land Management to approve a long-term ban of new uranium mining projects near the precious lands of the Grand Canyon.


By Kolleen Kawa, National Wildlife Federation

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Wildlife Vampires - Part 1 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wildlife-vampires CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 10/28/2009 04:44:51 PM ----- BODY:

Who’s your favorite vampire?  Do you swoon over Edward Cullen and Bill Compton, or are classic bloodsuckers like Count Dracula and Lestat de Lioncourt more your style?  As fun as it is to obsess over and be scared by these fictional vampires, the real things are much more fascinating.   In honor of Halloween, here is the first of a several posts on the living, breathing vampires that might just be stalking you.

Vampire bat

Any discussion of bloodsucking animals has to start with vampire bats.  Meet Desmodus rotundus and his cousins Diphylla ecaudata and Diaemus youngi, known respectively as the common, hairy-legged and white-winged vampire bats. 

Found only in the Americas, their collective range goes from Mexico down through Argentina.  These bats feed exclusively on the blood of other animals.  The common vampire bat typically goes for mammals, including domestic cows and horses, while the other two species prefer to feed upon birds—although the occasional human does make it on the menu. 

Thankfully, the bite of one of these bats won’t turn you into a vampire although the wounds can become infected.


Bed Bug

The goodnight rhyme “nite nite, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite” takes on macabre twist when you learn that in the last few years, these little vampires are on the rise. Nearly eradicated in North America for 50 years, bed bugs are back with a blood-sucking vengeance, showing up everywhere from high-end hotels to college dorms to rural bedrooms. 

After their victims fall asleep, bed bugs emerge from their hiding places in cracks and crevices and insert their sucking mouthparts in a series of bites along the blood vessels, drinking as they go and leaving as series of red, itchy welts.

Even scary wildlife isn’t safe from habitat destruction, global warming, pollution and other human-caused problems. Read more about real life wildlife vampires at nwf.org/nationalwildlife.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Senate Climate Hearings, Day 2 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: senate-climate-hearings-day-2 DATE: 10/28/2009 03:57:46 PM ----- BODY:

I've been at the Dirksen Senate office building all day, as the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee considers clean energy & climate legislation. You can read my minute by minute recap of the hearing over at DailyKos.

Later this afternoon, National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger will be testifying on the need for strong climate action to protect American's natural resources. I caught up with Larry during a break to preview his testimony:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Congress, Senate, climate, global warming, energy, clean energy, environment ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF's Larry Schweiger to Testify on Capitol Hill STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwfs-larry-schweiger-to-testify-on-capitol-hill CATEGORY: Global Warming CATEGORY: Larry Schweiger CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 10/28/2009 07:15:00 AM ----- BODY:

National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger is set to testify before the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee today. Here's what Larry wrote on his blog yesterday previewing the hearing:

I’ll be testifying in front of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee on the need to safeguard wildlife and natural resources and the essential services they provide to every American from the disastrous effects of climate change. See my testimony in support of natural resources adaptation funding in the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.

And today Sen. Jeff Bingaman introduced legislation, co-sponsored by Sens. Baucus, Whitehouse, and Udall, called the "Natural Resources Climate Adaptation Act" that calls for dedicated funding for natural resources and wildlife safeguards.

With the momentum we’re gaining on these fronts and the findings from the CNN poll released today that 60% of Americans support cap and trade climate legislation, we are now in our best position ever to win on natural resources safeguards and federal climate legislation.

You can read Larry's opening statement here (PDF). We'll have more details on the hearing later in the day!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Congress, Larry Schweiger, National Wildlife Federation ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Can All Senators Hear Growing Clamor for Clean Energy? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: can-all-senators-hear-growing-clamor-for-clean-energy CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 10/27/2009 06:38:38 PM ----- BODY:

I spent the day watching the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee's hearing on the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act. But while I listened to Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) deny even basic climate science, what was most remarkable was the news coming in from outside the hearing room:

Were the advocates of denial and delay listening to the news just outside the hearing room doors?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Congress, politics, clean energy, energy, environment, climate, global warming ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Global Patriot EMAIL: Converse@GlobalPatriot.com IP: 75.36.52.78 URL: http://GlobalPatriot.com DATE: 10/27/2009 09:38:21 PM The people want it, and the planet needs it, but the powerful lobbyists are fighting any sort of meaningful change - it's profit over people. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New Video: Why the Clean Energy Jobs Act Matters STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-video-why-the-clean-energy-jobs-act-matters CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 10/27/2009 06:09:42 PM ----- BODY:

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) released this video today on the Kerry-Boxer Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: climate, global warming, environment, California, Barbara Boxer, Congress, politics, video ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: An Inconvenient Truth In The Classroom: Free High School Curriculum STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: an-inconvenient-truth-in-the-classroom-free-high-school-curriculum DATE: 10/26/2009 04:22:13 PM ----- BODY:

Teens-module-foreducators-sample Many Americans have seen the Oscar-winning film documentary, An inconvenient Truth.  It is based on a powerful visual and factual presentation on the realities of global warming that was developed through many years of hard work by former U.S. Vice President, Al Gore. 

The National Wildlife Federation has, in cooperation with Mr. Gore, and with the support of film producer Particpant Media and the Tosa Foundation, developed an Incovenient Truth high school curriculum that focuses on the science of global warming and educational activities about global warming solutions. 

The curriculum and other materials on climate change education can be found on the NWF Climate Classroom website which has age-differentiated sections for both teens and younger children and a wide range od useful parent, child and educator resources.

Click here and scroll down the page to access and download free copies of An Incovenient Truth high school curriculum.    

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A Spanish photographer has won the 2009 Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year award for a photo of an Iberian wolf:

He eventually captured it using a photographic trap that included a motion sensor and an infrared barrier to operate the camera.

He hopes that his picture, "showing the wolf's great agility and strength", will become an image that can be used to show just how beautiful the Iberian wolf is and how the Spanish can be proud to have such an emblematic animal.

(via Andrew Sullivan)

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: wolf, wildlife, photos, photography, Iberian wolf ----- -------- AUTHOR: Anne Keisman TITLE: NWF Shines on Today Show with "Wild Things" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-shines-on-today-show-with-wild-things CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 10/22/2009 12:24:19 PM ----- BODY:

Check out NWF spokesperson Dave Mizejewski on NBC's the Today Show this morning. He brought a cabybara, a beaver, two baby African lions, and more.

The animals were squirmy, but Dave demonstrated his expert handling skills!

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350.org This Saturday, October 24, thousands of communities around the world will be participating in the International Day of Climate Action.

Organized by 350.org, the day of action aims to unite the efforts of climate action advocates across the globe to increase public awareness on the need for meaningful political change to address global warming.

Specifically, participants in this weekend's actions will be working to heighten attention on the need for a strong international climate treaty to reach "350 parts per million"--the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere that scientists and climate experts say is a safe limit for humanity. As 350.org explains further:

"Accelerating arctic warming and other early climate impacts have led scientists to conclude that we are already above the safe zone at our current 390ppm, and that unless we are able to rapidly return to 350 ppm this century, we risk reaching tipping points and irreversible impacts such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and major methane releases from increased permafrost melt."

Over the past few weeks, National Wildlife Federation supporters have been prepping for their engagement with the international day of action too.

NWF's Forest Justice campaign has partnered with 350.org to organize film screenings on dozens of campuses across the country of Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai -- a film to help us raise awareness about the devastating effects of deforestation and climate change on our world.

In addition to the film screenings, NWF supporters will also be joining actions in cities such as Honolulu and Seattle.

How You Can Be Part of the Action!

As mentioned, hundreds of actions will be taking place in cities across America this week, and it's not too late for you to join in!

  1. To find out about actions happening near you visit www.350.org/map

  2. Even if you can't come out to one of the events this weekend you can still add your voice to the millions calling for bold action to confront global warming today.

By Dominique Burgunder-Johnson, National Wildlife Federation

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New Report: Failed Energy Policies Cost Americans $120 Billion a Year STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-report-failed-energy-policies-cost-americans-120-billion-a-year CATEGORY: Energy Policy CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 10/22/2009 09:43:34 AM ----- BODY:

"Energy and climate-change legislation winding through Congress might make economic sense even if you don’t believe for a second in climate change."

The words of some treehugging liberal? Not exactly. They're from Keith Johnson reporting in the Wall Street Journal, one of the most conservative newspapers in America.

Johnson's talking about a new report from the National Research Council called "Hidden Costs of Energy: Unpriced Consequences of Energy Production and Use":

America’s current energy mix carries a “hidden cost” of about $120 billion a year, the report found. And that number doesn’t include any tally for the cost of greenhouse-gas emissions or climate change—estimates for climate costs range from $1 to $100 a ton of carbon dioxide emissions, but are so variable the report didn’t quantify them. The figure also doesn’t include other hidden costs, such as the portion of the U.S. military expenditure needed to protect global oil production and transport.

The report concludes that for a fraction of that $120 billion figure, climate legislation like the House's recently-passed American Clean Energy & Security Act could improve our energy efficiency, boost clean energy and cut our global warming pollution.

The Senate is set to consider similar legislation next month. Please take a moment to tell your Senators to support the Clean Energy Jobs Act. Once you do, tell your friends -- both in person and online. We can make a real difference to protect our wallets -- and our wildlife!

Photo via Flickr's Heather Mladek

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy, environment, Congress, Clean Energy Jobs Act, American Clean Energy & Security Act, oil, consumers, efficiency, money, climate, global warming ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Pigeon Takes on Eagles STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: pigeon-takes-on-eagles CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 10/21/2009 04:01:00 PM ----- BODY:

I'm a big football fan, but it's not often I get to do a football-related post here on Wildlife Promise. Here's a clip from one of Sunday's games that featured a pigeon following the players up and down the field. It wasn't just the one play featured here -- I watched a good portion of the second half of this game and the pigeon was rarely further than 10 yards away from the line of scrimmage.

The best part? The game featured the Oakland Raiders against the Philadelphia Eagles. (Yes, I'm easily amused.) Check it out:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders, pigeon, bird, NFL ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Recap of NWF's Wild Rumpus Day STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: recap-of-nwfs-wild-rumpus-day DATE: 10/21/2009 12:09:56 PM ----- BODY:

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcwashington.com/video.

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A telltale sign of autumn is the appearance of woolly bear caterpillars moving across backyards, sidewalks and roads.  These fat, furry caterpillars are looking for safe places to spend the winter.  They spend the cold months dormant under decaying logs and fallen leaves, and in this state can survive temperatures well below freezing.  Come spring, they’ll create cocoons and pupate, eventually emerging as Isabella tiger moths (Pyrrharctia isabella).

These cute black and reddish-brown caterpillars are famed for being able to predict the oncoming winter.  According to folklore, the wider the caterpillar’s brown band, the less severe winter will be.  A smaller brown band means you're in store for a very harsh winter.  But is it true?  According to the Farmer’s Almanac, there just might be some validity to the story.

You can help woolly bears by creating a habitat for them right in your own yard or garden. You can also report your woolly bear sightings on NWF's Wildlife Watch website.

Check out this video for some fun facts on these cool insects:


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Last Chance to Submit Video to YouTube's Video Volunteer Contest STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: last-chance-to-submit-video-to-youtubes-video-voluneer-contest CATEGORY: Web/Tech DATE: 10/20/2009 04:18:26 PM ----- BODY: ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Protecting America's Wild Places from Climate Change STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: protecting-americas-wild-places-from-climate-change CATEGORY: Sports DATE: 10/20/2009 09:50:21 AM ----- BODY:

A surprising constituency continues crossing party lines to support climate legislation -- sportsmen:

One of their worries, for example, is that the fowl they hunt might not migrate as far south if northern U.S. states become warmer.

"If you go out and hunt at the same time in the same season and the same place every year, then you understand the changes that are happening," said Jeremy Symons, senior vice president for conservation at the National Wildlife Federation, which claims a membership 420,000 sportsmen in 46 states.

These groups will be going up against powerful Washington lobbies -- the coal and oil industries, for example -- that are pushing hard to soften any mandatory pollution controls.

Learn more about how you can get involved in the fight to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act in the Senate in the NWF Climate Action Center.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: hunters, anglers, fishing, sportsmen, climate, global warming, environment ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Running for Wildlife is No Easy Task STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: running-for-wildlife-is-no-easy-task CATEGORY: Earth Day DATE: 10/19/2009 11:34:55 AM ----- BODY:

Below is the story of how NWF's VP of Membership, Dave Strauss, attempted to run 100 miles to honor Craig Tufts and wildlife protection.

Dave Oil Creek Race Hello all,
 
Before I get into too much detail about the race, I would like to thank YOU for your support in raising over $10,000 for the Craig Tufts Volunteer Education Fund!!!!  This is an enormous success and I couldn’t have done it without you.


 

I would especially like to thank Debbi (my wife) for putting up with me over the past 6 months during my training and the run.  I would also like to thank Jean Tufts, Mike Schweikart, Marni deLeon, and Mike and Angela Lunter for crewing and pacing me during the race.
 
So…many people have been asking me questions like “Did you finish?”,“How did you do?” and “What was it like?”  Below is an account of my experience at attempting a 100 mile trail run in the mountains of Pennsylvania.
 
We (a team of people to crew for me during the race) arrived at Titusville Middle School in northwestern Pennsylvania at 6:00 p.m. for the pre-race dinner and announcements.  I had been fighting a cold for the past week and was still feeling a little worn out – I had a low grade fever at this point and was wondering how I was going to feel in the morning when I woke up.
 
We got up at 4:00 am (feeling good/not great) – got our gear packed up, prepped ourselves for the race and drove to the middle school for a 5:00 am start.  We (all 85 of us) lined up to start the race and off we went into the dark, misty morning.  The course consisted of three 31 mile loops on the Gerard Hiking Trail and an additional 7 miles at the very end.  The terrain was rocky, root covered, hilly (VERY HILLY) and muddy from a weeks worth of rain.
 
The first loop was somewhat uneventful.  Other than feeling a dizzy at mile marker 17, I finished it in 6 hours and 30 minutes.  I little faster than I would have liked but still felt strong.
 
The second loop was a different story.  At mile marker 33 I twisted my ankle – I didn’t pay much attention to it, but after the race I noticed that it was swollen and probably sprained.  At mile marker 38, I lost my balance and fell directly on my hip bone.  This one really hurt and it took me a few minutes to get myself together (I now have a very large bruise where I landed).  During the second lap, I must have fallen another half dozen times because of the rocks and roots throughout the course.  I finished this loop in 7 hours and 30 minutes. Still a little fast and was beginning to feel the wear and tear on my body. 
 
The next 14 miles were the most grueling.  I was fortunate to have a pacer (Angela Lunter) otherwise, I don’t know if I would have made it to the aid station.  This part of the course is extremely hilly.  Because of all the pounding on my toes during the downhill runs, my toe nails were separated from the cuticles and my toes had blisters on top of blisters.  The pain became unbearable.  During the last stretch, I was only able to hobble down the hills because of the pain.  In addition, I think the cold finally zapped all of my energy and I had nothing left in my tank.  At the mile 75 aid station, it was the end of my quest to complete the 100 miler.  I had nothing left in me and kept thinking there was no way in the world I could do another 25 miles. 

In the end, I finished the 75 miles in 18 hours and 30 minutes.  It was an amazing experience and just shows that one can exceed all expectations both physically and mentally if you put your mind to it.  I am not at all disappointed with the results.  I gave it everything I had and then some. 

 Again, I want to thank you for all of your support during the race.  Click to watch one of the videos during my run.

 

Happy Trails,


 

Dave Strauss




Feel free to leave comments for Dave-- congratulating him on a race well done! :)

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Learn more at the Clean Energy Works website.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Big Oil, Exxon Mobil, American Petroleum Institute, politics, energy, clean energy, environment, Clean Energy Works ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Where The Wild Things Are: A "Monster" Hit With Great NWF Educational Materials STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: where-the-wild-things-are-a-monster-hit-with-great-nwf-educational-materials DATE: 10/18/2009 10:32:21 PM ----- BODY:

BOT logo The feature film, Where The Wild Things Are, has become a smash hit in the box office, exceeding anyone's expectations. As educational partner to the film, NWF's Be Out There Campaign has teamed up with Warner Bros. to make the film more educational and accessible to young minds. To that end we have developed a number of educational supplements that encourage parents and children to spend more time outdoors.  

They include:

For more information on the NWF Be Out There parent's education campaign please visit our website.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Micah EMAIL: micah.composting@gmail.com IP: 125.60.173.7 URL: http://www.vegetablegardeningideas.com DATE: 10/22/2009 03:47:13 AM This is a great post.. Very informative... I can see that you put a lot of hard work on your every post that's why I think I'd come here more often. Keep it up! By the way, you can also drop by my blogs. They're about Vegetable Gardening and Composting. I'm sure you'd find my blogs helpful too. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Best weight loss supplements EMAIL: dietfinder@findadiet.net IP: 208.53.131.117 URL: http://findadiet.net/best-weight-loss-supplements DATE: 11/10/2009 08:59:42 AM I'm glad to see this movie doing well. The book was one of my favorites as a kid, and the movie looks to relive those moments. I have yet to see it, but I hope my kids enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the book. Mary ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Wolves Do It, Moose Do It, Even Orange Clownfish Do It. Will You? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wolves-do-it-moose-do-it-even-orange-clownfish-do-it-will-you CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 10/15/2009 01:47:26 PM ----- BODY:

Today a college student will graduate with thousands in debt and a difficult job search.


Momclimaterally


Tomorrow, if we take action now to confront the climate challenge, college students might find themselves in a booming green jobs market.


Today, American children live with the risk of increased fires, increased droughts, more severe storms and increased health risks. Heat waves disproportionately affect kids with asthma and increased flooding means increased waterborne diseases like e.coli and West Nile virus.


Kidsoutside_antler400


Tomorrow, if we take action now to confront the climate challenge, our children could have a safe and healthy place to grow up in and the promise of a diverse and thriving planet.


In nature, wolf packs all come together to raise pups. Wolf parents can count on the whole pack to babysit, teach and look after newborn pups. Every wolf does what it takes to make sure the pups grow up healthy and strong.


Moosecalf2 Credit FWS


Moose mothers are also protective, forming close bonds with their calves and making sure they survive their first harsh winters.


For the orange clownfish, the father takes on much of the protective role by guarding the eggs from predators and keeping the place clean right up until the eggs hatch.


Reef0907 Credit NOAA


We can take a tip from nature and step up to protect America's children.


By speaking up for the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act; by promising to reduce our carbon emissions 20% by 2020; by creating a green jobs market; and by making sure polluters can no longer get away with releasing dangerous levels of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, we can safeguard our natural world for generations to come.


Urge your senators to pass the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act today.


This post is part of Blog Action Day and was written with the help of Rachel Faulkner.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jennifer Jones TITLE: CBO Counts Costs of Climate Action, But Not Benefits? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: cbo-counts-costs-of-climate-action-but-not-benefits CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 10/15/2009 12:17:52 PM ----- BODY:

If only Paul Harvey were still with us! It seems Douglas W. Elmendorf is having some trouble telling the rest of the story.

The Congressional Budget Office director testified on Capitol Hill yesterday about the economic impacts of clean energy & climate legislation. Elmendorf warned the economy might not grow quite as fast with global warming pollution limits, then admitted his estimates “do not include any benefits of averting climate change.”

Elmendorf's testimony led to scare headlines in the Washington Post implying economic Armageddon. But what does a ".25 to .75 percent reduction in GNP" really look like, especially over decades of still-robust economic growth? Check out this graphic from EDF:

And again: Even that leaves out the cost of inaction -- the financial consequences of severe storms on our cities, impacts to the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat.

If we fail to curb our global warming pollution, how much will the costs add up, and how fast? NRDC puts the initial figure at $271 billion, not at some point generations in the future, but in 2025 -- just 16 years from now.

Severe weather is already becoming the norm, not the exception. Just last month in Georgia, nearly 22 inches of rain in one week shut down major highways and bridges, killed 10 people, and forced hundreds to evacuate. In Atlanta, repairs to sewer treatment plants will take weeks. Estimates of property losses now range from $250 million to $1 billion.

Floods and severe storms are among the most costly kind of weather and climate disaster in the United States, together costing the country more than $115 billion in direct damages from 1960-2005. And that figure doesn’t count the costs of hurricanes – from 1998 to 2005, the 12 hurricanes to hit the U.S. caused 2321 deaths and $241 billion in damage (2007 dollars).

And now you know ... the rest of the story. (Sorry, had to say it!)

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: climate, global warming, clean energy, economy, jobs, Congressional Budget Office ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Be Out There: Kids' Activity Guide for "Where The Wild Things Are" Film STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: be-out-there-kids-activity-guide-for-where-the-wild-things-are-film DATE: 10/14/2009 08:13:06 PM ----- BODY:

WTWTA_Ad National Wildlife Federation, through its new Be Out There Campaign, has teamed up with Warner Bros. by providing educational support for the new feature film -- Where the Wild Things Are -- based on the renowned childrens' book by Maurice Sendak.

The film will be in theaters soon and supports the NWF Be Out There Campaign goal of providing more outdoor time in nature for U.S. children.  Recent surveys show that most children spend just a few minutes per day playing outdoors as compared to an average of 6.3 hours per day indoors staring at television and playing video games.

Parents can now download the fun and beautifully-illustrated 16-page Where the Wild Things Are/Be Out There child's activity guide.    

Dowload Free Guide here.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jess EMAIL: jess@ms.com IP: 87.248.238.205 URL: DATE: 10/15/2009 12:38:50 PM Hi, i have unlimited invite http://vk.com/reg7422008 (activate till 28 october 2009) to new interesting service. This service have the biggest archive of the music for on-line listening. and big film archive. All this things is legal. You can add new friend and communicate with people. its looks like facebook but most interesting. so, try this.+) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: edwin sanchez EMAIL: ccmcluster@gmail.com IP: 66.176.99.44 URL: http://www.vacationrentalsad.com/florida-vacation-rentals-s10 DATE: 10/15/2009 11:41:52 PM I see Where the Wild Things Are as more of an art film than a children's film. ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Celebrate National Wild Rumpus Day STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: be-out-there-and-celebrate-national-wild-rumpus-day- DATE: 10/14/2009 03:41:16 PM ----- BODY:

Be Out There! We will kick-off the official "Be Out There" launch with a "National Wild Rumpus Day" event at a  Washington, D.C. public school, featuring invited local leaders, members of Congress, administration officials, NWF leadership, and Where the Wild Things Are stars Catherine Keener and Max Records, who will participate in “wild” outdoor crafts and games with the children. That evening, NWF will host a red-carpet event, screening and benefit.



Where the Wild Things Are, officially opens October 16, and the first National Wild Rumpus Day will celebrate getting outside and exploring the natural world with our imaginations. Check out www.beoutthere.org to download the activity poster and other great materials and tools to help children find the wild thing within them.

Download the Educator's Guide for Where the Wild Things Are

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: CSavage EMAIL: csavage@LCFPD.org IP: 204.58.204.2 URL: DATE: 10/15/2009 10:24:01 AM So - which date is National Wild Rumpus Day? Oct 16? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: What's Next for Senate Clean Energy Jobs Act? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: whats-next-for-senate-clean-energy-jobs-act CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 10/14/2009 12:46:00 PM ----- BODY:

I just stopped by the office of Joe Mendelson, the National Wildlife Federation's global warming policy director, to get his take on this weekend's game-changing guest editorial in the New York Times from Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC):

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: politics, Congress, climate, energy, global warming, NWF, environment, John Kerry, Lindsey Graham, video, Senate ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Christine EMAIL: dorsey@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 10/14/2009 01:28:40 PM I think Joe's right - Republican Sen. Graham's op-ed with Sen. Kerry over the weekend really shows the bipartisan effort to tackle global warming. Sen. Graham is really showing some leadership on this issue - good for him! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: larryschweiger EMAIL: IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: http://profile.typepad.com/larryschweiger DATE: 10/14/2009 09:41:02 PM I agree with Joe. This is a gamechanger since Sen. Graham's leadership gives other conservative leaders the space to step forward. Sen. Graham is showing that climate change isn't about left or right but is about economic opportunity, energy independence and national security for everyone. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Be Out There: Five Great Online Tools For Parents To Increase Their Kids' Outdoor Time STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: be-out-there-five-great-online-tools-for-parents-to-increase-their-kids-outdoor-time- DATE: 10/13/2009 10:24:01 PM ----- BODY:

Be Out There LogoMoms and dads who want to increase the amount of outdoor play time their kids are getting each week can find valuable help from the National Wildlife Federation's Be Out There parents' education program by using five terrific online tools.

They include: 

1. Be Out There: Green Hour parents' support program - with daily activity guides, social networks, audio guides, parent safety tips and more.

2. NatureFind - an easy-to-use online zipcode-based locator tool for parks, recreation sites, trails and nature centers near you. It also includes events and activities.

3. Wildlife Watch - a great online tool for going out and identifying wildlife, recording observations, uploading photos and sharing notes.

4. Garden for Wildlife - helps families attract birds, butterflies and wildlife directly to their home and makes the yard a great place to play and observe nature.

5. Great American Backyard Campout - a year-round tool for family camping or a chance to sign up for a nationwide backyard campout in June each year.

Learn more about the goals and approach of NWF's Be Out There parents' education campaign and our new partnership with Warner Bros.' feature film Where The Wild Things Are.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Moms and dads who want to increase the amount of outdoor play time their kids are getting each week can find valuable help from the National Wildlife Federation's Be Out There parents' education program by using five terrific online tools. ----- KEYWORDS: Where the Wild Things Are, be out there, green hour, nwf, national wildlife federation, kids, parents, parenting, children, nature ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: cynthia rohrbach EMAIL: cynrohr@bellsouth.net IP: 170.141.56.4 URL: DATE: 12/07/2009 02:14:41 PM Please add Stillhouse Hollow Falls Natural Area, Big Swan Headwaters Preserve, and Natchez Trace Parkway (many marked sites to explore along this federal road). When I searched 38483 zip code, none of these came up, although they are all within 25 miles of the 38483 location. Thanks! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Al Gore Predicts Passage of Senate Clean Energy Jobs Act STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: al-gore-predicts-passage-of-senate-clean-energy-jobs-act DATE: 10/13/2009 10:21:00 PM ----- BODY: GoreSEJ

Here's a guest post from Jeff Alexander in the National Wildlife Federation's Great Lakes Regional Center:

Former Vice President Al Gore predicted Friday that the U.S. Senate will soon approve the Clean Energy Jobs Act that will cut carbon pollution that contributes to climate change.

Speaking at the Society of Environmental Journalists annual conference in Madison, Wis., Gore said there is more bipartisan support in the Senate for the energy bill than is evident. Gore said that several Republican senators, behind closed doors, support a federal clean energy bill.

“I think it’s more likely than not that we will have Senate bill passed and in conference committee by the time the Copenhagen conference takes place,” Gore said. “I think we’ll see the emergence of 60 votes.”

The December Climate Conference in Copenhagen is a step toward replacing the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. The Senate will soon begin deliberations on the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act of 2009.

We have everything we need, with the possible exception of political will” to solve the climate crisis, Gore said. He called the task of slowing global warming an awesome responsibility.

“Never before in human history has a single generation — those of us alive today — been asked to make such difficult and consequential decisions that will have implications for all succeeding generations,” Gore said. “This is up to us … I believe we are more than up to it.”

Photo via Flickr's ElsaMary

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Society of Environmental Journalists, Al Gore, environment, energy, politics, Senate, Congress, global warming, climate ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Post your Wildlife Videos to YouTube STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: post-your-wildlife-videos-to-youtube DATE: 10/13/2009 09:56:44 PM ----- BODY:

Don't forget to submit your wildlife videos to YouTube's Video Volunteer Project on behalf of National Wildlife Federation.  The deadline is October 22.  Click here for all the details, and check out this video.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: National Security & Clean Energy: Operation Free Launches New Push STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: national-security-clean-energy-operation-free-launches-new-push CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 10/13/2009 12:03:12 PM ----- BODY:

A veterans group called Operation Free is launching a national bus tour this week in support of clean energy. The group is highlighting the national security connection of clean energy & climate action -- if we can break our dependence on dirty oil, we'll free our foreign policy from ties to hostile regimes that feed our oil addiction.



Follow all the latest news on the tour at the Operation Free blog!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy, national security, veterans, environment, oil, clean energy ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Be Out There: Seven Safe Ways For Kids To Have More Outdoor Play Time STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: be-out-there-seven-safe-ways-for-kids-have-more-outdoor-play-time- DATE: 10/13/2009 09:02:45 AM ----- BODY:

Be out there Today's parents are concerned about the safety of their children when they are playing outdoors.  There is more traffic on the streets and more worries about other harms befalling them such as "stranger danger."   While the neighborhood may be very safe -- conscientious parents still want some added assurance.  Here are some proven Be Out There ways that parents across America are providing safe outdoor play time for kids.  

The yard – is still a great place to catch a  few minutes outdoors.  Even better if a few steps are taking to make it more interesting.  Most kids are good about sticking to their own properties.  Make the rules clear, tell them not to wander off and let them play awhile.

 

Play Groups – kids playing outside together are quite safe.  In some neighborhoods parents have arranged regular outdoor play times where kids meet and have fun together for an hour or two.  The kids love it and so do the parents.

 

Day care – most child care facilities are required to provide outdoor play space for children but not all of them use it on a regular basis.  A reminder to the center from parents about the importance of outdoor time for growing minds and bodies goes a long way.

 

“Buddy” walks to school – only about one-in-nine kids walks to school these days even if they live within a few blocks.  That is down from about half of kids 25 years ago.  Parents living fairly close to school can arrange for two or three kids in the neighborhood to meet up and walk to school together.  It is good exercise and good companionship.

 

After school programs – whether that are educational classes or extended day programs, they are another important way for children to get outdoor play time.  Friendly parental reminders to teachers and after school staff can help here too.

 

School recess – kids need an outdoor break during their school day.  They need to breathe some fresh air, run around, blow off steam and have fun with one another.  In recent years schools have been so focused on statewide test performance that many have cut out recess breaks.  Parents can look into this and bring it up as an important opportunity for children to have more outdoor time.

 

Time for two (or three)– there are many moments each week when a the mom or dad is busy indoors and the kids are  planted in front of the television.  It doesn't take much to convert these moments into a walk around the block, a visit to a playground or a quick game in the backyard.  Parents who look for these opportunities whether a few minutes or an hour will have happier and healthier children.

For more information on ways to get children outdoors and places to enjoy outdoor time vists NWF's Be Out There site.   

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Be Out There: The Ten Reasons Parents Should Care About Outdoor Time For Kids STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: be-out-there-the-ten-reasons-parents-should-care-about-outdoor-time-for-kids DATE: 10/12/2009 12:10:29 PM ----- BODY:

Be out there The National Wildlife Federation's new Be Out There Campaign aims to educate tens of million of U.S. moms and dads on the importance of helping their kids have more time outdoors and providing tools to do so. 

Here is Be Out There's list of the 10 best reasons a parent should care:

1.  Stronger bones and lower cancer risk: Today's "indoor kids" don't get enough sun and are becoming Vitamin D deficient, causing health risks.

2. Trimmer and more healthy kids: An hour of play a day is what doctors say is a basic tool in the effort to ward off childhood obesity and diabetes.

3. Improved eyesight: Recent studies find that kids who get outdoor time have less nearsightedness and need for eye glasses.

4. Less depression and hyperactivity: Outdoor time in natural setting (even tree-lined streets) soothes kids and lower their need for medications.

5. Longer attention spans: Children who stare at TV and video games all day have less patience and shorter attention spans.

6. Better at making friends: Children playing together outdoors relate directly with one another, create games together, choose sides and improve their "people" skills.

7. More creative: Outdoor kids are more likely to use their own imaginations, inventions and creativity while playing.

8. Less "acting out" at home and school: Getting kids away from TV violence and video games helps them see that violent behavior does not always solve problems.

9. Measurably better grades in school: The healthy bodies and minds that come with outdoor play are better able to do well in school. 

10: A longer lifespan and healthier adult life: Doctors estimate that sedentary and obese children lose three to five years from their life expectancy.

If none of these practical and important reasons work for you -- consider that a child who spends time outdoors breathes healthier air (than indoors), learns to see the wonders of nature, climbs trees, has more fun and learns a deeper respect for wildlife and natural surroundings.  

Now if we can only get out kids to Be Out There more often!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: The National Wildlife Federation's new Be Out There Campaign aims to educate tens of million of U.S. moms and dads on the importance of helping their kids have more time outdoors and providing tools to do so. ----- KEYWORDS: kids, children, families, outdoors, nature, green hour, parents, parenting ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Rothschild EMAIL: mary@healthymediachoices.org IP: 209.198.114.26 URL: http://www.healthymediachoices.org DATE: 10/13/2009 08:09:54 AM Thanks for this post. Great to be reminded of all the reasons for outside play. It would be helpful, though, to have references to the research behind the statements so people can go deeper into the matter. I would particularly like to see the research on nearsightedness. Again, thanks. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: morrisboyd EMAIL: gailmorris@mac.com IP: 75.97.119.105 URL: DATE: 10/13/2009 11:00:47 AM We are educational planners. We work with architects and school districts designing schools. Many schools are being built in densely populated areas with little access to outdoor fields or play areas. We constantly are trying to justify outside areas for curriculum purposes besides PE. This list is great but it would be a stronger mandate if you could link each point to documented research. thanks ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: October 11: Have You Hugged Your Wildlife Refuge Today? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: october-11-have-you-hugged-your-wildlife-refuge-today DATE: 10/10/2009 08:27:28 PM ----- BODY:

 National Wildlife Refuge Week started today: a great time of year to get outdoors and the natural world.  In a press release about the Week the U.S. Fish and Wildlfie Service said:  

NWR week“President Teddy Roosevelt established tiny Pelican Island in Florida in 1903 as the first National Wildlife Refuge. Roosevelt’s mission was clear: protect Pelican Island’s birds from poachers and plume hunters,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “And with that simple promise of wildlife protection, the National Wildlife Refuge System was born. It is my hope that citizens across the country will take advantage of this weeklong celebration to experience wildlife in their natural habitats and play a firsthand role in conservation by participating in special events and programs, or simply observing and enjoying the great outdoors at a local refuge.”   See full release.

Looking for a way to get outdoors this weekend? Check out NWF's NatureFind search engine If you have a zipcode, you can find great outdoor places (including wildlife refuges) near you!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Northwest Coast's Ocean "Dead Zone" Is Climate-Induced STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: northwest-coasts-ocean-dead-zone-is-climateinduced DATE: 10/10/2009 12:06:57 PM ----- BODY:

Orca noaa Researchers have determined that the summer "dead zone" that occurs along the northwest U.S. coast is becoming permanent and is due to warming climate.   A dead zone in oceans and bays is an area of water depleted of oxygen that causes creatures to have great difficulty.  

Jeff Barnard for Associated Press vis The World reports:

"The ocean dead zone that formed this summer off Oregon was less severe than in years past, but it looks like the phenomenon apparently linked to global warming is here to stay. Oregon State University scientists said Thursday that winds that are a factor in the severity of the phenomenon abated in July, allowing the low-oxygen waters to dissipate before they got too deadly to marine life.

'It really feels like this is the new normal,' said OSU research scientist Francis Chan. 'We have shifted into a set of conditions where the likelihood of seeing this is high every year.'

While most dead zones around the world are formed by pollutants washing down rivers, the one off Oregon appears to be linked to global warming. It has shown up for eight straight years."  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Rachel Faulkner TITLE: NWF & Where The Wild Things Are STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-where-the-wild-things-are DATE: 10/09/2009 01:37:38 PM ----- BODY:

NWF has always been about "wild things," so our latest partnership is especially exciting!
BoT_WTWTA_120x300
The National Wildlife Federation has teamed with the upcoming feature film Where the Wild Things Are, to launch Be Out There™, a national campaign to get families and kids to spend daily time outdoors for their health, happiness and well-being.

Directed by Spike Jonze and based on Maurice Sendak's classic book, Where the Wild Things Are is an adventure for every generation, the story of a sensitive and rambunctious young boy who feels misunderstood at home and escapes to the island of the Wild Things.

As an education partner for the film, National Wildlife Federation shows kids how they can escape into nature and learn about the wild things wherever they live -- with activity guides for kids, parents and teachers. Get outside, explore and imagine!

Inside the kid’s activity guide, children can:

Inside the guide for educators and parents, you’ll find:

Check out the movie, in theaters Oct. 16!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Is Fred Singer Skeptical About Your Issue? How Much You Got? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: is-fred-singer-skeptical-about-your-issue-how-much-you-got CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 10/09/2009 10:54:39 AM ----- BODY:

If he's such a heroic challenger of the scientific consensus, why don't you hear S. Fred Singer denying there's water on the moon? The short answer is, because there's no money in it.

S. Fred will be speaking at today's Flat Earth Society Meeting (Featuring Free Box Lunch!) on Capitol Hill sponsored by Big Oil. For decades now, Singer has been denying the scientific consensus around issues from cigarettes to acid rain to ozone depletion.

Chris Mooney detailed Singer's work in his landmark book, The Republican War on Science. Here's a scene with Singer testifying against the scientific consensus on ozone depletion:

Against this overwhelmingly accepted position, the Republicans pitted Dr. S. Fred Singer, of the Science and Environmental Policy Project (already on record as disputing the dangers of acid rain and other environmental problems), and Dr. Sallie Baliunas, a senior scientist with the George C. Marshall Institute. The two challenged the science the science that had been used to justify an accelerated phaseout of CFCs in 1992. "There is no scientific consensus on ozone depletion or its consequences," Singer declared.

Mooney concludes, "Their blanket skepticism renders them unwilling to accept the current state of scientific understanding, no matter how solid."

I don't think it's a matter of simple contrarianism. It's not that Singer and other "skeptics" inevitably doubt established science. You don't hear Singer fighting the established science on, say, flu vaccines.

There's a common thread on the issues Singer chooses to be vocal on -- cigarettes, acid rain, ozone depletion, global warming: A strong industry financial motive to block government action. If industry starts cutting people huge checks to help it fight regulations and protect its own massive profits, you can bet that good ol' S. Fred will suddenly become passionate about that issue.

But there's a second common thread to Singer's concerns: His cries of certain economic Armageddon if we act are inevitably proven wrong. Is our economy cripped today because we eliminated CFCs to stop ozone depletion? Are people sleeping in the streets because we limited acid rain pollution?

Now he's warning us against clean energy & climate action. Tell your Senators to tune this Singer out.

Photo courtesy ABCNews.com

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: S. Fred Singer, climate, global warming, deniers, environment ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Roald A EMAIL: rcook.truckingco@cox.net IP: 98.165.251.37 URL: DATE: 10/19/2009 06:13:42 PM Telling people to tell their Senators to ignore Fred Singer based on hazy references to cigarettes and acid rain, or with even more vague references to big industry, is going to get them ignored themselves as "conspiracy-driven enviro-nutcases". You've got to get them to read exactly where in his report to the EPA from the late 1990s that he actually said 2nd smoke is harmless. You've got to have them read off the photocopied paycheck stubs to tell the Senators exactly how much he was paid by the oil companies, and you absolutely need them to point to each of the errors in his science reports where you can obviously see the influence from industry execs. You've got to get them to tell the names of the reports showing that CFC's from the northern hemisphere circulated all the way down to Antarctica to make the ozone hole there as big as it was. Dude! Accusations mean nothing to Senators, they hear it all the time from practically everybody who calls them, it makes their eyes glaze over. Hard evidence grabs their attention every time! Haven't you seen it in other forums where guys make some statement and others chime in with "pics, or it didn't happen!" ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Interior Secetary: Kids Spending Just Four Minutes A Day Playing Outdoors STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: interior-secetary-kids-spending-just-four-minutes-a-day-playing-outdoors DATE: 10/08/2009 11:39:56 PM ----- BODY:

Salazar Can you imagine a world where people no longer care about wildlife or nature?  Many of us may feel there is already too little concern for nature but that could get worse as American childhood continues to migrate indoors. Secretary Ken Salazar recently spoke on this critical concern.

The Omaha World Herald reports:

"Children in America spend an average of four minutes a day in the great outdoors, compared with six hours in front of their computers, televisions and other electronic gadgets.U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said that needs to change. Salazar stopped briefly in Omaha Monday as part of a swing through the Midwest. He spoke for about 30 minutes at the National Park Service's regional office, where more than 125 employees of the U.S. Department of Interior gathered to listen to their new chief.

He told the gathered employees in Omaha that one of his top priorities will be to get more of the nation's young people "connected with America's landscape."  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anthony EMAIL: anthonyS13@aol.com IP: 24.251.230.48 URL: DATE: 10/09/2009 02:02:42 AM Ken Salazar, you believe in killing wolves in Yellowstone! You're a hypocrite! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anthony EMAIL: anthonyS13@aol.com IP: 24.251.230.48 URL: DATE: 10/09/2009 02:05:06 AM Look at what Salazar has done. Open your eyes and see that Ken is just another anti-wildlife tyrant. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/13/AR2009031303211.html ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: bsmcintosh EMAIL: IP: 69.7.221.18 URL: http://profile.typepad.com/6p0120a5d216dc970b DATE: 10/09/2009 09:49:18 AM How sad! The children of today will not experience the wonder of the outdoors. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: IP: 69.143.186.99 URL: DATE: 10/09/2009 04:15:46 PM Glad Salazar is talking about this. Now let's see some action! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Flat Earth Society Meeting (Free Box Lunch!) STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: today-flat-earth-society-meeting-free-box-lunch CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 10/08/2009 09:56:01 AM ----- BODY:

Has there ever been such a gathering of global warming denying astroturf groups in one place? Friday's meeting of the Flat Earth Society on Capitol Hill may be breaking a dubious record.

It's titled, "President Obama to be challenged on dire climate warning!" but of course even the title is misleading -- it's not President Obama warning us about climate change, it's thousands of the best scientists in the world.

The event is sponsored by a veritable Who's Who of polluter-funded front groups: the Science and Environmental Policy Project, the Science and Public Policy Institute, the Heartland Institute, Oregon Institute for Science and Medicine, Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow, Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change, and the International Climate Science Coalition.

The featured speakers:

Finally, the news release hypes, in big, red letters:

FREE BOX LUNCH FOR MEDIA!

It goes without saying that real journalists don't eat polluter-funded boxed lunches. Maybe I'll head over there and hang out at the lunch table just to see who does ...

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: global warming, climate, politics, global warming deniers, Heartland Institute, Fred Singer, Roy Spencer, Marc Morano, James Inhofe ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Andrea EMAIL: amcimino9@aol.com IP: 71.191.155.55 URL: DATE: 10/08/2009 07:18:12 PM I would be afraid to know what is in those box lunches. Probably lots of very climate unfriendly foods like beef, lamb, or other type of meat from methane-emitting livestock. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: spider EMAIL: jerome481@gmail.com IP: 69.249.78.221 URL: DATE: 10/09/2009 12:12:54 AM is this even for real? to you have a link? would love to check it out ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: IP: 69.143.186.99 URL: DATE: 10/09/2009 08:02:38 AM Just found the link ... http://www.marshall.org/article.php?id=770 ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: National Wildlife Refuge Week: October 11 -- Looking Ahead STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: national-wildlife-refuge-week-october-11-looking-ahead DATE: 10/07/2009 11:48:13 PM ----- BODY:

DingPortrait In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt officially started the National Wildlife Refuge System when he protected Pelican Island Refuge in Florida.  Some years later, In 1934, and after the ad hoc addition of more refuges along with the passage of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, President Franklin Roosevelt appointed a blue ribbon panel to study waterfowl needs nationwide.  The panel included conservationists Aldo Leopold, Thomas Beck and NWF's principal founder Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling.  This trio lobbied vigorously for increased funding and support of a more systemic approach to wildlife conservation.  Wildlife was suffering from drought, severe over harvesting, and habitat loss.  

Ding Darling was soon appointed to head of the new Bureau of Biological Survey and recruited J. Clark Salyer II to head up its fledgling refuge program. Salyer worked tirelessly for the next 31 years to build the national system and maintain its integrity. 

On the 75th anniversary of Darling and Salyer working to expand the Refuge System, there is a profound new threat -- global warming.  Sea level rise, the drying up of the Prairie wetlands, loss of native vegetation and shifts in bird migration patterns could alter wildlife management in the U.S. as never before.  The Fish and Wildlife Service recently issued a new climate change strategy which points out the importance of adaptation and mitigation going forward.

So, as we celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week this year, we would do well to be looking at how climate change will challenge us to keep what was built over the past century from unravleing in this century. 

To learn about National Wildlife Refuge Week activities nationwide click here.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jennifer Jones TITLE: The Future is In Our Hands STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-future-is-in-our-hands CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 10/07/2009 05:17:35 PM ----- BODY:

Sometimes change happens in small shifts, sometimes in a bit of an earthquake. So there we were on the same day Senators Kerry and Boxer released the Clean Energy and American Power Act for Senate consideration, the CIA announced a new Climate Change Center because of potential security risks of environmental issues and Nike dropped off the US Chamber of Commerce Board.

Bicep_s

As a founding member of BICEP (Businesses for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy), being a board member of the Chamber just didn’t quite work for Nike. After all, the Chamber says global warming is a good thing ... because we’ll have fewer cold days. Try telling that to cold-water fisherman in Montana or a skier in New Hampshire.

The Chamber isn't working for a lot of companies, including three utilities, PG&E, PNM Resources and Exelon who have said “see ya” to the Chamber in the last few weeks. And on Monday, Apple headed for the door as well, telling the Chamber it would prefer the group take a more “constructive role” in addressing the climate crisis.

This week, nearly 200 business leaders are on Capitol Hill to tell Senators that passing climate and energy legislation is good for business. Included in the group is John Rowe, chairman and CEO of Exelon. He sees the passage of climate and energy legislation as the ticket to a faster investment stream that will create more jobs in a low-carbon economy.

Also this week, 28 companies, including Johnson & Johnson, GE, Weyerhauser, United Technologies, and Duke Energy, are launching their own advertising campaign to support climate and energy legislation that caps the carbon pollution that causes global warming. The ad campaign’s headline says it all: America’s Energy and Environmental Future is in Our Hands.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: business, climate, global warming, environment, energy, politics, Congress ----- -------- AUTHOR: Amanda C. Cooke TITLE: Wild Things movie helps launch wild campaign STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wild-things-movie-helps-launch-wild-campaign CATEGORY: Books CATEGORY: Environmental Education CATEGORY: Film DATE: 10/07/2009 02:37:33 PM ----- BODY:

Get your wild on! NWF has teamed with the upcoming movie Where the Wild Things Are to launch Be Out There™, our new campaign to get families and kids to spend more time outdoors and with nature.

Where The Wild Things Are is a collaborative effort between innovative director Spike Jonze and celebrated author Maurice Sendak that tells the story of a rambunctious and sensitive boy who feels misunderstood at home and escapes to the island of the Wild Things.

As an education partner for the film, NWF helps kids learn how they can escape into nature and learn about the wild things wherever they live. NWF.org/naturefind is a good place to start—find a park, forest, even zoos and aquariums, right in your neighborhood.

“Childhood used to be synonymous with skipping stones and climbing trees,” said Kevin Coyle, NWF’s VP for Education and Training. “Today’s kids spend twice as much time indoors as their parents did, missing out on the simple pleasures and lasting mental and physical health benefits of daily outdoor time. Playing outside brings families closer through time spent together in green spaces, and allows parents to see their own fun outdoor memories reflected in their children’s eyes.”

Children, parents, and teachers can explore ideas for wild outdoor fun at www.BeOutThere.org; online visitors can download National Wildlife Federation Where The Wild Things Are poster and Activity Guides including fun ways to build a fort just like wild things do, or developing ways to find amazing wild creatures right in their neighborhoods.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: where the wild things are, be out there, spike jonze, catherine keener, naturefind, Maurice Sendak ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF President on Pittsburgh's Transformation & Wildlife Protection STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-president-on-pittsburghs-transformation-wildlife-protection CATEGORY: Larry Schweiger DATE: 10/07/2009 11:29:26 AM ----- BODY:

At the recent G20 summit, National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger talked to CleanSkies.TV about his hometown of Pittsburgh's clean energy transformation and why climate action is so important to protecting wildlife:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Pittsburgh, clean energy, G20, video, Larry Schweiger, wildlife ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Fall Swarming Insects STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: fall-swarming-insects DATE: 10/07/2009 11:26:13 AM ----- BODY:

Fall is here!  October is the season of warm days, cool nights and beautiful foliage.  It’s also the time of year that many insect species begin to seek shelter from the oncoming cold.  These insects normally find such shelter in hollow trees, rock crevices and under fallen woody debris—but for some species your home can serve as a nice substitute.  Here are two likely insect species that might come knocking this fall, both of which are invasive exotics.


Asian Ladybird Beetle, Doctor Swan/FlickrAsian Ladybird Beetle
The Asian ladybird beetle (a kind of ladybug) was introduced multiple times in multiple places in the U.S. to help control crop pests as well as accidentally from Japanese ships that docked in Louisana ports.  Most ladybug species gobble aphids and other soft-bodied plant pests and are considered beneficial insects.  Unfortunately, this species is so voracious it has out-competed and even eaten several native ladybird beetle species into rarity, and has become a household pest when it swarms indoors as the weather turns cold.


Brown Marmorted Stink Bug Flickr Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
This shield-shaped insect is a fairly recent import.  First documented in Allentown, PA a decade ago, the brown marmorated stink bug has rapidly spread throughout the Mid-Atlantic states.  In its native range in Asia it is a crop pest, although so far here in North America its biggest impact has been on ornamental plants and as indoor nuisance in the fall and winter.  If you live in this region, as I do, you’ll know from experience that this new invader is everywhere right now!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anitagould/ / CC BY-NC 2.0
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: JeanneH EMAIL: jeanneh77@roadrunner.com IP: 98.145.78.62 URL: DATE: 10/18/2009 12:18:26 AM What are the swarms of tiny blue gnat-like bugs that come out for a few days every fall, Sept or Oct? They are very annoying...wonder if they have a proper name? Thanks. North Idhao. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Aislinn Maestas TITLE: Progress on protecting polar bears STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: a-mixed-bag-for-polar-bears DATE: 10/06/2009 06:13:37 PM ----- BODY:

Polar bearSome good news for polar bears today. The Interior Department has sent a proposed habitat rule to the White House for review, bringing the threatened polar bear one step closer to having its melting habitat protected.

The chief threat to the polar bear is the loss of its sea ice habitat due to global warming. However, the polar bear is also stressed by other human activity, particularly oil and gas development activities in its habitat.

For this reason, National Wildlife Federation's John Kostyack says the critical habitat rule should include a robust analysis of the areas where the bear could be most threatened because of oil and gas development.

"The first rule from climate scientists is that the first thing you do is take care of other stressors and try to find a way to help the species maintain its resilience."

The New York Times has more

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Consequences STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: consequences CATEGORY: Environmental Education DATE: 10/06/2009 11:39:24 AM ----- BODY:

The current generation of college students and young professionals will be the ones to pay the price for the catastrophic climate change that's already affecting our planet. So really it's in our best interest to speak up now for the strong climate and clean energy legislation we need to invest in green technologies and cut our carbon footprint.


Check out this new video from our friends at Consequence 09, and get more involved with making a difference through your campus at www.nwf.org/campusecology.


We can avoid the consequences of tomorrow, by acting today to speak up for strong legislation and by making a difference in our own communities. How are you making a difference? Leave a comment below to let us know.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: George Will Earns "Worst Person" for Climate Denial STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: george-will-earns-worst-person-for-climate-denial CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 10/06/2009 09:49:30 AM ----- BODY:

Washington Post columnist George Will has taken some beatings over the last year for his continuing climate denial -- including from his own newspaper's reporters.

But this may be Will's most public refutation yet -- being named one of the night's World's Worst Persons on MSNBC's Countdown:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: George Will, climate, global warming, environment, politics, MSNBC, video, Keith Olbermann ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: "Beyond a Reasonable Drought" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: beyond-a-reasonable-drought CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 10/06/2009 09:15:00 AM ----- BODY:

Learn more about the connection between global warming and more severe weather events at the National Wildlife Federation's Extreme Weather page.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: climate, global warming, environment, video, funny, Bill Maher ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Help NWF and get your video on YouTube's homepage STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: -help-national-wildlife-federation-nwf-get-your-video-on-youtubes-home-page- DATE: 10/05/2009 10:46:05 AM ----- BODY:

Youtube LOVE wildlife, animals and nature? We do too!  National Wildlife Federation's mission, simply put, is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.

This month YouTube has teamed up with actor Ben Stein to help animals. We need fellow wildlife lovers to be part of our mission by making their own fun or inspirational videos on behalf of NWF as part of YouTube’s Video Volunteers program.  The deadline for video submissions is October 22nd.

Winning videos will appear on YouTube's homepage.  Your video can help NWF raise awareness about wildlife!

Get Started!

  1. Read the complete contest rules here.
  2. Learn more about NWF and read our Video Tips (see below).
  3. Grab your video camera and your creativity and start shooting your video for NWF.
  4. Edit your video. Your video must be under 3 minutes.  
  5. Go to YouTube’s Video Volunteer page, click on submit and upload your video no later than October 22nd.
  6. Grab the family, watch your video and smile - knowing you had fun, created lasting memories and helped a good cause! 

Learn More about NWF

Want a little more background on NWF?  Try these links:

Video Tips

Here are some tips for making your video:

Need Inspiration?

Here are some questions to think about if you're having trouble coming up with an idea for your video:

Good luck!  We can't wait to see all of your videos!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: October 4th: World Animal Day -- Learn About/Join NWF's Wildlife Watch! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: october-4th-world-animal-day-learn-aboutjoin-nwfs-wildlife-watch DATE: 10/04/2009 08:23:21 AM ----- BODY:

Wildlife Watch It is World Animal Day--a day to show appreciation for animals of all kinds. World Animal Day was established on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, a nature lover and patron saint of animals and the environment.

For a fun way to celebrate, we hope you'll take some time to learn about and maybe join in on our Wildlife Watch Program, where you can contribute fun and helpful wildlife observations.

Wildlife Watch is an easy-to-use online program for children and adults to make wildlife observations, even upload photos and post notes for others to see and compare. These observations help the National Wildlife Federation and members of the scientific community get the help of people across America whose observations add up to useful data on the health of wildlife in North America.

Helping is as easy as stepping into your backyard!

  1. Log your observations on our website - Find your state watch list and check off what mammals, birds, invertebrates, trees, amphibians, wildflowers and more you see outside.

  2. "Tweet" your observations via your smart phone - If you use Twitter, you can tell us what you saw by including "#nwf" in your 140 characters.

  3. Download the WildObs iPhone app - Keep a log of your wildlife observations on your iPhone, including photos and more!

However you celebrate World Animal Day--whether you pet your pet, bring your cat indoors for the sake of the birds and chipmunks, or go outside to view a little nature, we hope you have a good one!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Report: Climate Change Is Greatest Threat Ever To U.S. National Parks STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: report-climate-change-greatest-threat-ever-to-us-national-parks DATE: 10/03/2009 06:44:58 PM ----- BODY:

National parks In a recently released report, our colleagues at the Natural Resources Defense Council have identified how great a threat global warming poses to U.S. national parks. 

U.S. Today Science Fair reports: 

The report - National Parks in Peril: The Threats of Climate Disruption - outlined hazards due to rising temperatures in 25 of the country’s 351 national parks. The top risks to the parks include loss of snow and water, rising sea levels, more extreme weather, loss of plants and wildlife, and additional air pollution.

According to the report, the risks of a changed climate dwarf all previous threats to our national parks: 'If we continue with high emissions of heat-trapping gases, our nation could be 7 to 11 degrees hotter by the end of the century — and our parks would be drastically changed.' Endangered parks include some of the nation’s most popular, including Great Smoky Mountain, Yellowstone and Yosemite.  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Caroline EMAIL: cmotte@greenmeetup.com IP: 75.103.45.154 URL: http://www.greenmeetup.com DATE: 10/05/2009 10:00:23 AM Climate change consequences on U.S. national parks are eventually the same as on the rest of the planet : increased variation of temperature, rising seas levels, more extreme temperature, loss of plants and wildlife, etc. It's a good way to convince American people, but we shouldn't focus only on the internal consequences of our excesses. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Using Mobile Phone Towers For Wind Power Generation STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: using-mobile-phone-towers-for-wind-power-generation- DATE: 10/03/2009 08:52:20 AM ----- BODY:

Helix As the world moves toward lower carbon energy production it will cause us to look for power production opportunties in new places including cell towers. This is particularly important for areas where electric distribution is limited.

Paul Ridden of Gizmag.com reports:

"Later this month, Helix Wind Corporation will deliver its first test wind turbines to Eltek Network Solutions Group for installation at two test sites in Nigeria. Sites in the US are also set to take delivery of test modules. The turbines will provide a clean energy solution for mobile phone towers and if tests prove successful, could see wind power being rolled out to hundreds of sites over the next few years.

'Currently such towers are powered by diesel generators, which are bad for the environment and extremely expensive to operate,' said Helix Wind CEO Ian Gardner. 'Anywhere the power grid is unreliable, expensive or simply non-existent, wind is an ideal renewable energy resource able to power these towers and reduce their operating cost."' See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: NWF Community Habitat Program: Whole Communities For Wildlife! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-community-habitat-program-whole-communities-for-widlife- DATE: 10/02/2009 10:38:54 PM ----- BODY:

Alkicertification The National Wildlife Federation's Community Habitat Program now has 80 communities either certified or in the process and they range in size from small towns of a few thousand to larger communities of close to million residents. Colchester Connecticut, a terrific town of 15,000, is working on certification:

The Day.com reports:

"The National Wildlife Federation works at conserving wildlife across the country, and now their crusade to save and protect habitat includes improving existing open space.  For example, in Colchester a community wide effort has transformed several acres of formerly unproductive suburban turf into flourishing wildlife habitat. In doing so, home owners have beautified their land, increased wildlife, reduced energy consumption and eliminated toxic contaminants.

The crisp clear days of October are ideal for outdoor work and recommended fall planting. In time, as the landscape you planted grows, countless sightings of birds will accumulate. The Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station can help you get started and the National Wildlife Federation will help get you certified."   See full article.

About NWF community habitats:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Daily Show on Threatened Salmon, Polluter Astroturfing STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: daily-show-on-threatened-salmon-polluter-astroturfing CATEGORY: News DATE: 10/02/2009 11:31:00 AM ----- BODY:

This week, Jon Stewart touched on two topics the National Wildlife Federation has been working on. You can learn more about our efforts to protect California's fish & wildlife here, and find out more about how we're pushing back against Big Oil's misinformation campaign here.

Now, on to the funny!

The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Where the Riled Things Are
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes
Political HumorRon Paul Interview
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Astroturfing, politics, salmon, energy ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Room to Roam: Protecting Public Lands Near and Far STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: room-to-roam-protecting-our-public-lands DATE: 10/02/2009 09:00:00 AM ----- BODY:

BLM_Buffalo Field Office

Last weekend, thousands of volunteers from coast to coast took part in National Public Lands Day.

Four signature sites of this year's celebration were the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC; Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco, California; Angeles National Forest outside Los Angeles, CA; and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta, GA.

In addition to those who participated at one of these signature sites, thousands across the country took part in local public lands events, helping them to gain knowledge about critical environmental issues facing their communities and about the need to be stewards for these precious areas.

Although this national event is aimed toward building community and improving public lands for recreation, restoring America's public lands also ensures vital habitat protection for our nation's wildlife.

As one example, Wyoming's Powder River Basin serves as a favorite recreation destination for outdoor enthusiasts out west while its Fortification Creek area also provides an important elk habitat.

Unfortunately right now, this critical area of public land is being slated for coal bed methane gas development. This process requires draining the existing aquifer to reach the methane and then disposing of this saline water. Furthermore, the environmental impacts of this extraction are still not fully understood.

Already, drilling has been approved for this area even though no research has been completed on the potentially devastating effects of this decision for the people that enjoy this land and the wildlife that call it home.

We can't wait for another rugged area to be lost to destructive oil and gas development on public lands. Speak up today and tell Bureau of Land Management director Bob Abbey to slow this hasty project that threatens Wyoming's Fortification Creek area.

By Kolleen Kawa, National Wildlife Federation

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Teacher Appreciation With "Where the Wild Things Are" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: attention-teachers-join-in-the-where-the-wild-things-are-celebration CATEGORY: Books DATE: 10/02/2009 12:11:21 AM ----- BODY:

Beoutthere You are invited to Where the Wild Things Are Wild Rumpus Teacher Celebration!

Where: A Borders Near You

When: October 02, 6:00 PM

What: Where the Wild Things Are has been taught in classrooms for decades and a new movie coming out this fall will make this classic story even more popular. Enjoy a Wild Rumpus at Borders with activities, crafts, giveaways and more for the whole family. Not to mention teachers receive 30% off almost everything in the store from September 29 through October 7!

We are helping support the event to celebrate Be Out There NWF's new campaign to get kids and families outside.

We are excited and I hope to see you there!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: North Pacific Humpback Whales Making A Comeback STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: north-pacific-humpback-whales-making-a-comeback DATE: 10/01/2009 11:05:30 PM ----- BODY:

Humpback-whale-noaa After being hunted to near extinction, the population of humpbacks near British Columbia has increased and there are signs it may come off the endangered species list next year.  Though these creatures are doing better since being protected from hunting, they still face the long-term threat of climate change.  Still, today, the news is good. (Photo: NOAA)

CBC News.ca reports:

"The North Pacific population of humpback whales has doubled in the past two decades, hitting close to 20,000 in the North Pacific, an international study released last year concluded, and local whale watchers say they can vouch for the results. Stubbs Island naturalist Jackie Hildering has seen the recovery of humpbacks first-hand while working in the Broughton Archipelago off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island. Hildering said while sightings of the threatened whale used to be rare, this year she's identified almost 50 individual whales including juveniles."    See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF Moves to Protect Florida's Sea Turtles STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-moves-to-protect-floridas-sea-turtles CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 10/01/2009 03:25:09 PM ----- BODY:

Stephen Colbert isn't the only one who can put people on notice.

Today the National Wildlife Federation and Florida Wildlife Federation notified the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that we'll be taking them to court. Why? FEMA has failed to protect endangered sea turtles from the impacts of its Federal Flood Insurance Program, which promotes development in critical sea turtle habitat.

Of all sea turtle nesting in the U.S., an incredible 90 percent takes place on Florida’s beaches. Those species include loggerhead, green, hawksbill, and leatherback turtles.

Watch more from the National Wildlife Federation's John Kostyack:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: wildlife, oceans, animals, turtles, sea turtles, conservation, environment, Florida ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: hayley EMAIL: cheechee93c@aol.com IP: 206.82.21.190 URL: DATE: 10/15/2009 01:19:12 PM love it!!!!! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Make the Call Today STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: make-the-call-today CATEGORY: Global Warming CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 10/01/2009 11:28:51 AM ----- BODY:

Whale

All week we've been talking about the wildlife and wild places that need your help.


Frogs are dying out. National parks face threats from severe drought and storms. Bears can't hibernate the whole winter.


So here's what you can do TODAY.


When your U.S. senators vote on the upcoming climate and clean energy bill, they'll also be voting for funding to protect public lands, natural resources and America's iconic wildlife species.


To help ensure they cast their vote for wildlife, click here.


The whales are calling too. Carbon pollution is causing our oceans to grow more acidic, having a strange and scary effect on whales and other sea mammals. Whales use sonar to communicate, sending signals back and forth to each other across the waters, but whales can also pick up sonar from submarines, fishing boats and other large bodies in the ocean. When an ocean becomes more acidic, sonar signals get amplified, and sea mammals get confused. Scientists think that dolphins and whales are unable to tell the difference between a friendly hello and a passing ship. To sea mammals, the ocean is becoming overwhelmingly loud.


We can bring that cacaphony to the Senate today. The more people who call-- the more their phones are ringing off the hook-- the more our elected officials will see how important it is to make sure this climate bill protects our natural world. From whales, to frogs, to bears, our wildlife need us to call today.


Go ahead, make the call now and leave a comment below to let us know how the call went!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New Momentum for Clean Energy & Climate Action STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-momentum-for-clean-energy-climate-action CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 09/30/2009 03:32:48 PM ----- BODY:

Just got back from the big event on the East Lawn of the Capitol to unveil the Senate's Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act! Here's what Joe Mendelson, NWF's global warming policy director, had to say about the bill:

This legislation combines strong emission reduction goals with economic safeguards to protect all regions of the nation. It invests in protecting our natural resources from the impacts of global warming while protecting the integrity of the Clean Air Act.

But like a cornered animal, we can expect Big Oil to fight its hardest in a last stand to protect the status quo – and if this summer’s forged letters scandal is any indication, we can expect polluters to fight dirty. These polluters will be pouring every drop of their energy into protecting their massive profits by trying to stall progress on clean energy, climate action and green jobs.

I also caught up with two key NWFers on the lawn during the event -- Adam Kolton, NWF's senior director of Congressional & federal affairs, and Doug Inkley, our senior scienist:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: politics, Congress, energy, environment, climate, global warming, clean energy, jobs, economy ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Edwards EMAIL: phyllisedwards@verizon.net IP: 72.71.101.219 URL: DATE: 10/01/2009 02:11:56 PM Great work NWF in keeping us informed...My wife and I called Senator Hagan and Senator Burr, of North Carolina, today to voice of our support of wildlife and natural resource funding...John Edwards, Cashiers, NC ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Can We Learn from Bears? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: can-we-learn-from-bears CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 09/30/2009 03:07:17 PM ----- BODY:

Blackbear

Hibernating bears have been an overlooked phenomenon for too long. If we could isolate and reproduce their chemistry, it would be a huge leap for health and science. Fortunately, scientists have begun studying bears for the benefit of human health; however, due to climate change, our research time may be cut short.


Recently, all hibernating bears have either drastically shortened their hibernation period or neglected to hibernate at all. Although seemingly minor, this change in behavior leads to many problems. When bears come out of hibernation early, the reliable food supply they are expecting is nowhere to be found. This forces them to either make an unhealthy shift in diet, ravage premature plants and animals before the population can grow, or worst of all, die of starvation.


Scientists attribute this behaivor shift to global warming, suggesting warmer winters entice bears to delay hibernation and encourage them to wake up earlier.


We have a perfect opportunity to stop this crisis before it happens.


On Thursday, October 1st, concerned Americans will be calling their U.S. Senators, urging them to dedicate funding to protect wildlife and natural resources in the The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act--a bill designed to curb the impacts of climate change and invest in clean energy technologies.


Let us know if we can count on you to call.


Scientists have only just begun answering the mysteries surrounding hibernating bears. How do they convert toxic urea into protein, enabling them to not urinate for months? (If humans held it for that long we would die!) How can bears reduce their heart rate to 1/5 its normal rate during hibernation without causing brain or heart damage? (Humans would have heart failure.) How is it possible for bears to remain immobile for months and wake up good as new without muscle or bone loss? If a human is bedridden for the same amount of time, his bones will become brittle and he’d loose enough muscle mass to make walking extremely difficult. If these questions are answered, the medical resources and potential cures for human medical conditions are innumerable.

Christy Leckburg, National Wildlife Federation

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Key Senators to Unveil Clean Energy Bill STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: key-senators-to-unveil-clean-energy-bill DATE: 09/30/2009 07:31:00 AM ----- BODY:

This morning in DC, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) will detail their framework for comprehensive clean energy & climate legislation:

The bill, which is still being revised, would make it easier for businesses to compensate for their carbon pollution by expanding the available pool of domestic offsets by 40 percent compared with the House-passed climate bill authored by Reps. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.). It does not specify how pollution allowances will be allocated, which is sure to be a key battle as the bill moves forward. [...]

The Senate bill also will emphasize transportation efficiency, with provisions targeted at getting communities of 200,000 or more to plan for more public transport and bike paths. It also will preserve the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to regulate large sources of greenhouse gases, such as coal-fired power plants.

The bill is due to be released at an event on Capitol Hill at 11:30am. More details later today!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Congress, environment, energy, politics, climate, global warming ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Your National Parks STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: your-national-parks CATEGORY: Public Lands DATE: 09/29/2009 10:52:33 AM ----- BODY:

Glacier National Park

Ken Burns' 12-hour series on National Parks is turning a lot of attention towards America's treasured wilderness and natural wonders.


From Mount Rainier to the Everglades, our national parks exist because of our past commitment to conservation.


Now we're being called on again to make sure our national parks make it to the next generation.


This Thursday, Oct.1, Americans from coast to coast will be calling their U.S. senators to urge for a climate and clean energy bill that protects our parks, public lands and the many other wonders of the natural world that we cherish.


As climate change is already impacting our wildlife and landscapes, America's outdoor and nature enthusiasts are raising the voice for their protection.


Let us know if we can count on you to make the call too.


Former deputy Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett put it well:

As conservation islands, our parks were a triumph of foresight. But islands they no longer are. Their continued protection requires conservation partnerships — partnerships to address conservation challenges that transcend park borders.

And it's true. What you do in your life has an impact on our national parks, even the ones that are thousands of miles away from where you live.


So, tell your friends and family that this Thursday, October 1, is the day to speak up for our national parks and demand a cleaner and healthier natural world.


Let us know that you can make the call by leaving a comment below this post and telling us which cherished landscape or national park will be inspiring you to make the call.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF Climate Scientist on More Severe Weather, Faster Sea Level Rise STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-climate-scientist-on-more-severe-weather-faster-sea-level-rise CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 09/29/2009 09:34:10 AM ----- BODY: ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: environment, climate, global warming, weather, video, NWF ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: The Great Ape & Man's Best Friend STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-great-ape-mans-best-friend CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 09/29/2009 08:17:23 AM ----- BODY:

This clip presents the dog and orangutan as best friends, but is it just me or is the relationship more like a family dog and a toddler who drops lots of food? When the orangutan is hugging him, the dog has a look in his eye like, "I'll happily put up with this because I'm sure to get a biscuit out of it."

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: animals, orangutans, dogs, funny, cute, video ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kirsten@Nexyoo EMAIL: adele@nexyoo.com IP: 99.24.216.25 URL: http://www.nexyoo.com DATE: 09/29/2009 01:02:18 PM Ha, that was a great video. I guess I'd never watched much footage of an orangutan, and didn't realize how playful they are. Amazing to think they may be extinct by 2023. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: 180 Of The World's Largest Investors (With $13 Trillion) Want Climate Legislation Passed STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 180-of-the-worlds-largest-investors-with-13-trillion-want-climate-legislation-passed- DATE: 09/28/2009 10:29:31 PM ----- BODY:

Mindy lubber

Wildlife has a whole bunch of new friends.  As the Senate considers climate legislation and the world readies itself for the global climate negotiations in Copenhagen a powerful and welcome group of investment funds and banks are speaking out:   (Photo: Mindy Lubber of Ceres)

Hermela Brook of Zikkir Business News Forum reports:

[The group includes] the world’s leading investment funds, including those from HSBC, Henderson, Schroders, Société Générale and Scottish Widows, and pensions funds from California public employees to the BBC and Church of England. It was aimed at overcoming entrenched opposition within the US and elsewhere to climate change legislation, by showcasing the scale of investor support for climate change action and the potential for mobilisation of private capital.

“For anybody who suggests that regulating carbon or acting on climate change is impractical, here is appropriate contradiction,” said Mindy Lubber, the president of Ceres, the green investor network that helped organise the conference. However, she warned: “Investors are ready to put money into green tech, but they are not going to act until the government acts and makes clear that the right incentives are in the right place.”

The investors’ endorsement for action on climate change comes amid signs of a loss of momentum in the final stretch of negotiations towards a deal to tackle global warming in Copenhagen in December. The group warned that failure to act effectively would have disastrous consequences in human and economic terms.  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Another Company Abandons Clean Energy-Obstructing U.S. Chamber STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: another-company-abandons-climateobstructing-us-chamber CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 09/28/2009 03:30:34 PM ----- BODY:

Will the last one out of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce please shut off the lights?

Last week, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and New Mexico-based PNM Resources Inc. pulled out of the chanber, citing its climate obstruction. Today, the largest nuclear power operator in the United States joined them:

Exelon CEO John Rowe told a Chicago conference today sponsored by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy about his company's decision and urged industry officials and regulators to push for legislation that will put a price on carbon.

"Inaction on climate is not an option," Rowe said, according to excerpts provided by Exelon. "If Congress does not act, the EPA will, and the result will be more arbitrary, more expensive, and more uncertain for investors and the industry than a reasonable, market-based legislative solution."

In addition, Nike has criticized the Chamber's climate stonewalling while refusing to comment directly on its future with the Chamber.

And it's not just the Chamber suffering a mass exodus. So far this month, Duke Energy, Alcoa and Alstom have all pulled out of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a leading obstructionist group.

From business leaders to sportsmen to the NAACP, an incredibly diverse coalition is coming together to call for action on clean energy & climate change. Will the U.S. Senate listen? We'll find out starting Wednesday.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy, business, environment, climate, global warming, clean energy, Exelon, Chamber of Commerce ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: The Frogs are Croaking STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-frogs-are-croaking-1 CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 09/28/2009 03:04:28 PM ----- BODY:

Frog

Here's some bleak news for a Monday: Up to 1/3 of amphibians today are at risk for extinction, according to the Global Amphibian Assessment and a recent post to Bright Green Blog.

Scientists think it has something to do with their highly permeable skin. The slightest changes in environment (like a 1 degree rise in temperature) can have drastic effects. These changes threaten the bullfrogs you might hear in your backyard and the exotic Amazon Milk frog that's native to Brazil.

But don't feel blue. You can do something. As a wildlife enthusiast, you're the best person to speak up for the frogs, and speak up for the strong climate and clean energy legislation needed to help them thrive.

This Thursday, Oct. 1, people from across the country will be calling their U.S. senators to ask for a wildlife friendly climate and clean energy bill.


As wildlife enthusiasts, we're seeing firsthand how global warming is already affecting the natural world we cherish. That's why, we're the people who need to speak up.


Here's how:

  1. Tell your friends and family that Thursday, Oct. 1 is a big day to help make the difference.
  2. And, let us know that we can count on you to call your senators this Thursday, Oct.1.


As one famous frog once said, "It's not easy being green," but it is easy for you to make the call on Thursday, ask your friends and family to do the same, and speak up for strong climate and clean energy legislation to protect amphibians everywhere!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Report: Climate Change Coming Sooner, Stronger Than Thought STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: report-climate-change-coming-sooner-stronger-than-thought- DATE: 09/27/2009 07:21:13 PM ----- BODY:

Climatechange_logo

A report released on September 22 by the United Nations points to some disturbing findings about how much quicker global warming is coming on:

Roseanne Skirble of Voice of America reports:

"The UNEP report presents scientific evidence that has emerged since the

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its last report in 2007. The "Climate Change Science Compendium" affirms that climate change is accelerating faster than previous estimates.  UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner says evidence of human-generated warming is "unequivocal" and "just in time for us to appreciate how the magnitude of change, the scale of change and the pace of change are in fact occurring."

Findings from some 400 peer-reviewed studies from scientific journals and research institutes are woven into the report's chapters on earth systems, ecosystems, ice, oceans and climate management. The data show that global carbon emissions - which rose 1.1 percent from 1990 to 1999 - climbed 3.5 percent from 2000-2007.

Rapid glacier-melt, sea-level rise and ocean acidification will become complex problems, Steiner says, in a world whose population is expected to grow to nine billion people by 2050. "And herein lies another vital message in the report," he says. "When we talk about management, essentially we need to take the science that we now have at our disposal and think about how we are going to manage in response to these developments."   See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: President Obama Points Out The Role of Hunters and Anglers in America's Conservation History STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: president-obama-points-out-the-role-of-hunters-and-anglers-in-americas-conservation-history DATE: 09/26/2009 06:49:37 PM ----- BODY:

Hunting and angling day

To acknowledge National Hunting and Fishing Day this weekend, President Obama has released a special White House proclamation that reflects the many decades that hunters and anglers in the U.S. have supported funding and have been volunteers for creating wildlife refuges and protecting species. Indeed, it was this community that formed the National Wildlife Federation more than 70 years ago.

Frank Abderholden for the Lake County New-Sun reports:

"Hunters and anglers have played a key role in the conservation and restoration of numerous species and their natural habitats. They not only understand their pivotal role as stewards of the land, but also seek to pass on this honored tradition to future generations," said President Barack Obama in his proclamation.

Today's hunters and anglers bring this spirit to life in the forests and streams they visit. If not for America's great hunters and anglers, like President Theodore Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold, our nation would not enjoy sound game management; a system of ethical, science-based game laws; and an extensive public lands estate on which to pursue the sports. On National Hunting and Fishing Day, we celebrate their contributions to our natural environment and our national heritage," he said."   See full article:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: City Rooftops: Paint Them White Or Plant Them With Green? -- New Study STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: city-rooftops-paint-them-white-or-plant-them-with-green-new-study- DATE: 09/26/2009 10:12:10 AM ----- BODY:

Green roof

Cities are real climate hot spots and their rooftops, in particular, absorb heat and run up energy use.

Jeff Salton at Gizmag.com reports:

Previous studies have indicated that painting roofs white can be a low tech way to reduce global warming by reflecting the sun's rays back into space and Prof Steven Chu, the U.S. Energy Secretary, has been heralding the idea.

Now researchers have attempted to quantify the benefits of covering urban rooftops with plants. The scientists found that replacing traditional roofing materials with ‘green’ in an urban area the size of Detroit with a population of about one-million, would be equivalent to eliminating a year's worth of carbon dioxide emitted by 10,000 mid-sized SUVs and trucks. Their study is the first to examine the ability of green roofs to sequester carbon that may impact climate change and the findings are scheduled to appear in the journal Environmental Science & TechnologySee article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nana EMAIL: nana@globalplasticsheeting.com IP: 216.70.238.98 URL: http://www.globalplasticsheeting.com DATE: 09/28/2009 11:55:50 AM I find the information you provided regarding how much carbon dioxide would be eliminated really inspirational. I hope we will see green roofs sprouting up everywhere. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Scientists: New Rating System Maps Immediacy Of Nine Threats to Environment STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: scientists-new-rating-system-maps-immediacy-of-nine-threats-to-environment DATE: 09/26/2009 09:50:17 AM ----- BODY:

Nitrogen_runoff_planetary_boundaries_2

In a rating system compiled by a group of scientists there is new meaning to immediate threats being off-the-charts:  The top three: biodiversity loss, nitrogen run-off, climate change:

Susannah Locke at Popsci-com reports:

"Publishing in the journal Nature, a group of 29 scientists have established a comparative scale for rating the immediate threat posed by nine environmental hazards--everything from climate change to ocean acidification. And while our warming climate gets most of the attention, more immediate problems may be brewing in our intensifying lack of biodiversity and out-of-whack nitrogen cycle.

Of the nine ongoing hazards (climate change, ocean acidification, ozone depletion, the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, freshwater use, land use, biodiversity loss, aerosols in the atmosphere, and chemical pollution) the group pegged nitrogen runoff as our second-worst problem, and biodiversity as the first. There's not enough data, the researchers say, to accurately plot chemical pollution or aerosol contamination on their scale, but as you can see, we're already in what they've defined as the "danger zone" for three conditions--climate change being the third, in order from worst to still-pretty-terrible." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Global Patriot EMAIL: Converse@GlobalPatriot.com IP: 75.36.52.78 URL: http://GlobalPatriot.com/ DATE: 09/26/2009 10:18:13 AM I would have never predicted this result, with biodiversity and nitrogen runoff taking the lead over climate change. The alarming note is to realize that climate change will have a such a significant impact on biodiversity in the next decade. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Pittsburgh's Promise: A Green Revitalization STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: pittsburghs-promise-a-green-revitalization CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 09/24/2009 09:45:16 AM ----- BODY: G20

And we're live from Pittsburgh at the G20! The National Wildlife Federation is hosting a forum this morning focusing on the lessons of Pittsburgh's green jobs revival. It's a subject near & dear to the heart of NWF President & CEO Larry Schweiger, a Pittsburgh native.

Larry is hosting the forum with:

I'll have some video clips after the forum wraps up!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy, renewable energy, clean energy, Pittsburgh, G20, Pennsylvania ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Clean Energy Images from G20 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: clean-energy-images-from-g20 CATEGORY: Energy DATE: 09/23/2009 08:30:28 PM ----- BODY:

Greenpeace activists hung from one of Pittsburgh's many bridges to unfurl a huge banner reading "Climate Destruction Ahead: Reduce CO2 Emissions Now." Seemed to be effective at getting the message across without burdening commuters. "The smart thing about it is it actually doesn't obstruct traffic," protest management expert Sam Rosenfeld told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:



Repower America organized a clean energy jobs rally featuring Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Kathy Mattea and Big Head Todd & the Monsters. National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger got a chance to address the crowd, asking young people to take the lead in creating a new generation of American energy:

G20 009



Took this last one on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on the way out to Pittsburgh, with windmills lining the horizon. A much more effective visual than the coal industry's phony billboards:

G20 001

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: G20, Pittsburgh, energy, environment ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: How to Pick a Location for Your Bat Box STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: how-to-pick-a-location-for-your-bat-box DATE: 09/23/2009 04:56:12 PM ----- BODY: So you've taken the thoughtful step of purchasing or making a bat house, but alas, the difficult part isn't over yet. No, the bats aren't trying to take advantage of the housing market-- their absence may be because the location you chose for your bat house is not ideal. Bats are particular about where their home is and by following these instructions you will increase the chances of a bat ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Waking Up to Bold Coffee & Bold Climate Action STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: waking-up-to-bold-climate-action-and-bold-coffee CATEGORY: Current Affairs DATE: 09/23/2009 09:08:55 AM ----- BODY: Paper

I'm in Pittsburgh this week, covering some G20 events for the National Wildlife Federation. Went down to get some coffee this morning (Starbucks Anniversary Blend - just OK, but better than the Pike Roast, which tastes like coal slurry) and picked up a paper. Great to see the headline, Bold Steps on Climate Promised:

Presidents Barack Obama and Hu Jintao of China - the leaders of the two countries that emit the most greenhouse gases - pledged at a United Nations summit Tuesday that their countries would take bold actions to protect the Earth's future climate from irreversible damages.

President Obama's next stop will be here at the G20. As National Wildlife Federation President & CEO details, it's a chance demonstrate our climate commitment to the world:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: climate, energy, G20, environment ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: valerie gaydos EMAIL: vgaydos@51st.com IP: 75.196.39.52 URL: DATE: 09/24/2009 09:03:55 AM When in Pittsburgh, must drink Pittsburgh Coffee! Recommendation: Prestogeorge Coffee & Tea. http://www.prestogeorge.com/ ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: grantm@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 09/24/2009 11:08:01 AM Good to know! I go local whenever I can, but that early in the morning, settled for the hotel Starbucks. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Using "Conservation Dogs" To Sniff Out Endangered Species For Protection STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: using-conservation-dogs-to-sniff-out-endangered-species-for-protection DATE: 09/21/2009 08:43:50 PM ----- BODY:

Conservation dogs

Looking for endangered plants or animals in a large conservation area?  How about using a tracking dog?

Jeremy Hance at Mongabay.com reports:

"Working Dogs for Conservation (WDC) was begun by Megan Parker in 2000: the idea, to use dogs' impeccable scent capabilities for conservation initiatives, appears so logical and useful when Parker talks about it, one is surprised it took environmentalists so long to realize the potential of dogs.

Our mission is to benefit science and conservation by working with detection dogs. We help save wildlife by supporting conservation efforts to gather information on rare species in an accurate and non-invasive way," explains Parker. "We train dogs to detect rare samples and they excel at finding trained target odors from endangered species scats to invasive weeds on a huge landscape."  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David Mizejewski EMAIL: mizejewski@nwf.org IP: 69.143.16.164 URL: http://www.facebook.com/dmizejewski DATE: 09/22/2009 10:50:57 AM I got to talk about the conservation dogs on one of the episodes of "Big Ideas for a Small Planet" on Sundance Channel. http://www.sundancechannel.com/big-ideas/episodes/4/ ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Google Earth Maps Carbon In The Atmosphere STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: google-earth-maps-carbon-in-the-atmosphere DATE: 09/21/2009 07:50:13 PM ----- BODY:

Googleeartha

Google Earth has teamed up with science experts to help people better understand CO2 in the atmosphere through dynamic mapping.

Physorg.com reports:

"A better understanding of the has implications for energy and environmental policy and carbon management. In June 2009, Michalak described this research at the NASA Earth System Science at 20 symposium in Washington, D.C

A snapshot from Erickson's Google Earth application shows green tracks representing carbon dioxide in the lowest part of the atmosphere close to Earth's surface where vegetation and land processes can impact the carbon cycle. Red tracks indicate particles at higher altitudes that are immune from ground influences. The application is designed to educate the public and even scientists about how can be traced. A network of 1,000-foot towers across the United States is equipped with instruments by NOAA to measure the carbon dioxide content of parcels of air at single locations." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Global Patriot EMAIL: Converse@GlobalPatriot.com IP: 75.36.52.78 URL: http://GlobalPatriot.com/ DATE: 09/22/2009 09:50:08 AM Using such technology is key to improving our understanding of how we influence this planet, and how changes are occurring with regards to CO2 - this is a complex issue with numerous factors contributing to the problem - the more we know, the better equipped we are to design proper solutions. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Arctic Geese Now Skipping Migration STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 0 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: arctic-geese-now-skipping-migration CATEGORY: Global Warming CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 09/18/2009 11:06:19 PM ----- BODY:

Black brantA new study by the U.S. Geological Survey has found that 30% of Pacific Brant are now wintering over in Alaska.

Julia Whitty at Mother Jones reports:

Usually Brant stream south along the Pacific flyway each fall. They're a familiar site off the West Coast, long lines riding on tailwinds above the surfline at speeds over 60 mph. Their destination is a series of shallow lagoons in Baja California, where California gray whales  breed, and where the birds feed on eelgrass.

But whereas once nearly the entire population of Pacific brant overwintered in Mexico and fewer than 3,000 were known to overwinter in Alaska, now 40,000 birds, or 30 percent of the population, are opting for Alaska instead. The change coincides with a general warming of temperatures in the North Pacific and Bering Sea and its well-documented effect on the abundance and distribution of numerous marine species, including walleye pollock, Pacific cod, northern fur seals, and thick-billed murres. See full article.

Photo: Arpingstone, Wikimedia Commons

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Obstructing Action from Global Warming's Ground Zero STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: obstructing-action-from-global-warmings-ground-zero CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 09/18/2009 09:32:26 AM ----- BODY: PolarBears

Alaska has been called the poster state for global warming. Winter temperatures have already risen 6 degrees. Sea ice that protects coastal villages from winter storms forms a week later than it used to. Forests are under siege from wildfires and insects. Melting permafrost is shifting foundations of homes and drying up lakes. And the state's symbol, the polar bear, is seeing its habitat literally vanish from under its feet.

Which is why it's so unbelievable that Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) would be leading an effort to block limits on global warming pollution:

Murkowski, ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, may introduce an amendment to the fiscal 2010 Interior and environment appropriations bill that would allow EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions only from mobile sources, and prohibit the agency from regulating heat-trapping emissions from stationary sources like power plants and industrial facilities. [...]

Environmentalists assailed the amendment, saying it would basically instruct EPA to ignore the law.

"This amendment suggests that if global warming pollution comes from a power plant, it is safe, but if it comes from a car, it is harmful," said David Moulton, director of climate policy and conservation funding at the Wilderness Society. "That is a preposterous distinction that cannot be supported in either law or fact."

If you're an Alaska resident, please call Sen. Murkowski's office at 202-224-6665 and ask why she's trying to put up a roadblock to climate action. Let us know what you hear in comments below.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Alaska climate environment politics Congress ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robb EMAIL: rhughes@greenmeetup.com IP: 75.103.45.154 URL: http://www.greenmeetup.com DATE: 09/21/2009 06:44:53 PM I wouldn't exactly call Murkowski's actions 'unbelievable'. Disturbing yes, but entirely belieavable. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: k EMAIL: IP: 66.60.156.2 URL: DATE: 11/10/2009 11:55:15 AM no u ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Ranger Rick Six-Year-Old Helps Cornell Lab and NSF With U.S. Ladybug Recovery STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: ranger-rick-sixyearold-helps-cornell-lab-and-nsf-with-us-ladybug-recovery DATE: 09/17/2009 10:40:51 PM ----- BODY:

ALeqM5hjPIpPBWUXgUaxMVaXQ66DV_qNyg It seems we must never underestimate the power of NWF's favorite raccoon -- Ranger Rick.  Here is an AP story about how a motivated six year old Ranger Rick Reader helped Cornell researchers and the National Science Foundation locate a colony and obtain specimens of rare vanishing ladybugs.  (Photo-AP/Cornell Ellen Woods)

Mary Esch at AP reports:

"John Losey, an entomologist at Cornell University, launched the Lost Ladybug Project last year to try to figure out why once-common native ladybug species had all but disappeared across the country. The project, funded by the National Science Foundation, recruits citizen scientists - especially children - to search for ladybugs and send photos of them to Losey and his colleagues.  Of particular interest are the nine-spotted, two-spotted and transverse ladybugs, three native species that have declined dramatically.. The big breakthrough came in June, when 6-year-old Alyson Yates and her mom, Kate, started sending in photos of nine-spotted ladybugs from their rural backyard in Lakeview, Ore., in the sagebrush desert east of the Cascades. It was really an amazing find," Losey said. "Usually, someone just finds one or two. Alyson and Kate sent in a couple one day, a few more three days later, a couple more a few days after that. It became apparent they had a population out there."

So Losey and a colleague boarded a plane with their collecting nets and came back to Ithaca with 13 nine-spotted and more than 30 transverse ladybugs. Aly was thrilled that people would come all the way from New York to go collecting in our yard," said Kate Yates, who got involved in the project when her daughter saw an ad in the National Wildlife Federation's Ranger Rick magazine for children."   See full article:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Suzanne James EMAIL: sjamesknox@yahoo.com IP: 75.71.235.241 URL: DATE: 09/25/2009 03:29:06 PM My granddaughter commented that she would like to see a picture of Alyson with the ladybugs--which would make this great article all the more meaningful to kids-- giving them a "Hey, I'm going to start counting spots on ladybugs too," attitude. We had an incredible number of ladybugs this summmer north of Colorado Springs--more than I have seen in my 37 summers of living here! You can be sure that my two grandchildren will be "counting spots" next summer! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: http://www.nwf.org DATE: 09/29/2009 10:41:27 AM Thanks for the comment Suzanne! I would love to get a picture of her on the blog! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Max Greenberg TITLE: Education for a Clean Energy Economy STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: education-for-a-clean-energy-economy CATEGORY: Energy Policy CATEGORY: Environmental Education CATEGORY: Spotlight on Congress DATE: 09/17/2009 03:51:57 PM ----- BODY:

As a former humanities student and avowed right-brainer, I sometimes wonder whether my education couldn't have been more, well, useful.

Don’t get me wrong: it was nice to spend four years analyzing Paul Gauguin paintings and Alfred Hitchcock movies. I just wish my schooling could have better prepared me for a life of DOING.

Luckily, more than a hundred colleges and organizations are calling on Congress to help people be a vital part of the coming clean energy economy rather than watching from the sidelines. They want strong energy legislation, with a special emphasis on training and educating the pros of tomorrow, be they engineers, architects, or scientists.

Wednesday, the National Wildlife Federation and our partners delivered a letter to Congress signed by groups representing community colleges, universities, and education consortiums, all pushing for a bill that invests in new energy technology and training. The list is impressive: 130 strong, everything from the Pocatello Zoo to the Temple University Student Peace Alliance (full list of orgs here). To put it mildly, this is a goal with broad appeal. More on that in a second.

Behind the scenes, college presidents and other bigwigs met with congressional offices, highlighting the importance of a pollution-limiting, economy-stimulating, education-driving plan.

On the environmental side:

“Now is the time to pass climate legislation that invests in new clean energy technology and solutions. At the same time we must invest in our nation’s education and training infrastructure—at every level—to ensure Americans are prepared for the new jobs that will be created by the climate bill. This is what the college presidents are in Washington to support today,” said Kevin Coyle, Vice President for Education and Training at the National Wildlife Federation. “To ensure America’s competitiveness in a global economy, we must prepare the next generation through curricula, training and programming that incorporates clean energy and sustainability,”

On the college side:

“The clean energy economy is our future, and further investment through the climate bill is essential. Every profession and sector will be affected by this green transformation. America’s community colleges can be a vital resource to prepare the workforce of tomorrow,” said George R. Boggs, President and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the primary advocacy organization for the nation’s almost 1,200 community colleges.

Key point, that; the broad appeal. Every profession and sector. Not just solar panel installers, a common refrain among defeatists. In the words of Jim Elder, director of the Campaign for Environmental Literacy, we'll also be needing--and needing to train--carpenters, engineers steelworkers, scientists, entrepreneurs, small business owners, et al. I wonder if there's any room for blogger-cum-nonprofit workers...

A special emphasis on education and training might also help fly the flag for the broader economic possibilities of legislation. Worriers: this won't limit us. A clean energy economy--with a stronger training infrastructure--offers us our best chance at continuing to be competitive in the international marketplace.

You can view the full letter here.

Photo via Flickr's TogetherGreen

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy education environment college university ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jennifer Jones TITLE: Today's Choices, Tomorrow's World STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: todays-choices-tomorrows-world CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 09/16/2009 12:20:53 PM ----- BODY:

We shouldn’t be surprised with the latest national youth poll that demonstrates that the generation that will inherit the worst impacts of global warming are ready to hold lawmakers accountable.

Two-thirds of likely voters between the ages of 18-29 say they will vote for Senators who take action on climate and clean energy legislation like that passed in the House of Representatives in June. And they see clean energy investment as the key to job creation – with 68% saying that “investing in renewable energy that creates jobs” should be an important priority for elected officials.

They get it. Their future is inextricably linked to the action – or inaction – of the U.S. Congress on climate and energy legislation. It’s this generation that will face extreme water shortages, impacts to food supplies, more frequent and devastating storms, the decline of wildlife, and a climate much different than the one I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy.

As the U.S. Global Change Research report notes, “Tipping points have already been reached and have lead to widespread changes… Future climate change and its impacts depend on choices made today.” America’s youth have a lot at stake and they mean business – they’re ready to hold lawmakers accountable. We should all follow their lead.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: polls Congress energy environment clean jobs economy youth ----- -------- AUTHOR: Max Greenberg TITLE: Education for a Clean Energy Economy STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: education-for-a-clean-energy-economy-1 DATE: 09/16/2009 09:44:07 AM ----- BODY:

As a former humanities student and avowed right-brainer, I sometimes wonder whether my education couldn't have been more, well, useful.

Don’t get me wrong: it was nice to spend four years analyzing Paul Gauguin paintings and Alfred Hitchcock movies. I just wish my schooling could have better prepared me for a life of DOING.

Luckily, ten dozen or so colleges and organizations are calling on Congress to help people be a vital part of the coming clean energy economy rather than watching from the sidelines. They want strong energy legislation, with a special emphasis on training and educating the pros of tomorrow, be they engineers, architects, or scientists.

Today NWF and partners delivered a letter to Congress signed by groups representing community colleges, universities, and education consortiums, all pushing for a bill that invests in new energy technology and training. The list is impressive: 130 strong, everything from the Pocatello Zoo to the Temple University Student Peace Alliance (full list of orgs here). To put it mildly, this is a goal with broad appeal. More on that in a second.

Behind the scenes, college presidents and other bigwigs met with congressional offices, highlighting the importance of a pollution-limiting, economy-stimulating, education-driving plan.

On the environmental side:

“Now is the time to pass climate legislation that invests in new clean energy technology and solutions. At the same time we must invest in our nation’s education and training infrastructure—at every level—to ensure Americans are prepared for the new jobs that will be created by the climate bill. This is what the college presidents are in Washington to support today,” said Kevin Coyle, Vice President for Education and Training at the National Wildlife Federation. “To ensure America’s competitiveness in a global economy, we must prepare the next generation through curricula, training and programming that incorporates clean energy and sustainability,”

On the college side:

“The clean energy economy is our future, and further investment through the climate bill is essential. Every profession and sector will be affected by this green transformation. America’s community colleges can be a vital resource to prepare the workforce of tomorrow,” said George R. Boggs, President and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the primary advocacy organization for the nation’s almost 1,200 community colleges.

Key point, that; the broad appeal. Every profession and sector. Not just solar panel installers, a common refrain among defeatists. In the words of Jim Elder, director of the Campaign for Environmental Literacy, we'll also be needing--and needing to train--carpenters, engineers steelworkers, scientists, entrepreneurs, small business owners, et al. I wonder if there's any room for blogger-cum-nonprofit workers...

A special emphasis on education and training might also help fly the flag for the broader economic possibilities of legislation. Worriers: this won't limit us. A clean energy economy--with a stronger training infrastructure--offers us our best chance at continuing to be competitive in the international marketplace.

You can view the full letter here.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: NYT Report Confirms: Clean Water Act Protection Slips for Americans STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: clean-water-act-protection-slips DATE: 09/15/2009 05:14:17 PM ----- BODY: Speak Up Today!

Imagine not being able to bathe your children with tap water for fear they will break out in painful rashes, or having to use bottled water to brush your teeth so that the chemicals do not wear off the enamel.

It might be hard to believe, but it's happening here in America every day.

An extensive New York Times article, released earlier this week, describes what it's like to live in a community with contaminated water and why violations of America's Clean Water Act are so common.

When the Clean Water Act passed in 1972, the country saw a dramatic revitalization of the nation's waters. Now however, the violations are increasing and despite being reported, they go unpunished.

As a result, the report estimates that today one in 10 Americans has been exposed to drinking water that contains dangerous chemicals or fails a federal health standard.

Part of the challenge lies in the fact that it's hard to prove that the water specifically caused the diseases that people are experiencing. A further problem is that most pollutants are odorless and tasteless.

Yet regardless of these challenges, the fact still remains that last year 40 percent of the nation's community water systems violated the Safe Drinking Water Act at least once.

As the article makes clear, stronger enforcement of both the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act is crucial to protecting our drinking water and our health, and bolstering Clean Water Act enforcement is an important first step.

You can help ensure that polluters won't continue getting away with lax enforcement: Tell your senators to support the Clean Water Restoration Act today.

By Kolleen Kawa, National Wildlife Federation

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF: New Fuel Efficiency Standards "Important & Overdue Step" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-new-fuel-efficiency-standards-important-overdue-step- DATE: 09/15/2009 01:52:20 PM ----- BODY:

The Obama administration today unveiled stronger fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks and tougher rules on vehicle greenhouse gas emissions:

The administration estimated the requirements would cost up to $1,300 per new vehicle by 2016 — but that it would take just three years to pay off that investment and that the standards would save more than $3,000 over the life of the vehicle through better gas mileage. [...]

The proposal is expected to increase vehicle fuel efficiency by about 5 percent annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 950 million metric tons. The plan would also conserve 1.8 billion barrels of oil, according to the official — the equivalent to taking 42 million cars off the road, Jackson said.

The National Wildlife Federation's Joe Mendelson applauded the move:

The Environmental Protection Agency has taken an important and overdue step to clean up tailpipe pollution. The effort will jump-start the modernization and retooling of our auto industry, protect our environment, and reduce our reliance on oil.

Now, America needs an equally ambitious plan to expand the clean energy economy and clean up smokestacks from corporate polluters. The Senate must act this fall to pass comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation that includes a cap on global warming pollution.

Have you told your Senator to protect wildlife by passing clean energy & climate legislation? It only takes a moment. Click here!

Photo via Flickr's jtuason

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy environment climate politics Obama Congress ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Live Earth's Love, The Climate Giveaway STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: live-earths-love-the-climate-giveaway CATEGORY: Current Affairs DATE: 09/15/2009 12:08:19 PM ----- BODY:

Love, The Climate Question: What would the climate have to say if it were happy and healthy and had a voice? What message would it send from its bright future?

With the climate bill hitting the senate floor soon--  many of us are working full force to encourage our representatives to take climate change seriously. But when I heard about this new campaign I immediately loved the positive concept.

Love, The Climate
is a creative new campaign by Live Earth that asks you to think about a happier climate and express yourself.



How to participate in the Love, The Climate Giveaway




3 Ways To Enter

1) Call and leave a message thanking supporters of the climate bill.
Leave a Voicemail  


2) Become a Fan on Facebook and post links, messages and photos on the campaign's wall.
Facebook

 

3) Submit a video that demonstrates how wonderful life will be once the environment is protected.
 Submit a Video

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Acorns! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: acorns DATE: 09/15/2009 11:54:17 AM ----- BODY:

Fall is just about here and the oak trees are beginning to drop acorns.  Acorns are an important source of food for wildlife and by planting them in your yard or neighborhood, you'll make it better for the wildlife.


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kelly Senser, senior associate editor, "National Wildlife" EMAIL: senserk@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife DATE: 09/16/2009 09:39:38 AM Great fall topic! Below is a short feature from "National Wildlife" magazine (www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife) about collecting tree seeds to restore habitat—a volunteer project even young children can take part in! FROM SEEDS TO TREES: BE PART OF THE FALL HARVEST! Volunteers across the country are expected to collect tens of thousands of pounds of acorns and other native tree seeds this fall. Why the nutty behavior? These concerned citizens are helping to provide foresters with the stock they need to grow seedlings and replenish riparian tree stands, which have suffered due to development, nonnative species invasions and other pressures. “Native trees create the perfect streamside buffer, acting as a sponge for pollutants and slowing runoff flow to reduce soil erosion,” says Bryan Seipp, director of restoration at the Maryland-based Potomac Conservancy, which manages the Growing Native seed-collection program. Trees also help clean the air and provide important wildlife habitat. RIGHT IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD Oftentimes, desired species can be harvested right in your own backyard—which is also a great place to sow native seeds. Once mature, the trees will provide not only shelter for wildlife but food in the form of blossoms, fruits and nuts. HOW TO HELP WITH THE HARVEST If you live in one of the mid-Atlantic states, visit the Growing Native website (www.growingnative.org) for a list of volunteer opportunities, as well as useful tips for identifying and collecting mature seeds. If you live in another part of the country, contact your state’s department of natural resources, forestry department or extension service to learn what seeds are being sought in your region and whether sites have been established for their collection. Copyright 2009 National Wildlife Federation ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Little Green Thumbs: Gardening with MLK Jr. Elementary STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: little-green-thumbs-gardening-with-mlk-jr-elementary DATE: 09/14/2009 04:52:43 PM ----- BODY: photo credit: Rachel Kramer

Would you rather stay in the office on a Friday or join a fun bunch of elementary school students in planting flowers? The choice was easy for me!

As part of last Friday's National Day of Service, I--together with a crew of my fellow staff from National Wildlife Federation--spent the morning gardening with students at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary in Washington DC.

In addition to being part of the National Day of Service, NWF was also participating in Green the Block --a national event organized by Green For All and the Hip Hop Caucus, focused on helping low-income communities of color become leaders in the clean energy movement.

With rain pouring down that morning, we were a little apprehensive about the idea of digging and planting, but as the kids got more revved up inside with great speakers and a round of nature jeopardy, the rain subsided and we were excited to start. photo credit: Rachel Kramer

Armed with spades and gloves (four sizes too big), the students dug right into their planting projects--clearing plots, planting bushes and flowers, and spreading mulch around the school garden.

When their teacher told them it was time to come inside, they whined, "but we’re just starting to have fun!" Their energy was contagious.

Most students told us they didn’t have gardens at home and this opportunity to plant at their school was their only exposure to gardening. Sure, they tracked in a lot of mud as they filed inside for lunch, but they were beaming with pride over their new plot.

To wrap up our morning adventure, Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., president of the Hip Hop Caucus, stopped by to thank us for helping connect the school with nature. As a child who was encouraged to play in the dirt, it was my pleasure.

"Rev" (as he likes to be called) pointed out how it's this generation of students who will have to face the effects of global warming.They will have to lead their communities from projects as simple as planting an urban garden to ones as complex as transitioning to new clean energy sources. NWF's Fair Climate Project shares the goal of getting youth in underserved communities to engage in climate change solutions and adaptations.

If you participated in a Green the Block or a National Day of Service event last week, be sure to let us know! You can enter a photo into the Fair Climate Project's photo contest to show how you're working toward climate solutions in your community.

To learn more about NWF's efforts to connect kids with nature visit nwf.org/beoutthere

By Kolleen Kawa, National Wildlife Federation

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Caroline EMAIL: cmotte@greenmeetup.com IP: 75.103.45.154 URL: http://www.greenmeetup.com DATE: 09/15/2009 11:57:48 AM Great initiative, it proves that giving gives at least as pleasure as receiving. Caroline Find Green Eco-Friendly Products Here ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Netosh Jones and H'enri Whitseyjohnson, Science-Co-Chairs, MLK EMAIL: njone3@gmail.com IP: 173.79.69.215 URL: DATE: 09/15/2009 09:44:18 PM On behalf of our students, teachers, and staff..."Thank You For a Memorable and Purposeful Event". We wanted to join Americans across the nation in remembering 9.11 and we also wanted to join the "Green Movement". The National Wildlife Federation, United We Stand, Project Learning Tree, and the HIP HOP CAUCUS gave us the opportunity to improve our school habitat. This spectacular event included every classroom and every student from Head Start to Sixth grade. What a treat!! We had fun and everyone is still talking about this wonderful commitment to our community. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Aislinn Maestas TITLE: Climate Takes Front Seat at Interior Dept. STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: climate-change-takes-front-seat-at-doi DATE: 09/14/2009 03:32:10 PM ----- BODY:

Salazar-Portrait Secretary of the Interior Kent Salazar today issued a secretarial order launching a new strategy to address the current and future impacts of climate on America's wildlife and natural resources. This is pretty big news considering that the Department of Interior manages one-fifth of the nation's land mass and is in charge of protecting some of America's most treasured wildlife, including sea turtles and polar bears.

Under this new strategy, every bureau within the Department of the Interior will coordinate on climate change science and developing strategies to address climate change impacts:

“The unprecedented scope of climate change impacts requires Interior bureaus and agencies to work together, and with other federal, state, tribal and local governments, and private landowner partners, to develop landscape-level strategies for understanding and responding to climate change impacts,” said Salazar.

Developing these strategies is only the first step in meeting the challenge of climate change, says NWF's John Kostyack:

As the Department of Interior works to address the effects of climate change on wildlife and natural resources, we must not forget the urgent need to address the cause. To get the whole job done, Congress must pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation that reduces global warming pollution and dedicates funding to safeguard America’s wildlife, lands and waters from the worst impacts of climate change.

You can read the full secretarial order here.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: turtles bears wildlife animals ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: California's New Energy Standard -- Law or Executive Fiat? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: californias-new-energy-standard-law-or-executive-fiat- DATE: 09/12/2009 11:38:16 PM ----- BODY:

Arnold_Schwarzenegger With the global warming threat, clean energy is a key to long-term wildlife protection. California lawmakers have passed a bold new standard calling for 33% of the state's energy to be produced through alternative sources such as solar and wind.  But the governor says it has too many regulatory hurdles and plans a veto.  He goes on so say he feels the 33% goal can be met via an executuve order.

The Associated Press reports:

"The Democratic bills that passed the state Legislature just before the end of the legislative session Friday would have set up the most aggressive renewable energy standards in the nation. But they also sought to limit the amount of energy from sources such as wind, solar and geothermal that could come from out-of-state. Schwarzenegger and some energy producers said the legislation would set up too many regulatory hurdles.

"The poorly drafted, overly complex bills passed by the Legislature are protectionist schemes that will kill the solar industry in California and drive prices up like the failed energy deregulation of the late 1990s," Schwarzenegger's communications director, Matt David, said in a statement Saturday. The governor's office didn't immediately explain how Schwarzenegger would implement the goals of the legislation through the executive order. Supporters worry that it would not have the same strength of law as the bills would have. See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Maybe Scrub Jays Just Don't Like the Red Sox STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: maybe-scrub-jays-just-dont-like-the-red-sox CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 09/11/2009 05:22:43 PM ----- BODY: ScrubJays

The other day on my way out of the office, I grabbed a copy of National Wildlife magazine to read on the Metro ride home. There's a great article about "Rare Experiences" with endangered or threatened songbirds. My favorite story -- a close encounter with a group of inquisitive scrub-jays:

As I motioned for Julie to take a look, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. Another one of the birds had just landed on the other side of the trail and was staring at me. Within minutes, there were at least a dozen of these big, blue birds in the surrounding trees—and every single one of them was eyeing us. I found it a bit intimidating because I had never seen birds acting so brave. My mind ran instantly to Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. Julie and I froze.

As if staring wasn’t enough, one of the birds suddenly flew toward me and landed on top of the baseball cap I was wearing. I looked at Julie and asked, “What is he doing?” Just then, the bird slammed its beak into the button on top of the hat, giving a nice thump to the top of my head. I couldn’t help but start laughing.

Needless to say, this first introduction to the Florida scrub-jay made quite an impression.

A subscription to National Wildlife magazine is free with a one-year NWF membership. More details on membership here!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: scrubjays bird wildlife animals Florida ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Should We Be Worried About Canadian Grizzlies? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: should-we-be-worried-about-canadian-grizzlies CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 09/11/2009 09:35:59 AM ----- BODY: Grizzly

There's been a lot of talk this week about a sudden salmon shortage in Canada, and how it could affect grizzly bear populations:

"What we are learning now from the people on the ground there that are walking those streams ... is that the chum [salmon] aren't there ... and the bears aren't there," said [David Suzuki Foundation biologist Jeff] Young.

This year has seen a virtual collapse of the sockeye stocks in B.C. Earlier this summer, Fisheries officials confirmed the Fraser River sockeye run was down nine million fish from predicted returns, and northern runs have seen similar declines.

But one National Wildlife Federation expert says grizzlies are resilient and will be able to find other food sources:

"The likelihood that you have adult bears starving to death as a consequence of a decline in a single food source is very small," Sterling Miller, senior biologist with the U.S. National Wildlife Federation, said in an interview Wednesday.

"I don't believe it's credible from the evidence that I see quoted . . . that there's any reason to be concerned about the population of adult bears.

Sterling's analysis would explain why people aren't seeing bears in their usual riverside spots. And when you think about it from the bear's perspective, it makes sense. Why would they bother to hang out near rivers with few salmon? Might as well go check out those berry bushes instead. (Update 12:36pm: As Sterling put it to me in an email just now, "Bears go where the food IS, not to where it ISN'T.")

In the long run though, less food means a lower density of bears. We'll keep an eye on this story and let you know if the evidence backs up the anecdotal reports.

Photo via Flickr's NaturalLight

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: grizzly bears salmon animals wildlife ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Hechtel EMAIL: john.hechtel@gmail.com IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 09/11/2009 12:09:45 PM I have been working on bears for over 30 years in Alaska and the Yukon and share concerns related to the long-term conservation of bears, their habitat and food sources. But I do not think it serves those interests to present misleading or inaccurate information. First the Press Release: “COAST-WIDE GRIZZLY BEAR DIE-OFF DOCUMENTED IN GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST.” That headline is wrong -- no one has “documented” the supposed “grizzly bear die-off.” An accurate release might read: “LACK OF BEARS ON SALMON STREAMS AND ABSENCE OF CUB SIGHTINGS RAISE CONCERNS AMONG B.C. CONSERVATIONISTS” or something more along those lines. Let’s try to keep this debate fact-based. In the long run it will better serve conservation interests. My Perspective: 1). There is nothing wrong with relying on some anecdotal evidence for insights. However the anecdotal evidence doesn’t support a major die-off. I have seen no reports of bear carcasses or dying bears, rather a reduction in sightings of bears on salmon streams, lack of females with cubs, and reports of bears in poor condition. It appears that some people reported seeing about only 20-22% the number of bears (6 vs. 27 and 3 vs. 15) seen the previous year: “I've been doing this for 11 years and this is the worst I've seen it,” he said. “Last year on the Mussel River, I saw 27 bears. This year it's six. That's an indication of what it's like everywhere.” He said on another river last fall, he saw 12 black bears and three spirit bears, rare black bears with white fur. “This year, there are three black bears and no white bears,” he said. An 80% one-year decline in the numbers of bears due to starvation over a large area would be highly unlikely, especially without carcasses and a huge increase in conflicts. A more likely explanation for lack of bears on salmon streams is a shift in distribution. If bears visit salmon streams and find no fish, they are unlikely to spend a lot of time there hanging out, and probably move to areas for berries, or other alternative sources of nutrition. 2). The other issue is that of “starving bears.” There is a big difference for me between a skinny bear, not as fat as it should be as fall approaches, and one dying of starvation. I have seen both. Most of us who have worked on bears for many years have seen very thin bears, and even bears with serious injuries that survived much better than we would have expected. Since there aren’t lots of bears turning up dead, some people speculate that the bears are dying in dens. Not likely. The concept that starving bears would dig dens and quietly die there isn’t consistent with bear biology and behavior. Starving bears would likely will try anything possible as a last ditch effort to eat enough to survive before denning up. I would certainly expect there would be emaciated problem bears around communities, breaking into buildings etc., and being killed in large numbers if such widespread starvation was true. A large reduction in a major food source is a serious issue, however, especially if salmon populations are low for a long time over a wide area. However bears are opportunistic omnivores, who can turn to alternative food sources to help make up somewhat for lack of salmon. A massive bear die-off this soon into a fish decline is probably unrealistic. Over the long term, without an abundant salmon resource, I would expect a chronic, long-term decline in bear density mostly a result of lower productivity and cub survival. 3). Cub production tends to be highly variable, and even when cubs are being produced cub mortality is usually high. The apparent lack of cub sightings is not something I would worry about at this stage. In all bear populations there are boom and bust years for cubs. The lack of cubs in years of food shortage would be expected. But I also wouldn’t rule out the possibility that there might be females with cubs who are not being seen on the streams and are using different habitats and foods. In conclusion I believe that although a large-scale salmon collapse is a very serious issue with long-term implications for bears, evidence of a massive bear die-off is lacking. There are other more likely explanations for reduced numbers of bears using streams and other observations from the release. Without corroborating evidence of a large die-off, a more likely explanation is a shift in distribution and use of other food sources by the bears normally using salmon. It seems appropriate to try to address the salmon escapement issues, but to infer that bears have already died off in such numbers as to be an extreme crisis seems unreasonable to me. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Willi EMAIL: wmatzeit@acme-ds.com IP: 64.128.73.30 URL: DATE: 11/30/2009 04:04:36 PM SAY DO WHAT NOW? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Breaking: Pro-Polluter Lobbyists Posed as Veterans STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: breaking-propolluter-lobbyists-posed-as-veterans CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 09/10/2009 02:23:34 PM ----- BODY: American_legion_color_emblem

Just in from the Washington Post:

Congressional investigators today said they have turned up a 14th forged letter that was sent to a Congressional office criticizing the House's climate change bill, this one appearing to come from an American Legion post in Rocky Mount, Va.

The letter, sent to the office of Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.), asks Perriello to "make sure the Waxman-Markey bill includes provisions to promote American energy independence, while protecting already cash-strapped constituents from increases in electricity prices." It concludes, "Thank you for listening to concerns of vets in your district."

Once again, the letter has reportedly come from Bonner & Associates, a Washington lobbying firm working for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. The Washington Post hasn't yet been able to confirm the forgery directly with the Rocky Mount American Legion Post.

If you think you've been a victim of similar forged letters or any other polluter deception, call our Polluter Fraud Citizens Tipline at 866-363-4648. You can also email us at tips@polluterfraud.com.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Congress politics energy environment oil coal ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New Ad from Clean Energy Works STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-ad-from-clean-energy-works CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 09/10/2009 09:45:42 AM ----- BODY:

The Clean Energy Works website is now live! The campaign also launched a new TV pitch for clean energy after President Obama's address last night:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy Congress environment climate video ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF to Senate on Clean Energy Bill: "Get It Done" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-to-senate-on-clean-energy-bill-get-it-done CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 09/09/2009 05:52:45 PM ----- BODY: Symons_jeremy_thumb

Politico's The Arena blog has asked some top political insiders to give their fall forecast for Congress. The National Wildlife Federation's Jeremy Symons responds:

National Wildlife Federation's 4 million supporters across America are ready to go and the time is now. Our members are gardeners, sportsmen and sportswomen, birdwatchers, educators and others with a passion for nature and wildlife; they have a wide range of occupations and political beliefs; they live and work in all parts of the nation -- but mostly they are moms and dads, grandparents, uncles and aunts who care about the world our kids and grandkids will inherit, and students who are energized to protect their own future. Their top priority for the Senate's fall session is to pass a bill that creates clean energy jobs, reduces our dependency on oil, and significantly reduces the pollution that is fueling global warming and jeopardizing our children's future. The Senate is now in position to get it done.

And here's some good news to give the Senate's climate efforts a boost. A new study of the recently-passed House bill, the American Clean Energy & Security Act, shows the bill's benefits far outweight its costs. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: climate energy environment politics Congress ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Fox News and Invasive Species STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: fox-news-and-invasive-species DATE: 09/09/2009 01:12:08 PM ----- BODY:

Starling Free Digital Images Starlings and other invasive exotic species can be more than just an annoyance.  They out-compete native wildlife, cause significant agricultural damage, threaten public safety and ultimately have an enormous economic impact.  We currently spend $100 billion a year to control the 7,000 or so invasive exotic species in the United States.

Below is a clip of my appearance on Fox News this morning talking with Bill Hemmer about starlings and the problems with invasive exotics.  

You can help NWF protect our native wildlife from this threat.

Click on the photo to learn more about starlings.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jamie EMAIL: IP: 174.48.172.96 URL: DATE: 09/09/2009 02:15:18 PM Yes, this along with plants and bugs. This problem has little to no hope of ultimate victory. This world is only so big, and sooner or later they will thrive here. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: thegreenmiles@gmail.com IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 09/10/2009 09:55:14 AM Great job, David! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New Coalition: Clean Energy Works STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-coalition-clean-energy-works CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 09/08/2009 03:33:26 PM ----- BODY: Clean_Energy_Works_-_500px

Polluters have already poured hundreds of millions of dollars into their campaign to stop clean energy legislation. How can we fight back against that kind of dirty money?

Through strength in numbers. The National Wildlife Federation is joining dozens of faith, labor, veterans, conservation, sportsmen, farm, business, youth, community, and other groups are launching a new coalition:

The group -- dubbed Clean Energy Works -- marks perhaps the most ambitious effort yet to enact legislation that would cap greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming. The coalition has enlisted organizers in 28 key states to help build support for a cap-and-trade bill, and is scheduled to launch paid television ads this week. It also plans to bring 100 veterans to Washington this week to lobby, and has held town halls and rallies in several states.

"Public support for clean energy legislation is overwhelming," said David Di Martino, the group's spokesman. "Unfortunately, an army of special interests are doing everything they can to block comprehensive energy reform. This campaign will mobilize the voices of those millions of Americans who want to put us back in control of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet."

Stay tuned for more details on how you can help! In the meantime, follow Clean Energy Works on Twitter.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: politics energy environment ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Video: Humpback Whales Fishing In Teams STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-humpback-whales-fishing-in-teams DATE: 09/05/2009 11:10:48 AM ----- BODY:

Humpback Viewing Humpback Whales in the wild is a favorite excursion for many people because they are so active in the water -- sticking their heads out (sky hopping) and jumping out of the water completely (breaching).  

Humpback pods have a particular skill for feeding on schools of herring by circling the school, blowing bubbles to hem them in, scaring them to the surface and feeding on them in well-timed unison.  This video posted on YouTube by Apexpredator11 is an excellent filming of this orchestrated activity by the whales.   See video.  

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Victim of Polluter Fraud? Help Us Help You. STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: victim-of-polluter-fraud-help-us-help-you CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 09/04/2009 01:36:43 PM ----- BODY:

A little fun for a Friday before a holiday weekend. You see personal injury lawyers on TV all the time begging for cases -- slip-and-falls, asbestos victims. So what if an ambulance chaser had come up with the Polluter Fraud Citizen Tipline first? Here's what it might look like:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: video green environment energy pollution oil coal politics humor comedy funny ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF Joins Lawsuit Against Dirty Oil Pipeline STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-joins-lawsuit-against-dirty-oil-pipeline CATEGORY: Public Lands DATE: 09/03/2009 06:15:17 PM ----- BODY:

M23

Native American and environmental groups filed suit in federal court today challenging a proposed tar sands oil pipeline that would bring the dirtiest oil on Earth from Canada to the United States.

The U.S. State Department’s approval on Aug. 20 of Enbridge Energy's Alberta Clipper pipeline permits 450,000 barrels of tar sands oil per day to be pumped from northern Alberta to Wisconsin for refining.

Compared to conventional oil, tar sands oil results in:

"This pollution pipeline will increase our dependency on foreign fuels and accelerate the development of one of the dirtiest, most destructive fuels on the planet," said Joe Mendelson, director of global warming policy for the National Wildlife Federation. "We should be investing in clean energy technologies that will help solve the climate crisis."

Photo: David Dodge, The Pembina Institute

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: oil energy environment green ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: This Labor Day Weekend, "Snap" Your Public Lands STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: this-labor-day-weekend-snap-your-public-lands DATE: 09/03/2009 05:00:20 PM ----- BODY:

Enter the Snap it! contest

Labor Day weekend might mean the end of summer days, but it's still a great excuse to spend some quality time outdoors. Even if you can only spare a few hours this weekend, consider getting together with your friends or family to take a quick trip to your nearest public lands to snap a photo (or 10) to enter into NWF's Our Public Lands photo contest.

The 'Write it! Wear it! Snap it! Boast it!' Contest from NWF's Our Public Lands is wrapping up, but you still have time to enter.

To enter the contest, all you need to do is order a T-shirt that features the new fan-submitted motto and wear it to your public lands spot of choice. Then take a photo of you in your shirt and submit it to the photo gallery. That's right, it's just that simple!

To find out the public lands nearest to you, you can check out: publiclands.org

Besides the enjoyment of taking photos of your favorite outdoor scenes with your friends and family, the grand prize winner of the contest will be featured in an ad that will run in a major national outdoor magazine AND receive a 1-year National Parks pass.

So before you head out this Labor Day weekend, grab your camera, put on your Our Public Lands tee and then snap away!*

*And be sure to get your submission in before the September 30 deadline.

By Kolleen Kawa, National Wildlife Federation

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Aislinn Maestas TITLE: Happy Anniversary! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: happy-anniversary CATEGORY: Public Lands DATE: 09/03/2009 02:00:27 PM ----- BODY: Wildactsign

Today marks the 45th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, a landmark conservation law that helps ensure America’s pristine public lands are protected and managed to preserve their natural conditions. Thanks to the Wilderness Act, many of America’s greatest landscapes have been set aside to survive as a legacy for future generations.

The idea that all Americans should have pristine, forever wild places to enjoy was truly visionary. When President Lyndon Johnson signed the Wilderness Act in law in 1964, it set aside 9 million acres of land protection. Today, that number has grown to 109 million acres.

To commemorate the anniversary, President Obama issued a proclamation declaring:

The Wilderness Act is widely recognized as one of this nation’s most important conservation laws. This law and the National Wilderness Preservation System it established have served as a model for similar wilderness protection laws in a number of our States and in nations around the globe.

Today’s anniversary is made even more special by the recent passage of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, which designated an additional 2 million acres of wilderness across 9 states, bringing the number of wilderness areas up to 762!

Want to find a wilderness area near you? Click here.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: wilderness public lands conservation ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Are You a Victim of Polluter Fraud? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: are-you-a-victim-of-polluter-fraud CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 09/03/2009 11:42:24 AM ----- BODY:

From forging letters to shutting citizens out of events, polluters have shown they're willing to victimize innocent Americans to protect their record profits.

Phone

Today, the National Wildlife Federation has joined a coalition that includes the American Association of University Women, the NAACP, the Center for American Progress Action Fund, and the Sierra Club. We're launching a new Polluter Fraud Citizen Tip Line:

Citizens calling 866-363-4648 will have the option of reporting if they themselves were a victim of a forged letter or have knowledge of one; if they have knowledge of or witnessed an event staged by the American Petroleum Institute or oil and coal interests under the guise of being a true citizen-grassroots event; if they were coerced to attend such an event or denied access to one; if they are energy company employees or contractors and want to leave a tip about unethical or possible illegal activity or if they want to report other instances of fraud or deceptive tactics including misleading ads, mailing, or calls they may have received.

Staff from NWF, NAACP or Center for American Progress Action Fund will review all tips that come in and take appropriate follow-up action.

“The hotline we have launched will help people fight back against big polluters and their lobbyists," said the National Wildlife Federation's Adam Kolton. "We hope this investigation uncovers the full extent of the wrongdoing but we fear we may only have seen the tip of the iceberg."

Photo via Flickr's Donncha

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: politics pollution oil coal energy environment lobbying grassroots ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anna Haynes EMAIL: annahaynes_nc@yahoo.com IP: 69.105.95.109 URL: DATE: 09/23/2009 02:48:29 PM The hotline is a) automated and b) not well designed - if you call, you're first subjected to what seems like 2 or 3 minutes of harangue before having a chance to leave a message. If I were someone trying, sub-rosa, to blow the whistle, this extended on-the-line wait would probably make me nervous enough to give up. p.s. Apologies if this msg has typos; the Comment Preview button isn't working for me. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Amanda C. Cooke TITLE: Time Out Fuels Classroom Performance STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: time-out-outdoor-time-fuels-classroom-performance- CATEGORY: Environmental Education DATE: 09/02/2009 05:03:48 PM ----- BODY: Logo_small

For kids these days, back to school sometimes means back indoors. In fact, the opposite should be the case—NWF has compiled vast research connecting the dots between classroom performance and time outdoors.

The new parent and teacher guide, called TIME OUT: Using the Outdoors to Enhance Classroom Performance shares the science behind developmental gaps, nutrition and physical activity implications, and offers solutions to connect the indoor generation back to nature.

The guide is available through NWF's Be Out There campaign. The report also features Green Hour's Top 10 ways to Be Out There -- even after school starts!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: education green environment outdoors ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jen EMAIL: standitman@yahoo.com IP: 67.189.194.55 URL: http://www.ticklemeplant.com DATE: 09/08/2009 08:16:21 AM I thought your young gardeners would enjoy an gardening adventure, growing the TickleMe Plant (Mimosa pudica). Recently featured by the National Gardening Association, http://www.kidsgardeningstore.com/14-1030.html If you want to give your young gardeners an experience they will never forget, consider having them grow a TickleMe Plant. This is the plant that will close its leaves and lower its branches when you tickle it. They sprout in days and can be grown indoors any time of year. Just Google TickleMe Plants or go to http://www.TickleMePlant.com for information seeds and growing kits. This plant has turned many kids into plant and nature lovers. I know, because I grow TickleMe Plants in my classroom. Happy Growing Martha ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: 3 Ways You Can Help the 7.6 Million Kids with Vitamin D Deficiency STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 76-million-kids-with-vitamin-d-deficiency-and-3-ways-you-can-help CATEGORY: Environmental Education DATE: 09/02/2009 12:46:59 PM ----- BODY:

Beoutthere A recent Washington Post article points out a growing problem among American children-- Vitamin D deficiency, which can cause bone and heart ailments. You can get your Vitamin D from fortified milk, but the best way is to get outside and play. Unfortunately this last part, is part of the problem.

We've known for a while that kids don't get outside as often as they used to. Blame video games, blame fear of direct sunlight, blame whatever you like. But right now, it's time to focus on solutions.

Take your pick. Speak up with NWF today to help get more of America's kids outside. 

Once you've sent these important messages to your elected officials today, shut down your computer (unplug it too, to save some energy) and run outside to get your Vitamin D. After all, kids aren't the only ones who need their daily sunlight...

...So, go on now, be out there!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Kathie Lee & a Kangaroo STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: kathy-lee-a-kangaroo CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 09/02/2009 11:33:04 AM ----- BODY:

The National Wildlife Federation's David Mizejewski made his regular appearance on NBC's The Today Show this morning, bringing a kangaroo, a baby tiger, and a desert fox with him:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: wildlife animals video kangaroo fox tiger ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Brazil's Environment Head Says Amazon Deforestation Is Slowing STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: brazils-environment-head-says-amazon-deforestation-is-slowing DATE: 09/01/2009 11:34:33 PM ----- BODY:

Brazil_1_259638 The CO2 emissions caused by deforestation make Brazil a top-tier global warming polluter that has been criticized for not moving more quickly to save its vast but diminishing Amazon basin forests. Intact forests absorb greenhouse gases but become emitters when they are cut, cleared and burned.  (Photo: WWF)

The Associated Press reports:

"Brazil's environment minister says increased policing brought a sharp drop in Amazon deforestation over the past year, despite a jump in July. Environment Minister Carlos Minc says destruction in the 12-month period through July totalled 4,375 square kilometres (1,689 square miles). He says that is a 46 per cent decline from the same period a year earlier.   Minc said Tuesday that deforestation during all of 2009 - forecast to be around 8,500 square kilometres (3,280 square miles) - will be the smallest amount in 20 years." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: New Study: Climate Change Will Alter California Bird Communities STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-study-climate-change-will-alter-california-bird-communities DATE: 09/01/2009 11:09:50 PM ----- BODY:

CA-quail A new Stanford study predicts that global warming will disrupt many Golden State bird communities.

Lisa Krieger at Mercury News.com reports:

"Climate change could scatter California's bird communities, forcing species to seek new homes that are cooler, wetter and more hospitable, according to a new study by Stanford University and partner institutions. For instance, the White-Crowned Sparrow, beloved for its thin, sweet whistle and dashing striped head and now common in San Jose, would be more likely spotted in the far northwest corner of the state, near Eureka. The Yellow-billed Magpie, now common in the Central Valley, may be Silicon Valley-bound. However this means that entire ecosystems, built over eons of entwined relationships, could unravel.

The startling forecast, based on complex mathematical models of climate, vegetation and 60 bird species, concludes that half of California could be occupied by new bird communities by 2070."  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: EPA Moves to Cool Rhetoric on Carbon Regulations STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: epa-moves-to-cool-rhetoric-on-carbon-regulations CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 09/01/2009 10:41:38 PM ----- BODY:

If the Environmental Protection Agency regulates global warming pollution from something as small as a car, won't that mean it will need to regulate just about everything that emits carbon dioxide?

It's a reasonable question, and today the EPA has delivered a very clear answer:

U.S. EPA has sent a draft rule to the White House that could limit regulations on greenhouse gas emissions to cover only very large industrial sources.

The agency yesterday submitted a rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget that experts say will likely limit strict permitting requirements to industrial sources of more than 25,000 tons a year of carbon dioxide equivalent.

David Bookbinder, chief climate counsel at the Sierra Club, said the rule would also deflect claims from Republican lawmakers and industry groups that the Obama administration is seeking to regulate small emission sources such as doughnut shops, schools and nursing homes.

"Putting this rule in place deflates a lot of the political rhetoric about regulating CO2," he said.

As David Bookbinder mentions, pro-polluter forces have been trying to exploit the uncertainty around this rule to scare people into opposing the change we need in our national energy policies. Hopefully this draft rule will help cool that hyperbole.

The National Wildlife Federation will be going all-out this fall to make sure the Senate follow in the House's footsteps to pass strong clean energy & climate legislation. By passing comprehensive legislation that deals with both clean energy and climate together, Congress can create the most clean energy jobs and make greater reductions in oil dependency while cutting greenhouse gas pollution.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: politics Congress energy environment EPA ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Congressman Caveman: Solar Panel Smackdown! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: congressman-caveman-solar-panel-smackdown CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 09/01/2009 11:15:25 AM ----- BODY:

Is your representative a member of the Caveman Energy Caucus? Find out at CongressmanCaveman.com.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: politics video energy environment Congress ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: More Frequent Wildfires Worldwide Point To Need To Address Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: more-frequent-wildfires-worldwide-point-to-need-to-address-global-warming DATE: 09/01/2009 08:37:08 AM ----- BODY:

Wildfires Wildfires are much in the news this week.  Studies show they are more frequent, larger and they are burning hotter.  This is largely bad news for wildlife.  But, when you include Greece, Australia and other places in the world, fires are in the news year-round indicating a global trend. 

China view.cn reports: 

"Wildfires have struck with increasing force in many parts of the world in recent years and experts suspect climate change has played a key role in the disasters. 'Scientists can't link ... specific event[s] to global warming, but they forecast a need to adapt to erratic weather. This has implications for fire preparedness the world over,'...  A study led by scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, linked climate change to recent increases in large forest fires. 'Rising seasonal temperatures and the earlier arrival of spring conditions' are connected to a dramatic increase in large wildfires in the western United States, the study said".  See full article:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Sign The Online Climate Petition -- Seal The Deal! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: sign-the-online-climate-petition-seal-the-deal DATE: 08/31/2009 10:49:45 PM ----- BODY:

SEALTHEDEALENGLISH3D_JPG Dear friends,

At NWF we feel that global warming is the greatest enviironmental threat ever to people and wildlife.  We are full of hope that the leaders of the world can come together to lower greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.  This means having strong and effective global climate treaty.

As the world prepares for the global climate treaty summit in Copenhagen, the United Nations is reaching out to people worldwide to sign an online petition supporting a fair and strong global agreement.  If you think you would like to learn more about this you can visit the Seal the Deal website and sign on. 

The conference begins December 7, 2009.  National Wildlife Federation will be there pushing for protecting the planet and saving its wildlife.   Access the online petition here.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: leatrice brantley EMAIL: lee7283ohio@yahoo.com IP: 65.34.146.177 URL: DATE: 09/01/2009 10:00:09 PM Seal the deal. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: dainaira wiseman EMAIL: bwiseman_1@ntzero.om IP: 64.136.27.230 URL: http://www.twitter.com DATE: 12/01/2009 06:01:04 PM dear ranger rick, ever since i was 10 i have loved reading your magazense they are awesome. thank you for writing them. your #1 fan Dainaira p.s. i go to raven ele. will you come to my school and try to get them to be careful with the animals. they try to hit them with sticks and throw rocks the squirrels it would be nice t see them not do that for a change ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: dainaira wiseman EMAIL: bwiseman_1@ntzero.om IP: 64.136.27.230 URL: http://www.twitter.com DATE: 12/01/2009 06:07:18 PM dude i just twittered this and it workd two my followers are already reading it ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: dainaira wiseman EMAIL: bwiseman_1@ntzero.om IP: 64.136.27.230 URL: http://www.twitter.com DATE: 12/01/2009 06:10:03 PM ranger rick is aweome!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: dainaira wiseman EMAIL: bwiseman_1@ntzero.om IP: 64.136.27.230 URL: http://www.twitter.com DATE: 12/02/2009 04:44:37 PM do you have a girlfriend? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: New Facebook Application Will Let You "Friend" A Mountain Gorilla (For Real) STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-facebook-application-will-let-you-friend-a-mountain-gorilla-for-real DATE: 08/31/2009 09:15:23 PM ----- BODY:

Gorillas Who would have thought you would ever "friend" a gorrilla?

AFP reports:

"Users of the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter will be able to "befriend" rare Ugandan mountain gorillas and track their movements, a Wildlife Authority spokeswoman said Monday.

In a scheme designed to promote Uganda?s nascent tourism industry, users will receive regular updates about their endangered primate friends, Lillian Nsubuga told AFP.

'Through geo-tracking and GPS, you?ll be able to get information about new births within the family and other information,' she said, referring to a programme that will launch online next month.

Wildlife officials also plan to install cameras around Uganda?s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to roughly half of the world?s estimated 740 mountain gorillas, one of most endangered species on the planet."  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Endangered Animals That Are Making A Comeback STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: endangered-animals-that-are-making-a-comeback DATE: 08/31/2009 06:54:54 PM ----- BODY:

Lapwing While we must continue to take steps to protect and restore wildlife species, especially in the face of global climate change, there are some glimmers of hope worth eyeing. (photo, Virginia Tech)

Green and Save.com has published a list by Andrew Wetzler at NRDC.

It includes:

Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay,

Yellow-crested Spangle butterflies in India,

Lapwings in the UK,

Indian estuarine crocodiles,

Greater Bamboo Lemurs,  

Humpback Chubs in the Colorado River basin,

Southern right whales in Tasmania,

Atlantic salmon in New York, and others.

The challenges before us are huge, but taking a few minutes to think about what can be accomplished is very helpful in maintaining the good fight.

See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robb EMAIL: rhughes@greenmeetup.com IP: 75.103.45.154 URL: http://www.greenmeetup.com DATE: 09/02/2009 11:31:09 AM Ah, the lapwing! Good to hear. What would Robert Burns say? "Thou stockdove whose echo resounds thro' the glen, Ye wild whistling blackbirds in yon thorny den, Thou green-crested lapwing thy screaming forbear, I charge you, disturb not my slumbering Fair. " -excerpt "Sweet Afton", 1791 http://www.greenmeetup.com Buy green products here! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: I love me myself and i :) EMAIL: IP: 173.172.209.135 URL: DATE: 11/17/2009 11:38:56 PM i really liked it it was wosame ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: The Snow Leopard: So Much More Than An Operating System STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: where-nature-and-technology-meet-naming-apples-product-snow-leopard CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 08/31/2009 03:57:51 PM ----- BODY:

Apple's newest system upgrade brings attention to one of the most majestic large cats out there, the snow leopard. It would be a shame to know more about Apple's product than the Snow Leopard itself, so I wanted to share a few cool things about snow leopards that everyone who wants to can wow their friends with!

Snow Leopard Operating System

1. The estimated snow leopard population is between 3,500 and 7,000. Because of the shy nature of these animals, no one is entirely clear on how many there are. Apple is expected to sell over 100 times that many copies of their version.

2. Snow leopards live throughout the mountain ranges of central Asia. 

Snow leopard range

3. Poaching, harming livestock and loss of habitat are the leading dangers to Snow Leopards. Luckily thanks to organizations like Snow Leopard Trust a lot of work is being done to compensate people who lose livestock because they are in a snow leopard's range.

There is so much that we still don't know about the snow leopard because of the lack of research that has been done. They are shy animals that live in treacherous areas and so researching them takes so much patience and funding.

There is great opportunity for Apple to make an incredible contribution for snow leopards if they so desire. If you'd like to suggest to them that they donate a portion to snow leopards, sign the action alert!

Read the snow leopard blog for more!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: snow leopards, leopard, apple, endangered species, environment ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Hugh EMAIL: hdp8@cornell.edu IP: 132.236.164.140 URL: http://redesign.birds.cornell.edu DATE: 08/31/2009 04:43:13 PM and #4: The Snow Leopard, Peter Mathiessen's incredible book about his trip accompanying George Schaller into the Himalaya to study snow leopards and blue sheep. It's an amazing journey combining 1960s mountaineering, Buddhism, sherpas, natural history, and - somewhere among it all - the big cat itself. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: http://www.nwf.org DATE: 08/31/2009 04:57:23 PM great Hugh! I thought about putting that they eat blue sheep -- but you should include a link to your book reference! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Preeti EMAIL: hi@preetalina.com IP: 63.251.31.10 URL: DATE: 08/31/2009 05:29:08 PM This is a great idea, but unfortunately I doubt Apple will donate. Hopefully I'm wrong! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David - green thoughts EMAIL: myemail2@planetthoughts.org IP: 96.246.55.236 URL: http://PlanetThoughts.org DATE: 08/31/2009 06:22:21 PM In addition to making donations -- particularly important because research is needed -- Apple could do more to promote the beauty of nature, which provided them the name for their operating system. It should be more than just a name to them: Apple is earning money due to the inspiration that the image of a snow leopard brings. It is right for them to show love and respect for the source of that inspiration. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ian @ Brighter Planet EMAIL: iwilker@gmail.com IP: 96.37.23.241 URL: http://brighterplanet.com/users/iwilker DATE: 08/31/2009 11:34:05 PM #5: Snow leopards have arguably the most beautiful tails in the animal kingdom! I've always loved this animal. Thanks Danielle! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Hugh EMAIL: hdp8@cornell.edu IP: 132.236.164.140 URL: http://redesign.birds.cornell.edu DATE: 09/01/2009 11:25:36 AM OK, here you go. Here's the Snow Leopard page at Powell's Books: http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?show=Trade%20Paper:New:0140255087:13.95 and here's the New York Times review from 1978, when the book was published: http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/11/23/home/matthiessen-raditzer.html Hope someone out there enjoys the book as much as I did... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Phil E. Drifter EMAIL: phillydrifter@gmail.com IP: 68.82.82.167 URL: DATE: 09/01/2009 01:45:23 PM But does it taste like chicken? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Global Patriot EMAIL: Converse@GlobalPatriot.com IP: 208.54.7.181 URL: http://GlobalPatriot.com/ DATE: 09/06/2009 02:50:01 PM If only there was a way to replicate wildlife as we do software...then all species would be safe from extinction! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sibylle EMAIL: sibyllenoras@yahoo.com.au IP: 58.161.20.179 URL: http://www.snowleopardblog.com DATE: 09/20/2009 04:26:28 AM Great idea to share info about the snow leopard, let's all help to ensure they continue to live in the wild. And Apple Mac OS X will also help spread the word. Cheers Sibylle www.snowleopardblog.com ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mike EMAIL: meguyll@gmail.com IP: 64.119.44.230 URL: DATE: 10/25/2009 03:07:33 AM I’ve heard there are some wildlife groups trying to get Apple to do more stuff with the actual S.L.’s lol. I don’t know- people are saying it’s good PR for Apple- they should jump on that. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Wash. Post Gives Polluters a Free Pass on Dirty Money & Lies STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wash-post-gives-polluters-free-pass-on-dirty-money-lies CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 08/31/2009 11:40:55 AM ----- BODY: Oilspill

In today's Washington Post, the top story spends its first 15 paragraphs detailing Big Oil's massive campaign against clean energy while incredibly avoiding any mention of one little detail: money.

In fact, to believe the first 15 paragraphs, the reason polluters have such a strong voice in the national debate is because conservation groups are "struggling" and "slow." Not a single mention of polluters' massive money advantage in the first 540 words.

Then, almost as an afterthought, the Post drops this in as paragraph 16:

Oil and natural gas groups have always had deeper pockets. In the first six months of 2009, the Center for Responsive Politics found they spent $82.1 million lobbying Washington on various issues, including climate policy. In the same time, environmental and health groups concerned with climate change spent about $6.6 million on lobbying and clean-energy firms $12.1 million, according to two other analyst groups, the Center for Public Integrity and New Energy Finance.

But those figures don't even come close to telling the real story of the financial disparity between polluters and conservationists. Exxon Mobil alone - just one of many oil and coal giants - turned a $40 billion profit in 2007. That was the largest profit in the history of the planet (#2 on the list: also Exxon Mobil, 2006).

Of course, that's just profit. Exxon Mobil's annual revenue in 2007 was $404.5 billion. Exxon Mobil alone has an annual budget hundreds of times that of every conservation group put together.

And as we've covered, polluters are using that money not to push facts, but to push distortions, lies, and outright fraud. But again, the Washington Post gives a free pass -- mentioning pro-polluter contacts to Congress without mentioning many of those have been proven to be phony and funded by industry front groups.

People often ask me if I'm disappointed by polls showing six in ten Americans support clean energy & climate legislation. With energy price spikes and a climate in crisis, shouldn't the numbers be higher?

But with Big Oil's big money and free passes like this from the media, my response is that I'm constantly amazed that Americans see right through the lies and misinformation to support what's right for our economy now and for our children's future. I just hope the Senate follows their constituents' lead this fall to pass a strong clean energy & climate bill.

Image courtesy Office of Australian Senator Rachel Siewert: Chris Twomey

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: oil energy environment politics money lobbying climate ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jennifer Janssen EMAIL: jennifer.janssen@gmail.com IP: 66.93.60.181 URL: DATE: 08/31/2009 01:58:00 PM Thanks for that post, Miles! I was so depressed reading the article this morning and seeing that member-supported non-profits who stick to the facts were apparently expected to host as large of events as the those funded by industry tycoons. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New Poll: Americans Demand Clean Energy Now STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-poll-americans-demand-clean-energy-now CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 08/28/2009 10:02:25 AM ----- BODY: Derrick

Could America's call for a new direction in energy policy be any more clear?

After a year and a half of being hit from all sides with Big Oil's multimillion-dollar campaign of deception to keep us hooked on dirty energy, a new poll shows support for new, clean energy policies is as strong as ever:

Most Americans approve of the way President Obama is handling energy issues and support efforts by him and Democrats in Congress to overhaul energy policy -- including the controversial cap-and-trade approach to limiting greenhouse gas emissions, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Even as public support has slipped for Obama's health-care proposals, support for ambitious changes in energy policy has been steady. Although the issue of health care arouses more intense feelings than energy policy does, those who do feel strongly about energy and climate policy tend to tilt toward the administration's position and a broad majority of people echo Democratic lawmakers' views on the benefits of proposed changes.

It's past time for the Senate to follow in the House's footsteps and pass strong clean energy & climate legislation. Tell your Senators to take action now!

Photo via Flickr's mortsan

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: climate environment energy Congress Senate Obama ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robb EMAIL: rhughes@greenmeetup.com IP: 75.103.45.154 URL: http://www.greenmeetup.com DATE: 08/28/2009 03:13:03 PM What do people think about the Pickens Plan? I think it's a sham - he knows two things: oil and wind. He saw an opportunity, threw some cash at it, and is now trying to convince people that his farms can yield an absurd amount of kilowatt hours. Does any of this seem like snake oil salesmanship to anyone? I just think the timing of the release, when oil was $147 a barrel, had more to do with it than anything else. He's a businessman, I get that. But is his plan more than a sales pitch? http://www.greenmeetup.com ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Use Your Lens to Address Climate Change STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: use-your-lens-to-solve-climate-change DATE: 08/27/2009 11:29:52 AM ----- BODY:

Enter to Win NWF's New Photo Contest! NWF's new "The Faces of Climate Change" photo contest is a great opportunity for you to show how you see climate change in your everyday life!

Here's a chance for you to bring your unique perspective from your niche of the world.

When I think of how climate change affects my local environment, I don't just consider the problems - but the critical solutions too. For example, I see the landfill in my Midwestern hometown that rose above all other points on the horizon, but I also think of the mammoth but graceful wind turbines I see when driving through rural Illinois.

So now's your turn. Bring your camera along for your next ride or walk around your community and capture the local impacts of climate change.

Besides telling your story, what's in it for you?

Well for one, the top two photos will win an opportunity to meet with your elected leaders in Washington DC.

PLUS, every image will make a mark because all the photos will be made into a photo collage that will be delivered to the U.S. Senate and help communicate the urgency of addressing climate change for our environment and our communities across America.

So, get your shutter snapping and be sure to submit your photo by September 15th.

Your pictures can be worth a thousand words and you also don't want to miss your possibility to meet with your decision makers!

For more details visit: fairclimateproject.org/photocontest

By Kolleen Kawa, National Wildlife Federation

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Study: Warmer Climate Is Sending Species Uphill STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: study-warmer-climate-is-sending-species-uphill- DATE: 08/26/2009 09:37:11 PM ----- BODY:

Costa%20Rican%20Mountains UConn ecologists studying plant and animal movement in Costa Rica are finding that species may move up mountain slopes as the climate warms but areas left behind will have little to replace them:

AFP in the Vancouver Sun reports:

"In a rare study on the impact of global warming in the tropics, University of Connecticut ecologist Robert Colwell and colleagues worked their way up the forested slope of a Costa Rican volcano to collect data on 2,000 types of plants and insects.

'Half of these species have such narrow altitudinal ranges that a 600-meter (2,000 feet) uphill shift would move these species into territory completely new to them,' said a summary of their article released Thursday."  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: MSNBC Profiles the Wildlife Center of Virginia STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: msnbc-profiles-the-wildlife-center-of-virginia CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 08/26/2009 07:56:00 AM ----- BODY:

This video from MSNBC features the National Wildlife Federation's Doug Inkley:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: wildlife animals ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New NWF Report: Heat Waves Threaten Cities, Farmers, Wildlife STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-nwf-report-heat-waves-threaten-cities-farmers-wildlife CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 08/25/2009 01:22:20 PM ----- BODY:

The National Wildlife Federation issued a new report today, More Extreme Heat Waves: Global Warming's Wake Up Call. From USA Today's coverage of the report:

The nation is headed for strong heat waves in coming decades that will hit cities and farmers and threaten wildlife with extinction, a new global warming report warns. [...]

"Heat waves worsen not only direct effects like heat stroke but also heart disease, asthma and other respiratory problems," says Peter Wilk of Physicians for Social Responsibility in Washington, D.C., a report sponsor. The 1995 Chicago heat wave killed more than 500 people, and the 2003 European heat wave killed more than 35,000, he adds.

"People in cities, the poor and often people of color, are the most vulnerable," says Benjamin Jealous, head of the NAACP, another report sponsor. "They are most likely to live in high-rise apartments, lack air conditioning and other resources. Climate change is a civil rights issue."

Here's a video explaining the report:



You can read the full report at NWF.org/ExtremeWeather.



----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: environment climate weather ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Terra EMAIL: terram@digital-day.com IP: 99.177.83.94 URL: DATE: 08/25/2009 04:55:47 PM Here is a great link for a coupon from Florida Crystals that also donate's to the Jaguar Foundation! http://floridacrystalscoupon.com/ ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Anticipating Rising Seas: Wildlife Trust in UK Plans For New Inland Refuge STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: anticipating-rising-seas-wildlife-trust-in-uk-plans-for-new-inland-refuge DATE: 08/24/2009 09:40:26 PM ----- BODY:

Bittern The Norfolk Wildlife Trust has filed a plan to create an inland wetland to protect rare bitterns.  This action  recognizes that salt water may soon be degrading coastal freshwater reed beds that are currently home to the birds.

The new area will be converted farmland and will serve as habitat for other species as well.  It is an interesting example of how land protection and restoration work will need to become smarter and more flexible as climate change causes ecological shifts in exisitng habitat areas.  See article:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Migration Begins! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: migration-begins DATE: 08/24/2009 12:11:31 PM ----- BODY:

Migratory Birds August is waning and school is about to start.  Even though it’s technically still summer for another whole month, fall migration is already beginning for some species.

The change of seasons is an important influence on animal behavior. Whether it’s the hot season turning cold or the dry season turning wet, wildlife has to adapt to survive. One strategy is migration. Songbirds, waterfowl, raptors and hummingbirds travel north and south each year, some as far as the tropicsCaribou and pronghorn shift their range based on the season to ensure access to food.  Even insects such as monarch butterflies and green darner dragonflies travel great distances to survive the oncoming winter.

One of the greatest things about fall migration is that it offers some pretty awesome wildlife watching opportunities.  Get outside this fall and see what migratory species you can spot.  You can report your sightings on National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Watch website, on Twitter or even using your iPhone.

There's no excuse to stay indoors and not experience wildlife this fall!  In the meantime, watch this video about one of the species that has already begun migration, the ruby-throated hummingbird.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Amanda C. Cooke TITLE: International Youth Leaders: Make Enviro Education Mandatory STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: international-youth-leaders-make-enviro-education-mandatory- CATEGORY: Environmental Education CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 08/24/2009 11:09:53 AM ----- BODY: Tunza_logo_articleimage

The United Nations Environment Program is currently hosting the Tunza International Children and Youth Conference in South Korea, the biggest-ever youth gathering on global warming.

The title “tunza” is a Swahili word meaning “to treat with care of affection." This word speaks well to the voices of the 800 children and youth in attendance—our governments are not doing enough to combat global warming, but we have the power to respect and preserve life on earth.

The young leaders representing 110 countries are meeting this week to discuss their concerns ahead of the U.N.’s Copenhagen climate conference in December. One goal of the young leaders is reinforcing the urgency of environmental education and training across the world.

“Make engaging environmental education mandatory in schools and universities and promote community environmental awareness—an informed public is a powerful public,” the attendees said in a statement.

Learn about the event at the Tunza International Children and Youth Conference website.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: environment, youth, children, education ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Worldwide Search Is On For 47 "Lost" Bird Species STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: worldwide-search-is-on-for-47-lost-bird-species- DATE: 08/22/2009 12:02:46 AM ----- BODY:

Ivory bill A group of wildlife experts is hoping that some feared-extinct bird species may have actually escaped extinction.  The search is on.

The Indepedent reports:  

"BirdLife International is launching a global attempt ... to try to confirm the existence of the critically endangered birds which, in some cases, have not been seen for more than 180 years. The list of birds which could have become extinct includes the slender-billed curlew, one of the last verified sightings of which was in the UK a decade ago. Other species being targeted by the international coalition of bird conservation groups include birds found in remote forests or islands, in parts of the US and Europe and in the Himalayas."   See full article.   

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: State Dept. Pollution Pipeline Undermines Obama’s Climate Goals STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: state-dept-pollution-pipeline-undermines-obamas-climate-goals CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 08/21/2009 04:04:19 PM ----- BODY:

According to a report in today's Washington Post, the U.S. State Department has approved the construction of a multibillion-dollar pipeline from Canadian oil sands to refineries in the United States. The State Department-approved “Alberta pollution pipeline” will not just move fuel, but it will move one of the dirtiest fuels on the planet -- tar sands oil.

Tarsands

Turning tar sands into oil requires massive amounts of energy and results in as much as 3 times as much greenhouse gas emissions to produce as conventional oil, studies show.  The full lifecycle emissions from the tar sands oil from this Alberta Pollution Pipeline (including production and tailpipe emissions) could be more than three billion tons of heat-trapping gases pumped into the atmosphere (yes, that is "billion" with a "B," not a typo) through the year 2050.

Meanwhile, President Obama has called for the U.S. and other developed nations, including Canada, to cut emissions by more than 80% during this same time period. Building this pipeline while trying to shift to cleaner energy sources is like going on a diet while buying a lifetime supply of Twinkies.

A better solution for our oil dependency is for the Senate to act swiftly to pass a clean energy and climate bill such as the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act approved by the House in June. The bill creates incentives for homegrown renewable energy technologies like wind and solar and electric vehicles and will create millions of jobs in the process.

A recent analysis by the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows ACES would reduce oil imports by 590,000 barrels per day by 2020 -- more than we will get from this pipeline project, and as much oil as we currently import from Iraq. ACES will save $650 billion from being spent on foreign oil over the next 20 years. Among many oil saving measures, ACES includes a strong investment in battery technologies and a smarter grid that can help get renewable energy sources like solar and wind to our homes to charge up our automobiles with electricity.

According to the State Department's position on greenhouse gases from the "Alberta Clipper" line, "The administration believes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are best addressed through each country’s robust domestic policies and a strong international agreement." President Obama and the State Department deserve credit for actively pursuing this global agreement as well as domestic clean energy legislation. All the more reason to avoid locking in highly polluting energy infrastructure like this pipeline that will make little economic sense when we commit to homegrown renewable energy sources and put a price on carbon pollution.  

The State Department decision threatens to get the Obama administration off course on its winning energy strategy to simultaneously deal with three inter-related opportunities at the same time:  limit carbon pollution in order to promote clean energy and clean energy jobs, increase energy security, and protect our planet. To date, these efforts have gotten high marks from the public. A recent Zogby poll found that 71% of likely voters support the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

The National Wildlife Federation will continue to work to support the President’s and Congress’ efforts to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act, and to fight dirty fuels like the ones supported by this pipeline that undermine a cleaner energy future.  

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dr. D. Smith EMAIL: swizzelstick@live.com IP: 70.215.67.28 URL: DATE: 08/21/2009 10:56:35 PM The article regarding tar sands is good but is very wrong in promoting the energy act. The problem with tar sands is how tarands are being used and how fuels are beeing produced from them. Right now every autombile could be made to have it's gas mileage increased buy 130%. This alone would reduce polution from automobiles by more than 50%. In addition, the same technology could be applied to home heating (which uses oil, LPG or natural gas. Likewise fuel consumption for production of electricity could be reduced by 130%. The way our government is being run this will not happen. This article mentions Global Warming. You ought to do some better scientific research on Global Warming. You would find that Global Warming is a farce promoted by government and people with other interests. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: IP: 69.143.186.99 URL: DATE: 08/21/2009 11:37:57 PM Would you trust a doctor who didn't tell you his first name to take your pulse, never mind dictate government policy? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Big Coal Dumps Letter Fraud Lobbyists STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: big-coal-dumps-letter-fraud-lobbyists CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 08/21/2009 10:56:04 AM ----- BODY:

As the National Journal reports, Big Coal is dropping its dirty lobbying firm:

The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity announced Thursday that it was severing ties with Bonner & Associates, the grassroots lobbying firm founded by Jack Bonner, whose employee sent false letters to lawmakers urging them to vote against the House energy legislation.

"We will not be working with Mr. Bonner again," Joe Lucas, senior vice president for communications at ACCCE, told NationalJournal.com. "ACCCE did nothing wrong. Looking back, there would be many things we would do differently."

ACCCE tries to pass off the phony letter scandal as an "isolated incident," but Big Coal and Big Oil have shown a pattern of deception. From fraudulent letters to extensive astroturfing, polluters are willing to say or do anything to protect their record profits.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Video - "A New Sound: Green for All" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-a-new-sound-green-for-all CATEGORY: Current Affairs DATE: 08/20/2009 09:57:59 AM ----- BODY: ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Ontario Will Protect 55 Million-Acre Forest and Wetland Area STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: ontario-will-protect-55-millionacre-forest-and-wetland-area DATE: 08/19/2009 09:26:19 PM ----- BODY:

Ontario In a move that will protect nature and help fight global wamring, Ontario will conserve an area about the same size as the entire State of Kansas. (Photo: Forest Ethics)

Kerry Gillespie for the Star.com reports:

"Ontario has made the largest conservation commitment in Canadian history, setting aside at least half the Northern Boreal region – 225,000 square kilometres – for permanent protection from development, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced yesterday It's an area almost the size of the United Kingdom. 'It is, in a word, immense. It's also unique and precious. It's home to the largest untouched forest in Canada and the third largest wetland in the world,' McGuinty said." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ares Vista EMAIL: lnalure@live.com IP: 75.110.215.105 URL: http://www.ares.net DATE: 08/20/2009 10:09:45 AM This is great news! I was afraid that Ontario was not going to pass this measure, glad to see they did the right thing. Thanks for the update. ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Water Pollution Dampens Summer Fun STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: keep-clean-water-act-strong-and-minimize-future-beach-closings DATE: 08/19/2009 10:10:28 AM ----- BODY:

Photo Credit: USFWSAugust: the month where every spare moment is spent around water—swimming, fishing, boating, beachcombing.

As summer wanes, you might consider how much clean streams, lakes and beaches mean to you and your loved ones.

Sadly, this moment of reflection is also being forced on many of us: according to a recent Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) report, beach closings due to pollution are on the rise, climbing above 20,000 for the last four years in a row.

Across the country, 746 communities in 32 states face water contamination, fish consumption warnings, and beach closings from the release of raw sewage into nearby water bodies.

Without restoring Clean Water Act protections, the releases that occur in smaller streams, creeks, tributaries, and canals—which are vulnerable to Clean Water Act protection loss—may no longer be regulated, polluting life's vital resource.

America's waters are degraded, endangered and sorely need protection—in part due to two recent Supreme Court cases that have limited the effectiveness of the historic Clean Water Act. These decisions have left many of America's streams and waterways at risk once more.

Luckily, the U.S. House of Representatives is getting ready to consider restoring Clean Water Act protections when they return to Washington DC next month. And with everything else on Congress' plate right now, it wouldn’t be good to let them forget how important our waters are.

While your representative is home for August recess, consider urging him or her to vote to restore critical protection to America's waters.

By Caroline Wick and Jan Goldman-Carter, National Wildlife Federation

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Another Day, Another Case of Polluter-Paid "Outrage" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: another-day-another-case-of-polluterpaid-outrage CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 08/19/2009 10:00:27 AM ----- BODY: Paper-cutouts

The New York Times reports on a yet another case of phony protests against the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act. This time, Big Oil bussed in its employees for a "rally" in Houston:

Hard on the heels of the health care protests, another citizen movement seems to have sprung up, this one to oppose Washington’s attempts to tackle climate change. But behind the scenes, an industry with much at stake — Big Oil — is pulling the strings. [...]

The event on Tuesday was organized by a group called Energy Citizens, which is backed by the American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry’s main trade group. Many of the people attending the demonstration were employees of oil companies who work in Houston and were bused from their workplaces.[...]

While polls show that a majority of Americans support efforts to tackle climate change, opposition to the climate bill from energy-intensive industries has become more vigorous in recent weeks. The Senate is expected to consider its own version of the bill at the end of September.

Also in the New York Times today, Congressional investigators have turned up five more fake letters to House members from a lobbying firm fighting ACES.

It seems like every day this summer, we've learned about another phony effort from polluters, spending big money to protect its record profits. With 71 percent of Americans behind ACES, Big Oil knows it can't win a fair fight. So we get forged letters and rallies that are about as genuinely grassroots as the Monday morning staff meeting at your office.


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Citizen Sarah EMAIL: citizen.sarah@gmail.com IP: 24.242.129.198 URL: http://www.texasvox.org DATE: 08/19/2009 01:35:33 PM A couple of us from Public Citizen's Texas Office were able to attend and infiltrate this event (though were eventually kicked out). For our perspective and insider video, check out http://biturl.cc/QaQ Was wicked fun crashing this Astroturf rally :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 08/20/2009 09:56:37 AM Sarah, congrats on the Grist post! And good use of "wicked" :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: pj marvell EMAIL: paulmarvell98@yahoo.com IP: 69.171.118.136 URL: DATE: 08/23/2009 09:45:51 AM these animals need our help ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Unusual Occurrence: Whale Sharks Off Alabama Coast STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: unusual-occurrence-whale-sharks-off-alabama-coast DATE: 08/18/2009 10:32:53 PM ----- BODY:

Whale shark Whale sharks, the largest of all fish, are rarely spotted and when they are -- it is in deep water.  So what brings them to Alabama?

Ben Raines at AL.com reports:

"But for the last two weeks, the Alabama coast has been one of the best places in the world to see the ocean's largest fish, with dozens of sightings reported to a whale shark Web site by fishermen, scuba divers and pilots. The gigantic plankton-eating sharks have been seen as far east as Panama City and as far west as Petit Bois Island off Mississippi. But the bulk of the reports have come from the area between Orange Beach and Pensacola, with one sighting just two miles off the beach."   See full article:  Includes video: of biologist discussing sightings.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Two million Young People Calling On The World To Tackle Climate Change STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: two-million-young-people-calling-on-the-world-to-tackle-climate-change DATE: 08/18/2009 09:30:17 PM ----- BODY:

Tunza More than 2 million young people worldwide are expected to speak out on global warming during a Thursday August 20th Tunza conference.  

Scoop.co.nz reports:

"For the first time, young committed people from all continents, including 20 cities (eg Nairobi, London, Brasilia, Beijing, Auckland and Sydney) will meet virtually with 800 children and youth in Daejeon on Thursday August 20.  According to UNEP’s website, the campaign is aimed at 'encouraging the governments of the world to agree on a deal that will protect people and the planet when they meet to negotiate a new climate change agreement in Copenhagen this December.'" See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Big Coal Denies Astroturfing by Citing ... Astroturfing STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: big-coal-denies-astroturfing-by-citing-astroturfing CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 08/18/2009 01:21:35 PM ----- BODY: Astroturf

Supporters of clean energy have been calling out front groups for polluters, who've been spending big money on ginning up phony opposition to the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act.

Now one of those front groups, the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE), is taking offense to the accusations of "astroturfing" (paying to build fake grassroots support):

The fact is, we have more than 225,000 community leaders (including 30,000 local elected officials) who are a part of our America’s Power Citizen Army. These people volunteer their time to promote the message of affordable energy for Americans and the timely legislation that protects it. [...]

Want proof? Here are some posts inspired by the notes of our grassroots volunteers, talking to every day Americans who really do believe that we can bring new technologies to the marketplace to reduce emissions, and drive down the cost of deploying these technologies so as to protect access to affordable, reliable energy for American businesses and families.

Just one problem. The stories ACCCE goes on to cite as proof of its "grassroots volunteers" feature virtually all paid staffers -- the very type of astroturfing ACCCE was claiming to refute.

Once again, a polluter front group proves it's willing to do or say anything to stop clean energy. Tell the Senate we need action, not obstruction.

Photo via Flickr's JulieTverni

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Avoiding Airliner Bird Strikes By Using Warning Lights STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: avoiding-airliner-bird-strikes-by-using-warning-lights- DATE: 08/17/2009 09:21:07 PM ----- BODY: Bird strikes Keeping birds away from airliners may be getting some help from a model airplane.

Robert Benincasa at NPR reports:


"When US Airways Flight 1549 made an emergency landing in the Hudson River in January after hitting geese, it turned the spotlight on so-called bird strikes — a longstanding problem of aircraft colliding with birds in flight. Airports try a lot of tricks to keep birds away, but now some researchers are shining light on a possible solution. At Plum Brook Station, a 6,000-acre, high-security government campus near Sandusky, Ohio, scientists are literally flying a plane at groups of geese and watching how they react. It's a radio-controlled model plane — a 9-foot wingspan aircraft that looks like a miniature Cessna. The plane has white, pulsating LED lights mounted on the front, to test the idea that aircraft lighting can signal birds to get out of the way of an approaching plane." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Irony: Record Daily Steelhead Counts At Bonneville Dam Due To Heat Wave STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: irony-record-daily-steelhead-counts-at-bonneville-dam-due-to-heat-wave DATE: 08/16/2009 08:59:47 PM ----- BODY:

Steelhead The old daily record at the giant Dam on the Columbia River near Portland Oregon was around, 14,000 steelhead trout.  So what is the new peak of 34,000 fish in a single day all about?  It seems that the fish were hiding in cooler downstream tributaries waiting for a break in the hot weather before climbing to their spawning grounds.   

The Seattle Times reports:

"The veteran fishery biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife was reviewing the daily count of steelhead passing Bonneville Dam. Tuesday's figure didn't seem right: 18,671.

Because that was a full 10,000 more than the day before, Hymer figured someone must have inadvertently punched in an extra digit on the calculator. He had good reason to believe so. In the 71 years since fish counting began at Bonneville, the previous record for the daily steelhead count amounted to 14,432.  Then came Wednesday's count: 28,314. On Thursday, the number spiked at 34,054.

The incredible steelhead counts weren't typos. At the dam, fish counters recorded as many as 1,700 silvery flashes zipping past in a single hour on Thursday a rate that equates to a new fish every couple of seconds. ... Biologists attribute this week's bulging daily counts at Bonneville largely to the searing heat wave two weeks ago. Several days of triple-digit heat warmed the river to as high as 75 degrees at Bonneville, well above the comfort level for cold-water fish.

'When you get up to 74, 75 degrees, fish just don't move,' Hymer said. 'In sport fisheries below Bonneville, we saw steelhead duck into tributaries like the Cowlitz, Lewis, even to some degree the Kalama. Fish are trying to cool off as much as possible.'"  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: todd EMAIL: toddcrocken@gmail.com IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 08/17/2009 08:16:32 AM I gotta agree with the fish, anytime water temp rises above 72 its just not fun anymore. Glad this is the opposite sentiment than most other beach-goers. More room for me in May, June, and October :). ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Success: Elephant Gets An Artificial Leg STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: success-elephant-gets-an-artificial-leg- DATE: 08/16/2009 07:48:12 PM ----- BODY:

ElephantLimb We can rebuild her -- we have the technology....

Jack Loftus atGizmodo Science reprots:

"Motola, like so many who must share their lives with former war zones and forgotten minefields, lost a limb in 1999. Thankfully, she walked again today courtesy modern medicine and an artificial limb. The thing is, she’s an elephant. And, as an elephant, she weighs three tons. That kind of weight&mdas;excuse me for saying so, ma’am—requires one strong prosthesis. It took a few years of work to get right. In the interim, Motola was forced to use a temporary prosthesis. This was completely unbecoming of her status as a respected 48-year-old pachyderm."  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: New Species Of Giant Carnivorous Plant Discovered STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-species-of-giant-carnivorous-plant-discovered- DATE: 08/16/2009 12:27:46 PM ----- BODY:

Pitcher plant A plant that can caputure small mammals?  It sounds a little odd but that is what has just been found in the central highlands of the Philippines.

Matt Walker at BBC Earth News reports:

"The pitcher plant is among the largest of all pitchers and is so big that it can catch rats as well as insects in its leafy trap.  During the same expedition, botanists also came across strange pink ferns and blue mushrooms they could not identify.  The botanists have named the pitcher plant after British natural history broadcaster David Attenborough."  See full article.  

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Leading Online Tool For Finding Terrific Outdoor Spaces and Events Near You STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: leading-online-tool-for-finding-terrific-outdoor-spaces-and-events-near-you DATE: 08/15/2009 11:51:00 PM ----- BODY:

Be out there Hi readers,

Your friends at NWF often worry about the recent trend of people (especially kids) spending too much time indoors.  We aren't against people using the Internet (obviously) but we sure like the idea of balanced living that includes nature and the outdoors.  To that end, we have a wonderful new partner we think you might like -- NatureFind. 

NatureFind offers everyone the (free) opportunity to enter their own zip code or even information on a location they plan to visit to get a list of close-by parks, trails, wildlife areas, nature events and more. 

Yup!  A place-finder AND and an event-finder.  You can use this link to check it out.

Please let us know what you think about NatureFind and the whole idea that children and familes are spending too much time indoors.    

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Bald Penguin Gets A Wetsuit STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bald-penguin-gets-a-wetsuit DATE: 08/15/2009 08:54:41 AM ----- BODY:

Ralph Ralph the Humbolt Penguin suddenly lost his feathers.  This created some problems for him and his keepers.  But his family (a mate and two chicks) needs him and he was unable to avoid going outdoors at Marwell Wildlife near Winchester in the UK.  He needed to stay warm and avoid sunburn.  The solution was to fit him with a wetsuit and send him out.  His pals don't seem to mind his unusual attire which is tastefully black in keeping with penguin dress code etiquette.  See article and video.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: China Sets Long-Term CO2 Limit For The First Time STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: china-sets-longterm-co2-limit-for-the-first-time DATE: 08/15/2009 08:34:20 AM ----- BODY:

Su wei Leaders in China have, for the first time, indicated how they are approaching their overall greenhouse gas emissions standards.  This is the good news.  But the greater challenge is emissions there will continue to increase under this new guideline for 20 years before leveling off and starting to decrease by mid-century.  

Financial Times.com reports:

"China and India have been resisting pressure from developed nations to agree to a target of reducing emissions by an overall average of 50 per cent by 2050. Mr Su Wei [China's climate director] restated Beijing's view that as China still needs to grow its economy to help its people escape poverty, it is too early to discuss emissions caps.  But he indicated an openness to compromise. "China will not continue growing emissions without limit or insist that all nations must have the same per-capita emissions. If we did that, this earth would be ruined."

His estimate of the peak of China's emissions is in line with the more pessimistic forecasts issued by climate change experts. The UK's Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research recently said China's energy-related CO 2 output would peak in 2030 at 57 per cent above current levels.  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Study: Birds That Think Like Humans STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: study-birds-that-think-like-humans DATE: 08/15/2009 08:18:17 AM ----- BODY:

Abessijnse_Hoornraaf_TN A Cardiff University study finds that birds may think in the same way as humans when selecting food and making choices in complex environments. 

New Wales.co.UK reports:

"Paignton Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling said: 'Animals rely on discrimination for survival - they need to recognise mates, predators and food.

They have to select from the vast amount of information in their environment. To do this they use a sorting strategy. Animals sort either in a multidimensional way - using more than one variable - or a unidimensional way - using just one variable.'

The results suggested hornbills tend to sort by one variable - colour. When the shapes and patterns differed, the birds chose symbols that were the same colour as the symbol that gave them the treat. This is the technique that most humans use."  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: One of These Things is Not Like the Other STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other DATE: 08/14/2009 10:55:50 AM ----- BODY:

If I gave you a panther, a polar bear and a bar-tailed godwit, and gave you thirty seconds to figure out which animal is not like the other, you could come up with a million different answers, right?

NPS_FL_panther[1] Okay, actually the polar bear, panther and bar-tailed godwit have almost nothing in common--other than the fact that they're all wildlife that live in North America (although the bar-tailed godwit is somewhat of a world traveler).

But one thing these creatures all have going for them right now is the chance that Congress will dedicate 5% of funds generated from capping global warming pollution towards helping to protect them.

What exactly does this mean?  

The climate and clean energy bill that Congress is currently considering would charge certain big polluters to help fund America's transition to a safer and cleaner natural world.

Specifically, 5% dedicated funding for natural resources means that wildlife managers and wildlife agencies around the country will receive funding to protect wildlife populations and natural resources like America's lakes and streams, forests, parks and many more of the wild places we cherish. 

So, when you're thinking about the polar bear and the panther (maybe a polanther?), and wondering what they have in common, you might think about how they might both benefit from a dedicated fund to help their populations thrive.

Put simply, by speaking up today you can help protect the Alaskan wilderness and the Florida Everglades all with one fell swoop.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Not Allowed in "Families for Coal" Group: Families STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: not-allowed-in-families-for-coal-group-families DATE: 08/14/2009 08:00:00 AM ----- BODY: Clean-coal-wars

I hopped in the National Wildlife Federation Prius yesterday to drive from our headquarters in Reston, VA to the Netroots Nation blogger conference here in Pittsburgh, PA. Every 30 miles or so along the side of the highway in Pennsylvania, there'd be a billboard touting "clean" coal. The most egregious hyped coal as "clean green power."

The billboards are sponsored by "Families Organized to Represent the Coal Economy (FORCE)." Just one little problem. According to SourceWatch, families can't join:

While previously describing itself as a "grassroots" organization, membership is only open to companies not individuals. "Membership is through coal and coal related company sponsorship. When a company joins it agrees to distribute FORCE materials and information to its member employees. This distribution network helps FORCE maintain a low overhead while supplying high quality service to its members," it stated on its website in June 2007.

From "clean" coal to forged letters to "family" groups that don't allow families to join ... is there any depth Big Coal won't stoop to in its effort to keep from having to pay for the pollution it emits?


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Seattle Bag Monster EMAIL: Seattlebagmonster@gmail.com IP: 76.22.121.97 URL: http://www.seattlebagmonster.com DATE: 08/16/2009 07:37:00 PM Some of my other favorite "grassroots" organizations: EXXON Soccer Moms for Green Oil have joined forces with Low Income Families for a Much Brighter Nuclear Future in an astroturf campaign to bring corporations posing as movements back to the energy table. for too long false citizen movements have been left out of our governments discussion, now with better funding and better names these fake citizen movements can attract actual followers and bring a much needed corporate lobbyist into our policy making decisions. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: A.J. Sutter EMAIL: ajsutter@hotmail.com IP: 122.29.116.252 URL: DATE: 08/16/2009 11:41:00 PM The pages you link to are old, and not from FORCE itself. You should check the current website of FORCE: http://www.families4pacoal.org/member_registration.cfm When I accessed it today, the situation seemed a little more ambiguous. Individuals and their spouses can register, albeit some company affiliation is necessary (pop-down menu doesn't have an 'other' option). BTW, I got the link to the current FORCE homepage from the Sourcewatch page -- it's hardly obscure. Not that I'm in any way defending FORCE, but there is some danger in NPOs only reading other NPOs' blogs and websites instead of going to primary sources. Ultimately that practice harms the credibility of civil society. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 08/17/2009 10:28:56 AM AJ, interesting that you're willing to give a free pass to the total lies of Big Coal but bend over backwards to parse the language on their website to make them look good. Considering you HAVE TO work for one of the listed companies to register on the page you link to, I wonder if it's the truth you're really so interested in defending. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Chimpanzee Archeology: Tool-Use Shows That Humans and Apes Closer Than Thought STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: chimpanzee-archeology-tooluse-shows-that-humans-and-apes-closer-than-thought DATE: 08/14/2009 12:04:05 AM ----- BODY:

Chimps When archeologists began to look at chimpanzees and their longstanding use of tools, some conventional thinking about the separation between man and beast got a little fuzzier.  Photo: Tetsuro Matsuzawa, Kyoto University

Science Daily.com reports:

"Julio Mercader, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Tropical Archaeology in the U of C's Department of Archaeology, is a coauthor of a new paper titled "Primate archaeology" published recently in the journal Nature. Mercader is one of 18 co-authors from universities including Cambridge, Rutgers, Kyoto University and schools in Spain, Italy and France. They argue that recent discoveries of tool use by a wide variety of wild primates and archaeological evidence of chimpanzees using stone tools for thousands of years is forcing experts to re-think the traditional dividing lines between humans and other primate species as well as the belief that tool use is the exclusive domain of the genus Homo. The researchers advocate for a new inter-disciplinary field of primate archaeology"  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: 350 New Plant and Wildlife Species Discovered In The Himalayan Region STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 350-new-plant-and-wildlife-species-discovered-in-the-himalayan-region DATE: 08/13/2009 11:33:00 PM ----- BODY:

Flying_frog_277939 A decade of surveying in the Himalayas has brought some wonderful surprises to the wildlife and nature conservation world.

Xinhuanet.com reports:

"Over 350 new species, including the world's smallest deer, a 'flying frog' and a 100-million-year old gecko have been discovered in the eastern Himalayas, a biological treasure trove now threatened by climate change," the World Wildlife Fund's Nepal chapter said in Kathmandu Monday, releasing the report in which the findings have been documented. ... The eastern Himalayas are now known to harbor a staggering 10,000 plant species, 300 mammal species, 977 bird species, 176 reptiles, 105 amphibians and 269 types of freshwater fish. The region also has the highest density of the Bengal tiger and is the last bastion of the charismatic greater one-horned rhino.   See full article.  

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Woodstorks Make Rare Appearances In Arkansas STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: woodstorks-make-rare-appearances-in-arkansas DATE: 08/13/2009 09:24:27 PM ----- BODY:

Wood stork Wood stork populations have been increasing in Florida and other gulf states but they also seem to be moving up to Arkansas these days.

Joe Mosby at the Cabin.net reports:

"The main levees along the Mississippi River and along the lower Arkansas take adventurers into areas off the beaten path, yet the exploring can be done in relative comfort – in your vehicle. For fans of levee drives, August is special because it brings some unusual visiting birds. Wood storks and roseate spoonbills are just two of the species that sometimes can be found. But there are no guarantees to seeing them." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Bird Travels 8,000 Miles -- One Way! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bird-travels-8000-miles-one-way DATE: 08/12/2009 09:35:51 PM ----- BODY:

Bartail Some birds give new definition to the term "migration."

RedOrbit.com reports:

"A bar-tailed godwit, a bird banded near Victoria, Australia, was found more than 8,000 miles away in the western Arctic area of Alaska, wildlife experts said. While tagged birds are sometimes seen in the region where they were released, it's rare to see them so far from a release site. Wildlife Conservation Society scientists [reported] 'While we know that birds from all over the world come to the Arctic to breed, to see a living example first hand is a powerful reminder of the importance of this region,' said biologist Steve Zack, who spotted the godwit with biologist Joe Liebezeit. The ... godwit, a shorebird, was sighted this year while Zack and Liebezeit were searching for dunlins and semipalmated sandpipers tagged three years ago in nearby Prudhoe Bay, Alaska." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Big Oil Funding Anti-ACES Protests STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: big-oil-funding-antiaces-protests CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 08/12/2009 02:01:13 PM ----- BODY:

Polluters have already spent more than $100 million dollars trying to kill comprehensive climate and energy legislation. That money has wound up funding everything from misleading TV ads to forged letters to members of Congress.

Now Big Oil is rolling out a new tactic -- trying to gin up artificial rallies:

Taking a cue from angry protests against the Obama Administration’s health care restructuring, the oil industry is helping organize anti-climate bill rallies around the nation.

The American Petroleum Institute, along with other organizations such as the National Association of Manufacturers opposed to the climate legislation Congress will consider again in the fall, is funding rallies across 20 states over the August recess. [...]

We’re not about yelling at your congressman,” says Cathy Landry, API spokeswoman. But, she added, “We are about giving citizens a voice to make changes to the bill so that it doesn’t affect energy prices.”

It's a sad state of affairs when you have to deny that you support the hooliganism we've seen at recent town hall rallies across the country. But with 71 percent of Americans supporting the American Clean Energy & Security (ACES) Act, clearly Big Oil feels like it has to play dirty.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Video: The Bob Beamon of Squirrels STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-the-bob-beamon-of-squirrels CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 08/11/2009 08:25:14 PM ----- BODY:

Do backyard squirrels count as wildlife? I say yes:




And be sure to follow common squirrel on Twitter!


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dolphin Blue, Inc. EMAIL: megankategreen@gmail.com IP: 70.122.202.160 URL: http://www.dolphinblue.com DATE: 08/11/2009 10:56:51 PM Awesome! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New Poll: 71% Back Climate Bill STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-poll-71-back-climate-bill CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 08/11/2009 02:24:46 PM ----- BODY:

A new Zogby International poll released today shows seven in ten likely voters favor the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act, the comprehensive climate and clean energy bill that passed the House in June. The Senate is set to consider similar legislation as soon as next month.

Among the other responses from likely voters:

“Americans are being bombarded by a big money campaign funded by polluters telling them we can’t break our addiction to polluting fuels," said NWF Senior Vice President Jeremy Symons. "This poll shows quite clearly the public is not buying the arguments that Big Oil is trying to sell."

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Game Changer on the Road: 230 Miles Per Gallon STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: game-changer-on-the-road-230-miles-per-gallon CATEGORY: Energy DATE: 08/11/2009 10:54:26 AM ----- BODY: 230

Mysterious ads have been popping up around DC recently, featuring "230 8-11" with a smiling outlet for the 0.

We just found out what all the fuss is about:

The Chevy Volt, GM's much anticipated electric car, will be a sipper, not a guzzler, getting an astounding 230 miles per gallon in the city, the company said.

The Volt runs on a battery that can be recharged by its 1.4-liter gasoline engine. That will allow it to top Toyota's vaunted Prius by more than four-fold, sources told Bloomberg News. The Volt is due out next year and will cost around $40,000. [...]

The Volt will be able to go 40 miles on a single charge before the gasoline engine kicks in to recharge the battery. When parked, it can be recharged at a household outlet.

This is the most concrete evidence to date in what National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger has called a "transformational change ... for everyone in this country who uses electricity in any way."

Think about it. If you never drive more than 40 miles in a day ... and you plug in the Chevy Volt every night ... you may never have to go to the gas station. Ever.

Clean energy advocates have long compared the opportunities of a transition away from polluting fuels to the moon landing. That's really the first thing that comes to mind for me today. Where were you when you heard humans had created a car that hardly ever needs gas?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 08/11/2009 11:27:25 AM Added detail: "Nearly 8 of 10 Americans commute fewer than 40 miles a day" ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tech EMAIL: sezerb@optusnet.com.au IP: 117.120.18.131 URL: http://www.technologyslice.com.au DATE: 08/11/2009 07:26:19 PM After the bankruptcy GM had to come out with a game changer. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: K. Ethridge EMAIL: kethridge@cbf.org IP: 199.72.210.98 URL: DATE: 08/12/2009 09:38:51 AM Just got back from a trip to Scotland where our Vauxhall Vectra got 46 mpg. We travelled 460 miles before we had to stop for gas--and we still had a quarter tank left. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: What's Your Green Wish? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: whats-your-green-wish- DATE: 08/11/2009 10:33:30 AM ----- BODY:

Shorts Are you wishing for a brighter, greener future? I'm writing to introduce you to a cool new contest where NWF is asking kids, what is your green wish?

The National Wildlife Federation has teamed up with the movie SHORTS and FTL Solar to introduce a cool contest for kids and young adults in Grades 1-12. The contest revolves around the movie Shorts which opens in theaters August 21.

More information on the contest:
Name of Contest: Eco-Schools USA: Rock Your Green Wish with the Movie Shorts.

Who can enter?  Students in Grades 1-12 - Go here to enter! *(you can enter once a day with your wishes! So wish often)

What can you win? The grand prize-winning school will receive a portable solar tent, the FTL Solar PowerMod, value $10,000, a freestanding 10X10 solar powered structure capable of producing 50 kilowatt hours per day. Runner-up schools will win mobile solar chargers, value $350 each, completely portable personal chargers that roll out to a 2X6 mat and roll up for easy transport & storage.

For details about the sweepstakes and the partnership, go to www.nwf.org/shorts. To watch a Warner Bros. trailer of the movie, visit www.shortsmovie.com. To learn more about the Eco-Schools program and how you can get involved, see www.eco-schoolsusa.org.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Bill Dion TITLE: Biker Parks His Hog to Save Eagle STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: biker-parks-his-hog-to-save-eagle-1 DATE: 08/10/2009 10:06:00 AM ----- BODY:

Most of the time it's not a good idea to approach wildlife. Even if it's the symbol of the USA falling over on the side of the road, you need to take care.    But with that said, some are calling a motorcyclist a hero for going the extra mile to save a Bald Eagle.  Check out the video:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Help For The Declining Bee Population -- New Plastic Beehive STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: help-for-the-declining-bee-population----new-plastic-beehive DATE: 08/08/2009 05:06:34 PM ----- BODY:

Bee box In the UK they have launched a public program (using uniquely-designed hive boxes) to encourage homeowners and gardeners (even on roof-tops!) to help raise bees to offset recent declines in their population numbers.

Physorg.com reports:

"There's no reason why our towns and cities should exist as wildlife deserts -- wildlife can thrive when we design our urban areas with nature in mind and the 'beehaus' is a great example of how easy it is for anyone to bring the natural world closer to their doorstep." Its makers Omlet claim that at one metre wide and 0.5 metres high (three feet wide and one foot eight inches high), the 'beehaus' is twice as big as a traditional beehive, giving plenty of room for the colony to grow in comfort. See full article.

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Cloud_shipA new climate change-fighting idea being "floated" in the "global engineering" realm is to build a fleet of ships that pushes sea water into the sky to make reflective white clouds.  So readers -- What do you think?

Kevin Jess at the Digitial Journal reports:

"A flotilla of 1,900 cloud ships would be needed to cruise the Pacific Ocean in order to create clouds that would deflect the sun rays and curb global warming. The project, now being worked on by U.S. and UK scientists is the favorite among many schemes aimed at fighting climate change. It would see wind-powered ships travelling the ocean sucking up seawater and spraying minuscule droplets of it out through tall funnels to create large white clouds." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: MIT Tackles Making An Electric Car That Recharges In Ten Minutes STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: mit-tackles-making-an-electric-car-that-recharges-in-ten-minutes- DATE: 08/08/2009 04:33:43 PM ----- BODY: Mit-evt-eleven The overall practicality of electric vehicle tranportation depends on the speed of battery recharge. Many EVs take six to eight hours. MIT is going for something closer to what people might experience at the gas pump.

Michael Mulcahy at GizMag.com reports:


"Sometimes in science, it helps to set the bar high. That seems to be the attitude of the MIT Electric Vehicle Team (EVT). By their reckoning, one of the biggest impediments to the average driver adopting an electric vehicle is recharge times. So ....their next project is to produce a prototype family car that will achieve 0-60mph in under nine seconds, have a range of 200 miles, and fully recharge in under 11 minutes. Dubbed the elEVen, this latest project is an attempt to build an electric car that meets the expectations of mainstream drivers, including a “refill” time comparable to that at a gas pump. The engine will be replaced with a 250-horsepower, 180kW AC induction motor, donated by SatCon and originally designed for use in a 16.5-ton electric transit bus. Given the sedan will only weigh about 2 tons, it should easily achieve their acceleration goal and, better, manage a top speed of about 100mph." See full article:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bart EMAIL: bartdabek@gmail.com IP: 74.13.107.98 URL: DATE: 08/10/2009 10:13:43 AM Thanks for sharing... I can't wait to get a electric car myself... We're just waiting for a few more to get on the market and it will be time to replace our Honda... I'm hoping that the volt will be a good choice or the prius... the rebates are definitely a great step in putting more people in these cars. If just saw this today as well (government rebate on cars - http://www.hybridmile.com/news/government-rebate-hybrid/) I hope that these get extended into 2010 and really they should be available till every single gas car is off the road. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Bangladesh Leopard Discovery Renews Hopes for Species Survival STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bangladesh-leopard-discovery-renews-hopes-for-species-survival DATE: 08/08/2009 10:02:03 AM ----- BODY:

Leopard Bangladeshi conservationists reported on a rare leopard cub captured by villagers in the southeast of the country.  The say it renewed hopes for the survival of the critically endangered species.

The Myanmar News reports:

"Professor Anwarul Islam, chief executive of Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh, said on July 23 the three-month-old clouded leopard cub had been released back into the wild.

It had been caged by villagers in the remote Chittagong Hill Tracts region, which borders Myanmar and Mizoram state in India, for the past three weeks, he said. “It was tremendous news because many conserva-tionists thought the animal was extinct from Bangladesh due to habitat loss.”

He said in most cases where a rare species is captured, villagers sell the animal, but in this case conservationists had convinced them to release it back into the wild. The species is timid and nocturnal and little is known about it, he added. The clouded leopard is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature."  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: McKinsey Report: U.S. Energy-Saving Will Create 600,000 to 900,000 New Green Jobs STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: mckinsey-report-us-energy-saving-will-creat-600000-to-900000-new-green-jobs DATE: 08/08/2009 09:41:50 AM ----- BODY:

Energy_saving_lamp The global consulting firm of Mckinsey and Company , finds that elevating energy efficiency to a national priority could spur the creation of 600,000-900,000 long-term green jobs and reduce our overall U.S. energy consumption by 23 percent. This could avoid up to 1.1 gigatons of annual greenhouse gas emissions.


The New York Times Reports:


"A new report on energy efficiency from the consulting firm McKinsey found that the United States could save $1.2 trillion through 2020, by investing $520 billion in improvements like sealing leaky building ducts and replacing inefficient household appliances with new, energy-saving model"   See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Video: NWF's David Mizejewski on The Today Show STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-nwfs-david-mizejewski-on-the-today-show CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 08/07/2009 03:12:02 PM ----- BODY:

National Wildlife Federation Naturalist David Mizejewski helps celebrate Hoda Kotb's birthday with an array of amazing animals:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Polluter Front Group Lies About Big Oil Funding STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: polluter-front-group-lies-about-big-oil-funding CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 08/07/2009 02:39:46 PM ----- BODY:

Tim Phillips, the president of Americans for Prosperity, was a guest on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow show last night. AFP has spent years fighting against clean energy and climate action, working to allow Big Oil to exploit more of America's natural resources. During the interview, Maddow caught Phillips in a lie about the organization's funding sources:

MADDOW: Are you guys funded in part by Exxon, or have you been?

PHILLIPS: No. Absolutely not.

But wait. AFP was formerly known as Citizens for A Sound Economy. According to ExxonSecrets.org, Citizens for A Sound Economy and Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation received $380,250 from Exxon Mobil between the years 1998-2001.

So Maddow followed up:

MADDOW: Exxon does list the Americans for Prosperity Foundation as a recipient of, in some years, tens of thousands of dollars, in other years, hundreds of thousands of dollars, even for things just like general operations. But you’re saying Americans for Prosperity, no Exxon money?

PHILLIPS: This year, we haven’t had any Exxon money.

Unbelievable. Considering other pro-polluter lobbyists just got caught sending phony letters last week, you'd think people like Phillips would be more careful about telling the truth.

You can watch the clip here (skip ahead to 6:45 to see the Exxon Mobil questions):

ThinkProgress.org has much more on AFP and Phillips.

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Could the short-shorts so infamously worn by a character on Comedy Central's Reno 911! ever be appropriate? What if average temperatures rise 11 degrees in the lifetime of a child born today?

In the real-life Reno, residents are considering the potential impacts if we don't act now to curb our global warming pollution:

A recent study by the National Wildlife Federation predicted global temperatures could increase up to 11 degrees in the next 90 years, increasing the risk of flooding.

That's because warmer air can hold more moisture, producing more heavy rain, said Amanda Staudt, a climate scientist with the federation.

There could also be an increased danger of storms when rain falls on an existing snowpack, melting snow and producing floods of the type that the Reno-Sparks area saw in January 2007. Casinos and warehouses flooded, jetliners were stranded in water and damage was estimated at about $700 million.

Tell your Senators right now -- we need comprehensive climate & energy legislation now.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lauren EMAIL: laurenuranga@yahoo.com IP: 199.125.245.195 URL: DATE: 08/07/2009 09:27:50 AM They'll be hot pants, literally. And for all the joking about Reno, it is just a short drive from Lake Tahoe which is an amazingly beautiful area that will also be impacted by this. Climate change, not hot pants. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: fpteditors EMAIL: info@freepublictransit.org IP: 192.175.173.36 URL: http://frepubtra.blogspot.com DATE: 08/07/2009 11:49:58 AM Here is a plan. 1. make public transit free. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Butterfiles Thriving At LAX: The Los Angeles Airport STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: butterfiles-thriving-at-lax-the-los-angeles-airport DATE: 08/06/2009 11:37:00 PM ----- BODY:

Blue butterfly It is good to see stories of creatures coming back from extinction. 

Dan Sanchez at the Epoch Times reports;

"The El Segundo Blue Butterflies, once facing extinction, are now thriving on 200 acres of sand dunes at the west end of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).  Members of the media were invited for a rare view of the butterflies July 30 at the natural wildlife preserve that is currently closed to the public to help meet its restoration goals. There has been an ongoing effort that started back in the mid 80s to plant the specific food plant for the butterfly which is the seacliff buckwheat shrub and also to improve the habitat.  “Butterflies can fluctuate dramatically from year to year, in recent years the numbers ranged from 30,000 when we had bad drought conditions, to more typically in the 60 to 70,000 range,"  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: A Tiny Battery That Stores Enough Solar Energy To Run A House For 24 Hours STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: a-tiny-battery-that-stores-enough-solar-energy-to-run-a-house-for-24-hours DATE: 08/06/2009 11:17:43 PM ----- BODY:

Sodium-sulfur-batteries-utah_NFX9P_69 A new battery is helping to store enough power to greatly improve the overall effectiveness of alternative energy.

Times of India reports:

"A Utah-based company has found a new way to store solar energy – in a small ceramic disk which can store more power for less. Researchers at Ceramatec have created the disk, which can hold up to 20-kilowatt hours, enough to power an entire house for a large portion of the day. The new battery runs on sodium-sulfur — a composition that typically operates at greater than 600°F. “Sodium-sulfur is more energetic than lead-acid, so if you can somehow get it to a lower temperature, it would be valuable for residential use”, Ralph Brodd, an independent energy conversion consultant, says. Ceramatec’s new battery runs at less than 200°F. " See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Leatherback Sea Turtles Want Beaches Too STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: leatherback-sea-turtles-want-beaches-too CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 08/06/2009 03:47:08 PM ----- BODY:

Leatherbackround

Last year, with the National Wildlife Federation's support, a federal nature reserve was established in the Northeast Ecological Corridor (NEC) of Puerto Rico. The NEC Nature Reserve exists to protect the nesting habitats for the endangered leatherback turtle as well as one of the only tropical rain forests within our nation's borders.

Good times, right? 

Well, recently NWF staff learned of an unfortunate proposal to turn this protected land into resort developments.

I'm not even kidding. As much as this sounds like the plot of a sad children's animated movie, this is really happening.  

But we can stop them if enough of us speak up. The leatherback sea turtle really only has three good places to lay eggs along United States coastline, and if a hotel goes up on this Puerto Rico beach, they'll be down to two. Can we really jeopardize one of the sea turtle's top three nesting grounds?

Right now, you can ask the Governor of Puerto Rico to keep the NEC Nature Reserve in existence, and back that request up with an email to the Dept of the Interior and the NOAA-- both of which were instrumental in the creation of the reserve.

The more noise we raise, the better our chances of protecting the beaches for the sea turtles. 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Brook Bullock EMAIL: brooklynbridge04@hotmail.com IP: 205.225.241.126 URL: DATE: 08/10/2009 11:59:17 AM I was wondering if I could get any more information about the specific area this is occuring in and if there is an address to directly contact the Governor of Puerto Rico. I had the amazing opportunity of doing leatherback turtle research in Puerto Rico, so this is very close to home. Seeing the huge turtles come onto shore to lay their eggs and seeing the little baby turtles hatch and make their way to the sea is something I will never forget. I would like to stand up for the turtles any way I can. I already sent an email (the pre-written one where you just enter your info), but I feel the need to do more. Thanks for your help! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: If That's An Army, What's NWF? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: if-thats-an-army-whats-nwf CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 08/06/2009 11:31:37 AM ----- BODY: MountaintopRemoval

Remember the "American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity" (ACCCE)? That's the group that hired a lobbying firm in an effort to stop comprehensive climate & energy legislation. The lobbying firm then sent forged letters to at least three members of Congress falsely claiming to represent women, seniors, and minorities.

Politico did a glowing profile of ACCCE yesterday, helpfully avoiding a single mention of the fake letter scandal:

The group’s membership includes major coal, utility and railroad companies and claims a grass-roots force of 200,000 people, called “America’s power army.” Its annual budget is more than $40 million.

Wow, 200,000 people! Sounds impressive ... until you consider that the National Wildlife Federation has over four million members and supporters. Even with its mammoth annual budget, spent entirely on trying to gin up support for dirty energy sources, ACCCE can only scrounge together 1/20th of the National Wildlife Federation's support.

No wonder the National Wildlife Federation won the battle on comprehensive climate & energy legislation in the House! And thanks to supporters like you, we'll do it again in the Senate.

Photo courtesy Flickr's iLoveMountains.org

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Meerkat_babiesx BBC's Simon King on location in Africa has worked for days and weeks to get a Meerkat family to accept him.  In this clip he is close enough to be used for family play and a nap.  See video clip:  

The meerkat or suricate Suricata suricatta is a member of the mongoose family. It inhabits all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana and South Africa. A group of meerkats is called a "mob", "gang" or "clan". A meerkat clan often contains about 20 meerkats at a time,  Meerkats have an average life span of 12–14 years. 

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Terrapin After the flap about bird strikes that caused an emergency landing in the Hudson, a lower and slower species was causing problems near Jamaica Bay. 

"Birds we've heard about.  But turtles?  It sounds too strange to be true, but 78 of the shelled creatures brought New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport to a screeching halt [July 8].  The turtles -- identified as diamondback terrapins -- had apparently emerged from nearby Jamaica Bay looking for breeding grounds, the New York Daily News reported."   See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: http://www.nwf.org DATE: 08/07/2009 10:48:08 AM I love diamondback terrapins! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pamela Rainsong EMAIL: pamelarainsong@hotmail.com IP: 24.96.44.111 URL: DATE: 08/09/2009 06:12:26 PM Cute! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Solar Plant in Colorado Will Generate New Jobs STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: solar-plant-in-colorado-will-generate-new-jobs DATE: 08/05/2009 09:19:16 PM ----- BODY:

Solar_jobs A new solar plant in Colorado is generating power and 200 new jobs.

Amy Lou Jenkins at Examiner.com reports:

"Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar visted the High-Tech Solar Panel Plant in Longmont, CO to call attention to a reinvigorated U.S. high-tech manufacturing sector. Salazar met with employees of an innovative solar panel company that has created more than 200 ‘green jobs’ in two years and expects to double employment by next year. 'Abound Solar and hundreds of renewable energy companies sprouting up across the nation are keys to solving our energy and climate change challenges.'”  See full article.

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Esolar4 A new solar plant in California uses algorithims to power 4,000 homes.

Rick Merritt at EETimes.com reports:

"The 5 MW Sierra SunTower solar power plant in Lancaster, California, will produce electricity for Southern California Edison, powering more than 4,000 homes in the Antelope Valley area. The plant was built in less than a year. The startup uses algorithms that track the Sun's movements and move thousands of small mirrors to concentrate solar energy. To speed construction time it prefabricates its system in a factory and builds the generator on private land close to transmission systems, said Bill Gross a serial entrepreneur and chief executive of eSolar." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Is US Falling Behind In Green Energy Race? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: is-us-falling-behind-in-green-energy-race- DATE: 08/04/2009 09:40:11 PM ----- BODY:

Green-energy-image Two U.S. businesss leaders think we are and that we must do something about it: (Image: Green DC)

Green Stocks Central.com reports:

"[August 3rd] in the Washington Post, General Electric (GE) CEO Jeff Immelt and famed venture capitalist John Doerr wrote an op ed piece highlighting the failure of the US to take the lead in green energy and the emergence of China as the leader.

Some interesting facts:

- China cars are 35% more fuel efficient
- they spend 10x what the US does as a % of GDP on green energy
- China on track to create 150,000 jobs through the deployment of 120GW of wind power within 10 years
- US is home to only one of the top 5 wind turbine manufacturers (GE)
- US is home to just one of the top 10 solar panel producers (hmm.. I thought it was two – FSLR, SPWRA)
- US is home to just two of the top advanced battery makers.  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Companies Put Electric Trucks on Urban Delivery Routes STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: companies-put-electric-trucks-on-urban-delivery-routes- DATE: 08/04/2009 09:04:35 PM ----- BODY:

Electric truck High fuel prices caused a Missouri company, Smith Electric Vehicles, to think about rolling out elctric trucks for local deliveries. (Photo Sen. Kit Bond)

Chris Woodyard at USA Today reports:

"The first truck to run solely on electricity was released by Smith in Washington last month. Smith also announced partnerships with six companies, including Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, Staples and AT&T, which plan to make the new trucks part of their shipping and carrying fleets as early as this year. They are interested in a truck that can run a long ways around town: The electric truck has a lithium-ion battery that recharges in a 220 volt outlet in six to eight hours. The battery is good for 100 miles per charge and has a lifetime of about seven to 10 years. The truck drives like a big golf cart -- no gears or shifting -- but is extremely quiet due to the electric engine. It can reach speeds of up to 50 mph."  See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Coal's Dirty Money Funding Anti-Climate Bill Campaign STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: coals-dirty-money-funding-anticlimate-bill-campaign- CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 08/04/2009 11:19:51 AM ----- BODY: Coal

The coal industry and utilities have already spent an incredible $77.8 million on lobbying Congress this year. And that figure doesn't even include all those television ads that bombard the cable news channels all day trying to tell us how dirty coal maybe, someday, possibly, might not be quite as dirty anymore.

We learned yesterday that some of that coal industry money has gone, intentionally or not, to bankroll phony letters to members of Congress. It turns out the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity had contracted with Bonner & Associates to do outreach against climate action.

And now Grist reports more fraudulent letters have turned up in more Congressional offices:

[T]he number of confirmed forged letters has increased to 12. Pennsylvania Reps. Kathy Dahlkemper and Chris Carney, who both voted against the House climate bill, also received fake letters. These letters also appear to be from Bonner & Associates, according to an ACCCE document.

"It's not enough they have more money than god," an NWF colleague fumed yesterday. "They have to lie, too."

The coal industry will do or say anything -- even lie -- to derail a comprehensive clean energy and climate plan. Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) has already launched a Congressional investigation into these phony letters, and hopefully the Department of Justice will follow suit. We need to get to the bottom of this.

Photo courtesy The Library of Congress on Flickr

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Margaret EMAIL: wallis.walton@gmail.com IP: 85.25.179.116 URL: http://grantfoundation.net DATE: 08/07/2009 02:00:50 AM I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often. Margaret http://grantfoundation.net ----- -------- AUTHOR: Bill Dion TITLE: Biker Parks His Hog to Save Eagle STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: biker-parks-his-hog-to-save-eagle CATEGORY: Endangered Species CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 08/04/2009 10:58:49 AM ----- BODY:

Most of the time it's not a good idea to approach wildlife. Even if it's the symbol of the USA falling over on the side of the road, you need to take care.    But with that said, some are calling a motorcyclist a hero for going the extra mile to save a Bald Eagle.  Check out the video:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Bald eagle, wildlife, rescue, Motorcyclist ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Volunteer Opportunities Celebrate United We Serve's Energy and Environment Issue Week STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: united-we-serve CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 08/03/2009 05:43:42 PM ----- BODY:

In support of President Obama's United We Serve initiative, the National Wildlife Federation will cosponsor three volunteer service activities with the Department of Interior on Wednesday, August 5, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area (see below).

National Wildlife Federation, partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service, is engaging youth and adult volunteers in environmental service projects, answering Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's call for every adult to mentor a child outdoors this summer. The events are a part of the United We Serve Energy and Environment issue week that runs August 3-9.
 

Nicolevolunteer

August 5th Volunteer Opportunities - RSVP today!

SITE ONE - Alexandria, VA
Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve

Time: Aug. 5, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Type of Work: Removing invasive plant species like honeysuckle and multi-flora rose that are choking out wildlife habitat and blocking the vistas and viewing of wildlife species.
Volunteers Needed: 25
Bring: Gloves, Lunch, sunscreen, long shirt and pants, sturdy work boots or closed shoes that can get muddy and water for drinking.
Provided: Tools, extra water and bug repellant
Minimum age: 12 with an adult over 18

SITE TWO - Laurel, Maryland
Patuxent Research Refuge

Time: Aug. 5, 8:30 a.m. – Noon
Type of Work: Removing invasive plant species like mile-a-minute vine that do not provide wildlife benefits and crowd out native plants.
Volunteers Needed: 25
Bring: gardening or work gloves, lunch, sunscreen, long shirt and pants, sturdy work boots or closed shoes that can get muddy and water for drinking.
Provided: Tools, extra water and bug repellant
Minimum age: 12 with an adult over 18

SITE THREE - Lorton, VA
Meadowood Recreation Are

Time: Aug. 5, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Type of Work: Trail repair work. Volunteers will work on repairing trail within Meadowood Recreation Area
Volunteers Needed: 12
Bring: Gloves, Lunch, Sun screen, long shirt and pants, sturdy work boots or closed shoes that can get muddy and water for drinking.
Provided: Tools, extra water and bug repellant
Minimum age: 12 with an adult over 18

SIGN UP for one of these events by emailing volunteermatch@nwf.org or calling 703-438-6439.

SEARCH OTHER OPPORTUNITIES at http://www.serve.gov 


***

In June, National Wildlife Federation joined the Department of the Interior in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park to kickoff the Summer of Service, the national effort launched by President Obama to engage more Americans in serving their communities. Secretary Salazar issued a call to action for every adult to mentor a child outdoors this summer. Secretary Salazar spoke with volunteers who removed invasive species in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park.

"Children today spend half as much time outdoors as their parents and this has significant implications for our children's health, the economy and the future of American conservation," Secretary Salazar said. "This summer, as part of President Obama's new United We Serve campaign, I encourage all Americans to serve by mentoring a child in the great outdoors and introducing them to our nation's treasured landscapes."

"The disconnect between children and nature is growing," said Kevin Coyle, Vice President for Education and Training at National Wildlife Federation. "But the good news is volunteer work is a pathway to building a community, helping others, and can serve as your Green Hour. Both unstructured playtime and outdoor youth mentoring programs will keep America's children healthy, creative, and engaged throughout the upcoming school year."

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Ford cc

America's community colleges are moving toward re-training America's workforce. One school in Dearborn Michigan is an example.

The Straits Times reports:

"In a crowded classroom at Henry Ford Community College, laid off auto workers are learning how to install and manage solar panels. The class is part of a new alternative energy technology programme the college created to help retrain the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the collapse of the auto industry. Sean Peppers, 37, has spent nearly two decades working in auto supplier plants but has not been called for a single interview since he was laid off from his engineering job in January. He hopes the alternative energy degree will help him find work at a plant building parts for wind turbines, or solar panels, or anything that is not a car. Most of the 65 students taking the alternative energy classes are getting their tuition paid through an state programme which provides scholarships to Michigan residents who are unemployed or earning less than 40,000 dollars a year"   See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Robyn Carmichael TITLE: Time for a Salmon Plan That Works STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: time-for-a-salmon-plan-that-works CATEGORY: Endangered Species CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 08/03/2009 09:56:36 AM ----- BODY:

Salmon_blmThe salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia and Snake Rivers are like no other fish in the world.  They migrate nearly 1,000 miles, connecting coastal and river communities from California to Alaska and inland to Oregon, Idaho and Nevada.

When Lewis and Clark arrived on the banks of the Snake River in 1805, the Columbia Basin of the Pacific Northwest boasted the greatest salmon stocks on Earth - up to 30 million salmon returned home each year. It must have been quite a sight!

Today, however, populations linger near just one percent of that historic number. Every run of salmon and steelhead on the Snake River are either extinct or listed under the Endangered Species Act.

As a Pacific Northwesterner, the impacts of the salmon crisis on our economy, ecology and culture are very apparent. Wild salmon support rural communities and tribal cultures, stable jobs, world-renowned fishing opportunities and thriving communities.

Over the last several decades, we have seen the federal government repeatedly fail to develop a lawful, science-based, and economical plan to restore endangered salmon to abundance. A lack of leadership from many elected officials has left our wild salmon and West Coast communities that rely on them high and dry.

Fortunately, President Obama and Congress now have a rare opportunity to bring together fishing, farming,energy interests and others to collaboratively solve this long-running conflict in a way that restores salmon, creates jobs, and invests in our communities and a clean energy economy.

Within just a few weeks, the Obama Administration will decide whether to "stay the course" on the Bush Administration's failed federal plan or to chart a new path that helps both people and salmon flourish.

They need to hear from you --tell the Obama Administration that it's time for a salmon plan that works.

Salmon recovery in the Columbia and Snake Basin is still possible, but it depends on immediate and strong actions to counter threats to their survival. Let's make sure that our iconic Columbia and Snake River salmon survive today and thrive tomorrow.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: salmon, northwest, pacific, obama, columbia, snake, river, basin, fish, fishing, steelhead, extinct, endangered ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Stuffed Animals Help Baby Beavers STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: stuff-animals-help-baby-beavers DATE: 08/02/2009 08:32:35 AM ----- BODY:

Paws Animal rescue always has the risk of wild animals becoming too dependent on humans.  To save some baby beaver kits, PAWS Wildlife Center in Lynnwood (WA) found that stuffed animals helped. 

KOMO News.com reports:

"PAWS tries to minimize human interaction, but that's tough when the kits need to learn everything, starting with how to eat.  For the first two weeks, the staff at PAWS bottle fed the beavers by hand. But to cut back on that human interaction and to better mimic life in the wild, they brought in a surrogate - a stuffed animal beaver with bottles and a hot water bottle tucked inside. It worked.

The kits nursed that way for another couple months before making the transition to solid food. Another stuffed animal helped the beavers learn to swim and dive".   See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Worldwide Survey: Publics Want More Government Action on Climate Change STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: worldwide-survey-publics-want-more-government-action-on-climate-change DATE: 08/01/2009 10:04:43 AM ----- BODY:

UN A survey of over 18,500 people in 19 nations by WorldPublicOpinion.org has found high levels of public support for government action on addresing climate change. 

PR-USA.net reports:

"A new WorldPublicOpinion.org poll of 19 nations from around the world finds that majorities in 15 think their government should put a higher priority on addressing climate change than it does now. This includes the largest greenhouse gas emitters: China (62% want more action), the U.S. (52%), and Russia (56%).   In all but three nations, most people think their government should give climate change a relatively high priority (6-10 on a 0-10 scale: on average 7.33). However in only four nations do most people think that is what their government is doing. The poll also found that people tend to underestimate how high a priority their fellow citizens place on addressing climate change, with twice as many people saying they are above average than saying they are below average."     See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: The Everglades' New Python Problem: What Are The Facts? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-everglades-new-python-problem-what-are-the-facts- DATE: 08/01/2009 09:25:21 AM ----- BODY:

Python_1 In just the past five years, the Florida Everglades have become full of thousands of Pythons.  This development in concert with the recent death of a small child by an escaped pet snake have caused a furor in the media.  Dire predictions are flying around and politicians are calling for serious measures to stop the spread of the snakes.  Paul Quinlan at the Palm Beach Post has written a thoughtful article on the python's actual numbers, their effects on the ecosystem and what the scientists are really saying,

See article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: New Whooping CraneCam Comes Online STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-whooping-cranecam-comes-online DATE: 08/01/2009 08:51:35 AM ----- BODY:

Whooper Operation Migration’s CraneCam is now broadcasting live video around the world, offering watchers views of one of the world’s most endangered birds, the Whooping crane.

Operation Migreations USA via PR.com reports:

"Viewers can now watch live online as Operation Migration’s pilots and crane handlers condition the juvenile Whooping cranes that form the ‘Class of 2009’ for the biggest adventure of their lives – their first migration. To tune in, visit http://www.operationmigration.org/crane-cam.html

Beginning early to mid-October, pending connectivity at remote stopover locations, “Craniacs” and online viewers may be able to watch each morning’s departure as the cranes and planes make their way south – a journey of over 1,200 miles. Because progress is entirely weather dependent, the journey from Wisconsin to Florida can take between 60 to 90 days to complete."

Editor note: somtimes things are pretty slow at the site!

See press release.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Fireflies! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: fireflies DATE: 07/31/2009 01:05:34 PM ----- BODY:

Firefly The weather’s warm and the kids are on summer vacation, which means it’s the perfect time to get outside and encounter the insect icon of summertime: the firefly. 

Did you know?

•    Fireflies are actually beetles, not flies.  Lightening bug, their other common name, is also inaccurate since true bugs are their own order of insects, distinct from beetles.

•    Fireflies create their "fire" by mixing oxygen with chemicals called luciferin and luciferase in their abdomen, which creates light without any heat.  A candle flame of the same brightness is 80,000 times hotter than the glow of a firefly.

•    Each species has a unique flash pattern, which they use to attract mates.  Males flash in the air and females flash back from the ground or the vegetation.

•    The species Lucidota atra doesn’t flash because it is active during the day.  It attracts mates by using pheromones.

•    Firefly larvae glow too and are often called “glow worms.”  Even the eggs of some species glow.

•    Most species of firefly spend the winter in larval form in the soil or in rotting logs, emerging in the late spring as winged adults ready to start flashing and looking for mates.

•    Firefly larvae are carnivorous, feeding on slugs, worms and other soft-bodied invertebrates around streams and ponds.

•    As adults, some firefly species feed on nectar, and some don't feed at all, but female Photuris pensylvatica fireflies mimic the flashes of female Photinus pyralis fireflies.  When a Photinus male approaches looking for a mate, the female Photuris devours him!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Unusual Bald Bird Discovered STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: unusual-bald-bird-discovered- DATE: 07/30/2009 11:59:51 PM ----- BODY:

Bald bird A new species of bird has been discovered by scientists in Laos. The bird is Asia's first new species of bulbul, a songbird, in more than 100 years,

Physorg.com reports:


"An odd songbird with a bald head living in a rugged region in Laos has been discovered by scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society and University of Melbourne, as part of a project funded and managed by the mining company MMG (Minerals and Metals Group) that operates the Sepon copper and gold project in the region.


The thrush-sized bird is greenish-olive with a light-colored breast, a distinctive featherless, pink face with bluish skin around the eye extending to the bill and a narrow line of hair-like feathers down the centre of the crown."

See full article:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lad Dietrich EMAIL: ldiet48262@aol.com IP: 205.188.117.6 URL: DATE: 08/03/2009 08:59:25 PM We called 1 800 wildlife about a sick Blue Heron at Timberview golf course shortly after lunch. No one showed up and this evening there is a dead Blue Heron. So much for environmentalist who really care. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Some Good News For Ocean Fisheries STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: some-good-news-for-ocean-fisheries DATE: 07/30/2009 11:43:20 PM ----- BODY:

Overfishing A new study finds some signs of recovery from overfishing in several areas around the globe.

Physorg.com reports:

Scientists have joined forces in a groundbreaking assessment on the status of marine fisheries and ecosystems. The two-year study, led by Boris Worm of Dalhousie University and Ray Hilborn of the University of Washington and including an international team of 19 co-authors, shows that steps taken to curb overfishing are beginning to succeed in five of the ten large marine ecosystems that they examined. The paper, which appears in the July 31 issue of the journal Science, provides new hope for rebuilding troubled fisheries.

See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Summer is for Fireflies! STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: summer-is-for-fireflies DATE: 07/30/2009 06:13:44 PM ----- BODY:

It's midsummer, which means it’s the perfect time to encounter the iconic night flying insect: the firefly.  The best way to experience fireflies is to turn off the TV, put away the video games and get outside! Learn how to create a firefly habitat, how to watch fireflies and how to get the whole family involved.

Did you know?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Why Wait? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: why-wait CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 07/30/2009 01:39:24 PM ----- BODY:
MuleDeer

Friends of wildlife, meet the mule deer in his native Rocky Mountain habitat. The mule deer is a common species. You can see them all over the western United States, with their wiggly ears and winsome eyes. But just because they're 'common' doesn't mean they don't need our help.

Right now, lawmakers are considering a bill called America's Wildlife Heritage Act. The bill empowers federal land managers to maintain healthy levels of wildlife species so that we can keep wildlife habitats healthy and thriving for future generations.

Under current law, animals don't get federal protection until they're endangered and their population numbers are critically low. But if this new law passes, we can make sure this deer and others will continue to be common everyday creatures in our natural world.

Why wait? Let's protect America's wildlife today--before it becomes critical.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Fed Govt. Gets Greener (Oh, and Saves $102 Million) STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: fed-govt-gets-greener-oh-and-saves-102-million CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 07/30/2009 10:36:16 AM ----- BODY: Stack

Sometimes articles about government tightening its belt and articles about government trying to save money can sound awfully similar. Case in point - today's Wall Street Journal:

The Justice Department estimates it can save $573,000 through fiscal 2010 by setting up its printers and copiers to use both sides of the paper. By emailing some documents instead of printing them out, the Department of Homeland Security will save $318,000.

Both Homeland Security and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have pledged to take the same step that has sent the newspaper industry into a tailspin: They will start getting their news online free, rather than renew their subscriptions. Homeland Security will save $47,160, or 0.0000026% of the deficit. [...]

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is going to save $3.8 million by refurbishing and reusing or selling its emergency trailers -- like the ones provided to people displaced by hurricanes -- instead of ditching them.

The Wall Street Journal article focused exclusively on the financial savings. But eliminating the need for nearly $1 million worth of paper products and keeping dozens of trailers out of a landfill? Sounds pretty green to me.

Photo via Flickr's GlennHirsch

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Google the Echidna and Save a Pika STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: google-the-echidna-and-save-a-pika CATEGORY: Web/Tech DATE: 07/30/2009 09:12:27 AM ----- BODY:

Ever feel like you're wasting time on Wikipedia or Google? You probably are. I know I am. But today, I found a way to continue wasting hours on the internet and feel great about it. Facebook Causes has launched a new search bar that gives money to your favorite cause, each time you do a web search.

I'm a bit biased, of course, and chose for my searches to go toward the National Wildlife Federation's Facebook Cause.

So now, 1 cent is donated to support NWF's work to protect wildlife every time I wonder just what is up with a star-nosed mole...

Star_nosed_mole-s1360x673-2274

...or just how come the axolotl is always so happy...

Axolotl-mexican-02

Now you're wondering, right? Well before you google axolotl, set up the new search bar, and give a penny to NWF.

Here's how:

  1. If you haven't already, download the Facebook Causes Application.

  2. Find a cause to support, such as National Wildlife Federation or Protect Wildlife

  3. Download the new Facebook Cause search bar, and set it to donate to your favorite wildlife group.

  4. Get to searching!

Everytime you use the search bar to look up something new, Causes will donate one cent to the cause of your choice (NWF, right?). This app is brand new, and will only work in Firefox and Internet Explorer at the moment.

Does that mean it's buggy? Yeah, it's got a few kinks to be worked out, but the developers are quick to get back to you if you've got a question, and they're looking to make the toolbar better. Become an early adopter--two good deeds for the price of one.

Leave a comment below if you try out the toolbar, and want to let us know what you think. And leave a comment if your searches lead you to find any other interesting creatures. 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 07/30/2009 11:09:24 AM Note to self - do not mess around with a star-nosed mole. Those look like the claws from the Things We Do Not Speak Of in "The Village." ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson EMAIL: kjohnson@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/508/ DATE: 07/30/2009 12:38:44 PM I've had it for a week and already have raised $1.05. I also use Goodsearch.com on my home computer. Every little bit helps. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: 230% Return on Investment? Where Do I Sign Up? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 230-return-on-investment-where-do-i-sign-up CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 07/29/2009 03:50:21 PM ----- BODY: Money

What if someone told you that by spending just $43, you could make $100 back? Sounds like a great deal to me.

Well, that's the potential return on investment of energy efficiency according to a new report:

A new report on energy efficiency from the consulting firm McKinsey found that the United States could save $1.2 trillion through 2020, by investing $520 billion in improvements like sealing leaky building ducts and replacing inefficient household appliances with new, energy-saving models.

That investment would cut the country’s projected energy use in 2020 by about 23 percent — a savings that would be “greater than the total of energy consumption of Canada,” said Ken Ostrowski, a senior partner in McKinsey’s Atlanta office, at a press event in Washington this morning. It would also more than offset the expected growth in energy use that would be expected otherwise in the United States.

Here's part of what Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson had to say about the report:

The energy that most effectively cuts costs, protects us from climate change, and reduces our dependence of foreign oil is the energy that’s never used in the first place. According to McKinsey’s report, energy efficiency improvements alone can reduce consumption more than 20 percent by 2020 and prevent up to 1.1 gigatons of greenhouse gases annually, helping America lead the way in averting the worst effects of climate change. The McKinsey report reveals new possibilities for energy efficiency, and will be instrumental in engaging consumers, businesses and everyone else to cut energy consumption, reduce harmful emissions, and save money on electricity.

The report only reinforces the need for comprehensive climate & clean energy legislation. Please take a moment now to tell Congress to take action!

Photo via Flickr's SolarPowerForYou

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: return on investment EMAIL: admin@prime-targeting.com IP: 219.90.110.187 URL: http://www.prime-targeting.com/ultimate-goals-of-best-investment-return-on-investment/ DATE: 08/07/2009 12:31:05 AM According to me money has become necessity in today's life. Money making is the only goal of the business houses. Let's check out some ways of money making, such as first of all you should have target in your mind and have some stronger belief to achieve that. Always try to create some extra income, invest after proper research and diversify your investment and try to reduce the use of cc, so you can save money. Always invest with awareness and great sense. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Check Out The 330 MPG Hybrid STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: check-out-the-330-mpg-hybrid DATE: 07/28/2009 11:16:32 PM ----- BODY:

Composite car A interesting new car design could increase mileage tenfold.

Forums.nasioc.com reports:


"Accelerated Composites, LLC, has designed a two-seat passenger car that will achieve up to 330 MPG and sell for under $20,000. The lightweight composite, hybrid car will post this fuel efficiency in normal city and highway driving and demonstrate acceleration and handling similar to that of a Honda Insight. Dubbed the Aptera(C), the vehicle achieves these remarkable numbers through the use of cutting-edge materials, manufacturing methods, and a maverick design mantra.

"It looks like nothing you've ever seen because it performs like nothing you've ever seen," says Accelerated Composites founder and CEO, Steve Fambro. 'What we've done is changed the way cars are thought of and designed. Rather than designing to a styling aesthetic, like the big auto makers do, we hew to an efficiency and safety aesthetic. When you do that, math and physics mostly dictate the shape of the car, and in this case math and physics look awesome.'" See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Can Commerical Air Lines Act More Like Geese? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: can-commerical-air-lines-act-more-like-geese DATE: 07/28/2009 10:55:43 PM ----- BODY:

Airlinerscou A university-based contest called "Fly Your Idea" is producing interesting ideas for more environmentally-sound flight including borrowing some ideas from geese.

Physorg.com reports:

"A team of five doctoral students from the Aeronautics and Astronautics program has conceptualized a way for commercial planes to save fuel by flying in formation. The concept of formation flight for drag reduction, which the team says can increase fuel efficiency and reduce harmful engine emissions, is borrowed from migratory birds.

The Stanford Aircraft Aerodynamics and Design Group will fly to France .... to pitch their vision as finalists in a design contest sponsored by aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The "Fly Your Ideas" contest, which serves as an international call for original concepts to make commercial flight more environmentally responsible, has inspired various possibilities, such as solar cells for aircraft, and planes with windowless cabins." See full article

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Goats Enlisted to Protect Endangered Turtles STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: goats-enlisted-to-protect-endangered-turtles DATE: 07/28/2009 10:37:34 PM ----- BODY:

Bog turtleThat's right -- goats!  When mowing practices were found dangerously harmful to bog turtles in Maryland, a different (more ancient) mowing technique was employed.

The Baltimore Sun reports:

"The State Highway Administration has come up with a creative solution to the question of how to cut the grass in the vicinity of its Hampstead Bypass project without imperiling the already-threatened bog turtle (above) and its Carroll County habitat: goats. The agency is using a local farmer's herd of 40 goats to act as four-legged lawnmowers in the construction zone. It said traditional mechanical lawnmowers posed a danger to both the boggy wetlands and the reptiles themselves. According to the SHA, it considered using cattle but decided they were too big to interact safely with the 4-inch bog turtle." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rhonda EMAIL: rmholla@gmail.com IP: 72.72.217.109 URL: http://www.RhondaHolland.com DATE: 07/29/2009 01:20:15 PM Hope they take care of the goats too, leaving them in a bog area too long could lead to hoof rot. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Video: Diving With Penguins STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-diving-with-penguins CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 07/27/2009 11:07:49 PM ----- BODY:

Galapagos penguinDid you know? Some penguins prefer tropical waters. This clip from the BBC's Dive Galapagos shows a diver getting up close and personal with a group of Galapagos penquins. She really didn't expect what developed. Check it out.

From Wikipedia:

"The Galapagos Penguin is one of the smallest penguins. It is the only penguin to cross the Northern Hemisphere which means they live farther north than any other warm weather penguin. 90% of the Galapagos Penguins live among the western islands of Fernandina and Isabela"

Photo from: Nothing But Penquins

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Radar Could Protect Birds From Wind Generators STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: radar-could-protect-birds-from-wind-generators DATE: 07/27/2009 10:46:54 PM ----- BODY:

Wind farm As the number of wind farms increases in the United States the number of bird deaths will likely go up. Designers are looking to a variety of ways to avoid wildlfie harm. One involves radar.

Alternative-energy-news.info reports:

The new Peñascal wind farm in Texas hopes to become a model for responsible development by installing new radar technology to protect migratory birds and wildlife. The same technology was originally developed for NASA and the US Air Force. It can detect approaching birds up to four miles away and assess their altitude, numbers and visibility. It then analyzes weather conditions to determine if they are in danger of flying into wind turbine blades. If so, the turbines are programmed to automatically shut down and restart once the birds are a safe distance away.  See full article:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jeffkart EMAIL: jeffkart@gmail.com IP: 208.100.40.34 URL: http://jeffkart.com DATE: 07/28/2009 11:29:40 AM more info http://blog.cleantechies.com/2009/05/11/wind-energy-bird-kills-on-the-radar/ ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Paul Swarthout EMAIL: pauL@antidotecomputer.com IP: 70.253.176.191 URL: DATE: 07/28/2009 12:03:09 PM When I first read the heading, I thought the idea was to disturb the birds in such a way as to change their flight pattern, but noooo, y'all are talking about reducing the output of the power grid to let some migratory birds fly by. I think it would make more sense to disturb the birds such that they fly around the blades. It should also be considerably cheaper -- these windmills aren't cheap to begin with, and if the price continues to rise, then they won't be cost effective either, which means they won't get used. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: grantm@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 07/28/2009 12:21:20 PM Paul, what do you mean "price continues to rise"? The cost of wind power per kilowatt hour has been plummeting in recent years: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy/guide/images/chart2_wind.gif ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: JPowers EMAIL: april@gowithimg.com IP: 71.33.225.15 URL: http://www.poweredgenerators.com DATE: 07/28/2009 05:34:04 PM Although birds are important, our world's decreasing energy supply should not prevent us from utilizing new wind farms. There are far too many benefits over this drawback. Learn about more benefits and drawbacks of wind farms here http://www.poweredgenerators.com/wind-power-generators.html ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: akiva EMAIL: akiva.diva@yahoo.com IP: 74.232.92.187 URL: DATE: 09/30/2009 04:51:29 PM that was great! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: zbiker EMAIL: IP: 96.31.118.150 URL: http://profile.typepad.com/6p0120a6b277c4970c DATE: 11/06/2009 02:23:16 PM but what will we do for the other wildlife, such as http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=7025.0;attach=16212;image put it all in perspective, thingd will find a way to die, whether we as humans are involved or not. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: The Moonwalking Bird STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-moonwalking-bird- DATE: 07/24/2009 07:59:26 PM ----- BODY:

ManakinThe secret of the dance of Latin America's Manakin Birds is finally cracked with a high speed camera and a researcher with a keen eye for unusual dance moves. It turns out Michael Jackson may have picked some moves from these little guys. Check it out.
 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Insurers Call for Climate Action STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: insurers-call-for-climate-action CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/24/2009 04:57:23 PM ----- BODY:

Wave

A coalition of insurance groups and conservation advocates has just sent a joint letter (PDF) to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) highlighting "the urgent need to move away from the carbon economy":

As you know and have highlighted through your leadership over the past few years, unmitigated climate change brings with it increased risk from natural disasters. Most of the world’s foremost scientists have warned that global warming-induced climate fluctuations are likely to cause catastrophic damage, droughts, intensified storms, rising seas, and other potentially cataclysmic problems.

In recognition of these threats and the need to address them through legislative and other actions, we want to bring to your attention a new report entitled “The Insurance Industry and Climate Change - Contribution to the Global Debate” which for the first time states that “the leaders of the world’s largest insurance companies, as represented in The Geneva Association, have identified climate change as their joint longterm priority number one.” We strongly urge you to read the Geneva Association report which can be found here.

The letter is signed by the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers, Ceres, the National Wildlife Federation, the Reinsurance Association of America, and the Sierra Club.

Photo via Flickr's teabird

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Video: Handling Hawks in an Urban Habitat STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-handling-hawks-in-an-urban-habitat CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 07/24/2009 07:10:00 AM ----- BODY:

Residents of the Washington, DC area have watched in wonder over the last few decades as hawks have slowly returned to the area. There was even a "scandal" a couple of years back when one high-profile bald eagle broke up. ("George" abandoned his mate "Martha" for a younger eagle.)

Even as raptors have made headlines in the Washington Post, opportunities have been limited for DC's inner-city residents to make a connection with these magnificent birds. But the Earth Conservation Corps, the National Wildlife Federation's DC affiliate, is working to change that. Here's ECC's Rodney Stotts talking with NWF board member Jerome Ringo:


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Part 2: 10 Tips for Keeping Mosquitoes at Bay STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: mosquitoes-part-2 DATE: 07/24/2009 07:00:00 AM ----- BODY:

Read Part 1 here...

  1. Remove unnecessary standing water around your home.  Typical hot-beds for mosquito reproduction are clogged gutters, flower-pot drainage dishes, children’s play equipment, tarps and any debris that can hold water.

  2. Share this advice with your neighbors.  Mosquitoes that emerge in their yards will easily travel to yours.

  3. Empty and refill birdbaths every few days. It takes a minimum of about a week for the metamorphosis from egg to larva to pupa to winged adult to be completed, so this eliminates any chance that your birdbath will serve as a mosquito nursery.

  4. Attract mosquito predators. Add plants to water gardens to attract frogs, salamanders and dragonflies and put up houses for birds and bats.  Fish feed on mosquito larvae, just don’t release goldfish or other exotic species into natural areas.

  5. Don’t use insecticides or put oil on the surface of bodies of water.  This kills beneficial insects and mosquito predators and causes air and water pollution.

  6. "Mosquito Dunks" that contain natural bacteria that kills mosquitoes can be added to water gardens without harming fish, birds or other wildlife.  (Closely related insects, some beneficial, could be affected though.)

  7. DEET-based repellants are effective but if you want to avoid synthetic chemicals, aromatic herbal repellents also work if applied frequently.

  8. Avoid going outdoors at dusk, which is peak mosquito time, or wear long sleeves to minimize exposed skin that could be bitten.

  9. Bug zappers aren’t effective against mosquitoes. Zappers do kill thousands of beneficial insects a night.

  10. Mosquitoes are not strong flyers and the breeze created by a fan is often all you need to keep a patio or deck mosquito-free so you can enjoy the outdoors.

Don't end up like this guy!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: grantm@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: http://blogs.nwf.org/arctic_promise DATE: 07/24/2009 11:46:09 AM The last two are great tips! I had no idea bug-zappers didn't work on mosquitoes or that a simple fan could do the trick. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: High Altitude Wind Energy 'Hot Spots' Studied STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: high-altitude-wind-energy-hot-spots-studied DATE: 07/23/2009 11:31:20 PM ----- BODY:

Kitesflyingi High altitude wind generation is getting more serious attention these days and a new study assesses some wind energy "hot spots" in the heavens.

Stuart Fox at PopSci.com reports:

"With the US granting wind power plant leases off the coasts of New Jersey and Delaware, the UK planning to overtake nuclear power with wind in five years, and even coal loving China getting in on the act, all the talk about wind power these days has focused on offshore wind farms. However, a new study suggests that the wind power mother lode may be up in the sky, not off in the sea. Sure, high altitude wind power isn't the newest idea in the world. Not only has the tech been around for a couple of years, but companies like Kite Gen and Sky WindPower are already trying to break into the market. However, this study is the first to identify the best spots to place the high-flying turbines."

See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Nearly Extinct Frog Is Rediscovered STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nearly-extinct-frog-is-rediscovered DATE: 07/23/2009 11:16:25 PM ----- BODY:

Yellow-legged frog It is always god news for wildlife lovers to learn that a lost species is not lost at all.

Inland News.com

"For the first time in nearly 50 years, a population of a nearly extinct frog has been rediscovered in the San Bernardino National Forest. Biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey rediscovered the rare mountain yellow-legged frog in the San Jacinto Wilderness near Idyllwild. Researchers had estimated there were about 122 adult mountain yellow-legged frogs in the wild."

See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Worst Year Ever for Coral Bleaching? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: worst-year-ever-for-coral-bleaching CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/23/2009 05:19:42 PM ----- BODY:

A new report warns 2009 could become the worst year ever for coral bleaching, thanks to rising ocean temperatures:

Scientists are concerned that bleaching may reach the same levels or exceed those recorded in 2005, the worst coral bleaching and disease year in Caribbean history. In parts of the eastern Caribbean, as much as 90 percent of corals bleached and over half of those died during that event.

Here's more on the report and what it means from National Wildlife Federation climate scientist Dr. Amanda Staudt:


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Meet The Giant Coconut Crab STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: meet-the-giant-coconut-crab DATE: 07/22/2009 09:52:56 PM ----- BODY:

Coconut crab On certain Pacific Islands there is a species of land crab that is quite large. They are slow moving, generally nocturnal and remain hidden during the day to emerge at night in search of food.

Hemmy.net reports:

"The coconut crab is the largest terrestial arthropod in the world and is known for its ability to crack coconuts with its pincers. They can weigh up to 4kg (Some reports claim up to 17kg) and leg span of 1m. It is eaten by the Pacific islanders and is considered a delicacy "

Learn more.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jennifer Jones TITLE: Will China & India Race Past America on Clean Energy? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: will-china-india-race-past-america-on-clean-energy CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 07/22/2009 05:00:40 PM ----- BODY:

OK, so did you catch the irony on this one? In Friday's Washington Post, Economy and Business section:

Hello… is anyone on Capitol Hill paying attention?

According to the Post, South Korea is planning to invest two percent of its Gross National Product every year for the next five years in renewables. India is planning on installing 20 gigawatts of solar power by 2020, three times as much as the entire world installed last year. And China now provides a $3-a-watt subsidy upfront for solar projects. According to Brian Fan of Cleantech Group, that’s “the most generous subsidy in the world” for solar power.

So the next time you hear an opponent of energy and climate legislation say, “Well what about China and India?" You can say, “Well what about us?” America is at risk of falling far behind these “clean tech tigers.”

I just keep shaking my head as I type these words! When will the naysayers walk up and realize that we need to start making the kinds of choices other countries are making to build a clean energy industry? When will they wake up and realize we have to pass meaningful climate and energy legislation now? Or we will take a pass on nearly two million new jobs in America?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New Analysis: Climate Bill Good for Farmers STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-analysis-climate-bill-good-for-farmers CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 07/22/2009 03:55:15 PM ----- BODY:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has just released a new analysis of the American Clean Energy & Security (ACES) Act. It's great news for farmers and ranchers, showing the bill will be a net benefit to agriculture, with huge long-term economic opportunities.

Here's an excerpt from today's testimony on Capitol Hill by Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack:

[ACES's] creation of an offset market will create opportunities for the agricultural sector. In particular, our analysis indicates that annual net returns to farmers range from about $1 billion per year in 2015-20 to almost $15-20 billion in 2040-50, not accounting for the costs of implementing offset practices.

So, let me be clear about the implications of this analysis. In the short term, the economic benefits to agriculture from cap and trade legislation will likely outweigh the costs. In the long term, the economic benefits from offsets markets easily trump increased input costs from cap and trade legislation. Let me also note that we believe these figures are conservative because we aren’t able to model the types of technological change that are very likely to help farmers produce more crops and livestock with fewer inputs.

This analysis is just the latest evidence that comprehensive climate & energy legislation like ACES isn't just good for some parts of the country, as the bill's obstructionist opponents suggest. ACES is good for America, and we should all get behind it! ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Mosquitoes, Part 1 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: mosquitoes-part-1 DATE: 07/22/2009 02:45:20 PM ----- BODY:

It’s Mosquito Time!
Summer is the prime time for one of our least favorite insects: mosquitoes.  With the wet spring and early summer in many parts of the country, mosquito numbers are likely to be high this year. 

Mosquitoe James Jordan Flickr Life Cycle and Ecology
Understanding the mosquito’s life cycle and ecology can help you avoid getting bitten.

• There are over 3,000 species of mosquitoes worldwide, with at least 150 in the U.S.

• Mosquitoes start life out as aquatic larvae in standing bodies of water such as ponds, swamps and marshes.  Their larvae can live in as little as an inch of water so even temporary puddles will serve as nurseries.

• Mosquitoes’ primary food source is flower nectar and fruit juices.  Only the female mosquito feeds on blood.  She uses the protein-rich blood meal to fuel the production of eggs.

• In the process of feeding on nectar, mosquitoes help to pollinate flowers.

• Female mosquitoes find their victims by sight and by following the chemical trail of carbon dioxide and water vapor from the breath of people and animals.

• Mosquitoes inject saliva into the bite to keep blood from clotting.  An allergic reaction to the saliva is what causes the resulting itchy welt.

• A female can lay 200-300 eggs at time on the surface of standing bodies of water.

• In the U.S. diseases such as West Nile Virus and canine heartworm are spread by mosquitoes.

• The vast majority of mosquitoes are eaten by predators.  Eggs and aquatic larvae are fed on by fish, salamander larvae and dragonfly nymphs.  Adults are eaten by birds, bats, amphibians, dragonflies and many other insects. Learn how to attract beneficial wildlife to your yard here.

COMING NEXT: How to avoid getting bitten.  Stay tuned!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tim EMAIL: tim.brauhn@gmail.com IP: 24.9.76.23 URL: http://timbrauhn.com DATE: 07/22/2009 03:43:19 PM Not only a shameless plug, but also a reminder about the other side of mosquitos: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Faiths-Act-Fellows-Ending-Malaria-Deaths/94752490859 Check it out! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: The Best Birthday Present Ever -- Protected Wildlife STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: birthday-thank-you DATE: 07/22/2009 10:39:32 AM ----- BODY:

I am writing to thank you for the best birthday I have ever had in my 25 years of life. I am forever touched by the amazing people I get to meet as Social Media Outreach Coordinator for NWF, but this year really took the cake! (*ha, pun). Within a few short days, I was able to raise $825.00 for my organization with your help! I've never had such an important birthday.

On top of all the generous donations, I was given many birthday wishes from my friends via Facebook and Twitter--so thank you all so very much for making my birthday a very special day.


A big thanks to my birthday donors!
Birthday cause







Pictured: Michael Sola, Ann Brigida, Nancy Heltman, Kristin Johnson, Bob Thomas, Kristen Ward, Evan C. Parker, Jaime Matyas, Jonathon Colman, Kara Ball, Molly Anglin, Elizabeth Wallace, Eryn Starun, Anne Keisman, Lorien Smith Johnson, Steve MacLaughlin, Tracy Tran, Chad Norman, Ann Gloyn, Joanna Lang, Ben Brigida, Michael Hoffman, Jessica Cera, David Krumlauf, Jaime Tamez, and James Towner.

Kevin Coyle was also extremely kind and donated over 200 dollars to NWF in my birthday's honor!

To all of you who tweeted about the cause and spread the word! You are all so dear to me!
@sciencesays
@johnhaydon
@dkrumlauf
@melmatho
@naomichappell
@sjmonk5
@ksuzj
@halophoenix
@aussiemamma
@isasuperstar
@mitchmaxson
@epschleichert
@campusecology
@twilightearth
@mattgup
@ohmeaghan
@thisliferox
@dreamcatcher07
@littlehumbugs
@cajunjen
@veyonce
@atimperman
@dragonmark_101
@salsus
@nonlinear_tweet

And of course all of you who wrote on my Facebook wall. Thank you so much! You all truly made me feel like I am making a difference!

If you are on Facebook and are interested in donating your birthday to the National Wildlife Federation it only takes a few seconds of your time.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Navajo Nation Forms Green Jobs Commission STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: navajo-nation-forms-green-jobs-commission DATE: 07/22/2009 12:18:18 AM ----- BODY:

Shiprock-240 The Navajo Nation Council recognizes they need to diversify their economy and address profound joblessness. Green jobs look promising.

High Country News reports:

"The Council passed the legislation by a vote of 62 to 1. According to Enei Begaye, who spearheaded a coalition to create the legislation, it is the first tribal government initiative to create green jobs policy and structure. Undoubtedly ambitious -- combining traditional culture, web-based marketing and cutting-edge green technologies -- the plan could transform the Navajo Nation and serve as a model for other tribes.The legislation will establish a commission to implement projects in seven areas: renewable energy (large-scale and small), green manufacturing (focused on traditional crafts such as rug-weaving, combined with sophisticated marketing and PR campaigns), sustainable agriculture, weatherizing and making energy-efficient traditional and nontraditional homes, green workforce training, management training, and a small business initiative."

See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Energy From Bumps In the Road STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: energy-from-bumps-in-the-road DATE: 07/22/2009 12:11:38 AM ----- BODY:

Shock-absorber-energy A group of MIT undergraduate students who recognized that electric power in hybrid vehicles can come from applying brakes wondered if the vehicle's suspension system might offer similar promise.

Alternative-energy-news.info reports:

"They rented a variety of car models, attaching sensors to suspension to determine the energy potential. They were aided by laptop computers for recording the sensor data. Their tests revealed that “a significant amount of energy” was being wasted in conventional suspension systems, Anderson said, “especially for heavy vehicles”. After that they set out to prepare a prototype system to harness the wasted power. Their shock absorber employs a hydraulic system that forces fluid through a turbine attached to a generator. The system is controlled by an active electronic system that optimizes the damping. This device provides a smoother ride than traditional shocks while generating electricity to recharge the batteries or operate electrical equipment."

See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Sen. EPW Hearing: New Jobs vs. Dirty Fuels STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: sen-epw-hearing-new-jobs-vs-dirty-fuels CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 07/21/2009 11:32:13 AM ----- BODY:

I'm over at DailyKos today live-blogging the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee's hearing, "Clean Energy Jobs, Climate-Related Policies and Economic Growth - State and Local Views." Come on over and join the discussion!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: The American Crow Is One Smart Bird STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-american-crow-is-one-smart-bird DATE: 07/21/2009 12:04:30 AM ----- BODY: Crow Crows are interesting and smart. How much?  Now there is a question.
-

Blane Klemek, of the Bemidji Pioneer reports:


"An interesting part of crows’ behavior is their sense of community with one another. It’s no mystery to anyone familiar with crows that these birds tend to form large and noisy flocks. But what might not be common knowledge is how cooperative some populations or “family groups” of crows tend to be when it comes to brood-rearing. For instance, research has shown that even though crows become reproductively mature at about 2 years of age, they don’t necessarily form pair-bonds, mate and raise their own offspring immediately. It turns out that some crows will help raise their own siblings, staying within their parents’ territory for five years or longer while assisting with parental duties such as feeding nestlings and acting as sentinels.


While the intelligence of crows is not disputed, it is difficult to study and learn just how intelligent wild crows really are. Reports exist that crows can distinguish between a man carrying a gun and a man carrying a stick. Such an incident is related by the late Ernest Thompson Seton, who, in his popular book “Wild Animals I Have Known,” wrote about “Silverspot, the Story of a Crow.”
In the story, Seton relates how Silverspot would fly above him and vocalize to his flock. To test Silverspot’s intelligence, Seton, during separate times while standing on a bridge that spanned a ravine, stood alone one day, took with him a stick on another day, and stood on the bridge holding a gun on the third day. When he held the gun, Seton wrote, “… at once (Silverspot) cried out, ‘Great danger — a gun.’ ‘ca-ca-ca-ca Caw!’ His lieutenant repeated the cry, and every crow in the troop began to tower and scatter from the rest."

See full article. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Humpback Whale Inspires New Wind Turbine Design STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: humpback-whale-inspires-new-wind-turbine-design DATE: 07/20/2009 08:41:09 PM ----- BODY: Humpback_whale_img_assist_custom A new design for wind turbine blades was inspired by a whale and a work of art.

T. Goodman at InventorSpot.com reports:


"Frank Fish (yes, it's his real name), whose field just happens to be biomechanics, actually came about his observations of the humpback whale serendipitously when he saw a sculpture of a humpback with what he thought were misplaced tubercles on the whale's flipper. The artist had placed them on the "leading" edge of the flipper, not on the underside of the flipper, where Fish "knew" they should be because of his study of fluid dynamics (i.e, smooth edges are most aerodynamic). The artist was correct, however, and Fish's further research indicated that at least part of the science of fluid dynamics was wrong. The tubercle placement on the humpback whale's flippers and tail is a major part of the reason the great mammal is so aerodynamic


This tubercle design operationally keeps air attached to the blades, thereby managing the flow of air and increasing the lift of the blade -- two areas of concern in the development of wind turbines."

See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Seven Environmental Media Stories That Are Full of Hope STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: seven-environmental-media-stories-that-are-full-of-hope DATE: 07/18/2009 10:10:27 AM ----- BODY:

Chinese_ecocity We all hear about the daunting challenges and dire consequences of failing to address global warming or make the planet more sustained. Here is an exciting summary of some of the many good developments that guide us toward a hopeful vision of the future.


Ken Edelstein for Mother Nature News reports:

"[it’s easy to lose sight of hopeful news that’s lurking just outside the media’s spotlight. Often, it’s those hopeful stories -- the ones that are about steady, quiet progress rather than political conflict -- that make the larger difference in our lives." See full List:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ruby Robertson EMAIL: ruby.robertson@recycling4live.com IP: 201.230.140.12 URL: DATE: 07/21/2009 05:13:47 PM Hi My name is Ruby Robertson. I've just visited your website and I was wondering if you'd be interested in exchanging links with my website. I can offer you a home page link back from my Recycling Guide website which is http://www.recycling4live.com with Page Rank 3 If you are interested, please add the following information to your website here: http://blogs.nwf.org/arctic_promise/2009/07/seven-environmental-media-stories-that-are-full-of-hope.html (at the bottom of your post) and kindly let me know when it's ready. I'll do the same for you in less than 24 hours, otherwise you can delete my link from your site. Title: the greenhouse URL: http://www.thegreenhouse.co.uk Description: the green house provides businesses with tailored waste management programs to minimise their waste output and costs I hope you have a nice day and thank you for your time. Please reply to: ruby.robertson@recycling4live.com Best regards; Ruby Robertson Web Marketing Consultant ruby.robertson@recycling4live.com ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Up Close Look At The Blue Whale -- Largest Living Animal STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: up-close-look-at-the-blue-whale-largest-living-animal- DATE: 07/17/2009 01:07:25 PM ----- BODY:

Blue Whales are mysterious in many ways.

In this short (one minute) BBC film we get a rare look at the Blue Whale.  It is the world's largest animal with a heart the size of a car to support its 400,000 pound body.  It is also a creature struggling to survive in today's oceans.  

See One Minute BBC video.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Brief TV Profile of Wildlife Gardener And Her Terrific Garden STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: brief-tv-profile-of-wildlife-gardener-and-her-terrific-garden- DATE: 07/16/2009 07:50:37 PM ----- BODY:

Elayne In a KLRU TV short, Elayne Langsford, from central Texas, shows us her beautiful and peaceful garden and how NWF's Certified Wildlife Habitat programs contribute to a better life for her, her family and local creatures over many years. Elayne specializes in container gradening and is an NWF habitat steward. Our hat is off to her.


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: California Earthquake Causes Massive Squid Wash-Up STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: california-earthquake-causes-massive-squid-washup DATE: 07/16/2009 07:35:07 PM ----- BODY:

Squid A recent California earthquake beached numerous squid causing public alarm.

San Diego News report:

"Dozens of dazed Humboldt squid, which were roughly three- to four-feet long and weighed close to 40 pounds, were found flapping around on La Jolla Shores beach. “It’s like their equilibrium is all messed up and they don’t know what they’re doing and they can’t back out there,” said beachgoer Bill Baumann. “It was like they got ... all shook up.”' See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Water Quality as a Way of Life STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: water-quality-as-a-way-of-life CATEGORY: Environmental Education DATE: 07/16/2009 11:57:08 AM ----- BODY:

Americanbittern400 Here's a story for the history books:

In 1983, our government set water planning policies that determined how we create water projects--and they're still in place today.

But as you and I know, the world has changed. There are more people, more threatened wildlife and wildlife habitats, and we have a better understanding of how we can live in better harmony with nature--and more than a quarter century has passed.

So here's a new story for the history books.

The White House is considering a new way to look at water. What if instead of choosing water projects based on economics or politics, we required every federal agency to make protecting and restoring the environment a main goal of every water project? What if planning for healthy wetlands, healthy rivers and healthy lakes wasn't an "environmental issue," but a way of life?

Think about the places you love-- the lake at your local park, the stream that runs through your neighborhood, the ocean you visit on family vacations. Those aren't "environmental issues." Those waters are part of your life.

The White House is accepting public comments on this issue for just a few more days. Let them know you think they're onto a good idea, and ask them to see it through.

P.S. Want to learn a little more? Check out our factsheet (PDF) on what new water policy will mean for America's wetlands and the wildlife that live there.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: UK's New Low-Carbon Industrial Plan -- 500,000 New Jobs STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: uks-new-lowcarbon-industrial-plan-500000-new-jobs DATE: 07/16/2009 10:27:04 AM ----- BODY:

UK green industry A new industrial plan developed in the UK predicts lower greenhouse gas emissions and a half million new jobs by 2020.

Kat Baker for PerssonnelToday.com reports:

"As part of the'Low Carbon Industrial Strategy', climate and energy secretary Ed Miliband [UK] said 200,000 new green-collar jobs would be created by 2015, and a further 300,000 by 2020. The strategy sets out a series of government interventions to help create jobs by supporting industries critical to tackling climate change – including offshore wind and marine power. The government aims to cut emissions by 34% by 2020 – with employers forced to cut their 2008 carbon emissions by 13%."See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: The Green Roadway Project: U.S. Highways As Alternative Energy Corridors STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-green-roadway-project-us-highways-as-alternative-energy-corridors DATE: 07/16/2009 10:02:52 AM ----- BODY:

Green%20Roadway%20Illus One way to create wind, solar and other alternative energy facilities with less impact on the environment could be to place them along highways, The Green Roadway Project is examining that possibility with the idea that every community could be served and electric vehcles could be easily recharged. (Image: model of a recharging station)

AzoCleantech.com reports:

"The Green Roadway™ is a comprehensive end-to-end system of unique installations and configurations for creating, gathering and distributing solar, geothermal or wind energy along roadways. The technology could be implemented on the right-of-way along interstate highways, local roads and even railways. The new energy bill passed by the House requires reductions in carbon emissions and establishes “Cap & Trade,” which makes The Green Roadway well-positioned, as The Green Roadway has the potential to generate billions of dollars worth of offset and tax credits as installed systems. The systems also seize on another tenet of the energy bill by providing power and technology to electric vehicles and charging stations." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sustainability guide Climatarians EMAIL: joost@climatarians.org IP: 94.156.67.25 URL: http://climatarians.org DATE: 07/19/2009 08:44:08 AM Hi Kevin, thanks for the informative post. Yes, alternate sources of energy are the way to go for a better environment and the government sure has to pitch in and do its part to get this whole thing going. Of course individuals, organizations and businesses do their own bit. But when the government joins hands with projects like these, we can surely make things happen. Thanks for the information. Joost Hoogstrate ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jennifer Jones TITLE: 30 Years Later, Finally Time for Change? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 30-years-later-finally-time-for-change CATEGORY: Current Affairs DATE: 07/15/2009 03:58:29 PM ----- BODY:

CarterSweater

I was really struck by the piece by Gordon Stewart in the New York Times today, Carter’s Speech Therapy. Stewart reminds us that it was 30 years ago today when President Jimmy Carter spoke from the Oval Office to 100 million Americans and called for “the most massive peacetime commitment” in our history to develop alternative fuels.

Thirty years ago! Stewart tells us that the speech was “extremely popular” and the White House was “flooded with calls.”

Two years earlier, President Carter had spoken to the nation about an energy plan he would soon propose to Congress. In that speech, he said:

We have been proud of our leadership in the world. Now we have a chance again to give the world a positive example … We have always wanted to give our children and grandchildren a world richer in possibilities than we've had. They are the ones we must provide for now. They are the ones who will suffer most if we don't act.

Imagine ... how different our world would be if we had acted then. Carter announced a goal of 20 percent of our electricity from solar power by 2000!

And so here we are, at another choice point for the country and our children’s future – indeed, “they are the ones who will suffer if we don’t act.” As Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said so eloquently during the House debate on the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act, “Our children will either be the benefactors of our stewardship, or the victims of our neglect.”

President Carter’s words are even more true today than 30 years ago when he said, “The people are looking for honest answers, not easy answers; clear leadership, not false claims and evasiveness and politics as usual.”

Joshua Green, in The Atlantic this month, makes the same connections back to President Carter’s vision. (The Atlantic ran a cover story in 1977 on the promise of renewables!) Green notes that in the mid-1980s, United States was “the overwhelming leader in clean technology, with more than 80 percent of the world’s wind capacity and 90 percent of solar.” Unfortunately, “the United States has fallen back dramatically since then, both in a moral and an economic sense … with the benefits of the developments that emerged in the 1980s mostly accrued to others.”

President Carter knew that our energy crisis had to be addressed – and today – when you add to his conclusion the overwhelming evidence about the climate crisis, this should only reinforce the call to develop a new energy policy in this country that creates true energy security, a more secure economy and a healthier planet.

It can also be the rallying cry the country needs to unite around a common purpose. As President Carter told us 30 years ago: “The solution of our energy crisis can also help us to conquer the crisis of the spirit in our country. It can rekindle our sense of unity, our confidence in the future, and give our nation and all of us individually a new sense of purpose.”

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jordan Green EMAIL: Jordan.Green05@gmail.com IP: 71.231.36.106 URL: http://wildlifemedia.org DATE: 07/20/2009 03:36:36 PM This was great article, it is time for a change and if we don't do something now there will be nothing left to protect and save for the future. Awareness is one of the tools we can use to protect the wildlife and the wild places they live in. Check out Wildlife Media, they're a conservation group that has brought together video media and conservation in an effort to raise awareness about endangered wildlife in the world. They are currently filming a movie called BEARTREK that centers around bears and the researchers working to save them. Check out Wildlifemedia.org for more info about the movie. Hopefully this movie will help raise awareness about these animals and the environments they live in. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Video: CAP's Joe Romm on ACES STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-caps-joe-romm-on-aces CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/15/2009 12:44:00 PM ----- BODY:

Here's an interview with Joe Romm, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and blogger at Climate Progress. Joe's a fascinating player in the clean energy & climate legislation debate -- Joe thinks the carbon pollution cuts in the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act should be deeper, but he's been willing to support ACES as a good start and worthwhile compromise:


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Wildlife Gardeners on Twitter STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wildlife-gardeners-on-twitter DATE: 07/15/2009 11:24:43 AM ----- BODY:

For those of you on Twitter and looking for great gardeners to follow-- here's a list that won't disappoint! A few of NWF's favorite garden tweeters, some of which are certified and others who are not! If you are interested in learning more about helping wildlife with a backyard habitat, check out our garden for wildlife site, and let us know what you think!

Wildlife Gardeners on Twitter - Follow them for great tips!

Cbuiejackson @CBuieJackson
Name: Carol Buie-Jackson
Blog: http://smelllikedirt.wordpress.com/\


Jesscera @Jesscera
Name: Jess Cera
Blog: http://jesscera.wordpress.com  

Gardenpunk @Gardenpunk
Name: Katie Hobson
Blog: http://www.gardenpunks.com


Jesshibb @Jesshibb
Name: Jessica Hibbard
Blog: http://jesshibb.com/


Betsy @Backyarder1
Name: Betsy S. Franz
Blog: http://reachingforbliss.blogspot.com/



Westerngardener  @Westerngardener
Name: Jodi Torpey
Blog: http://www.westerngardeners.com/


Brownthumbgirl @Brownthumbgirl
Name: Margie



@Jeffwiedner
@ladygbd
@susanlm4
@alisonkerr
@austintxrealtor
@backyardhabitat
@bhigginsdover
@mactavish
@anisoptera
@nnus
@michelestclair

@theladyj
@imagesbylynnann


Matpaulson  @3littlebirds1
Name: Mat Paulson
Blog: http://www.3littlebirdsonline.com/



Travis  @TravisAudubon
Name: Travis Audubon
Website: http://www.travisaudubon.org/

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Ohio Senator Demands EPA Fudge ACES Numbers STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: ohio-senator-demands-epa-fudge-aces-numbers CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 07/14/2009 05:38:43 PM ----- BODY: Voinovich

You have to check out this letter. It's from Sen. George Voinovich to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson. Sen. Voinovich is informing Jackson that he's refusing to let her deputy administrator's nomination go forward. Why? Because the EPA has refused to bow to Sen. Voinovich's demands that it fudge its numbers on the American Clean Energy and Security Act:

I have a procedural hold on the nomination of Robert Perciasepe as the Deputy Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This hold does not serve as a reflection on Mr. Perciasepe's ability to perform in the role of the Deputy Administrator. Rather, it is based on my continued dissatisfaction with the EPA's analysis of the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act of 2009, and the agency's subsequent response to these concerns.

Just crazy. What numbers must EPA gin up for Sen. Voinovich to release his hold on Perciasepe? Should they just ask Sen. Voinovich to provide a number on how much he wants them to say it'll cost families, like a million jillion dollars?

Read the full letter here.


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Congress politics environment energy climate ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David Blankenhsip EMAIL: dpblankenship@yahoo.com IP: 201.194.231.74 URL: http://www.twitter.com/windbaron DATE: 07/18/2009 09:12:43 PM Way to stand your ground EPA - we like that you're not pushed around. Thanks, David Blankenship www.twitter.com/windbaron ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NAACP Joins Fight for Clean Energy, Climate Action STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: naacp-joins-fight-for-clean-energy-climate-action CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/14/2009 03:45:09 PM ----- BODY: NAACP

Historic news out of New York today. For the first time in the organization's 100-year history, the NAACP has approved a resolution addressing climate change legislation:

“At its Centennial Convention, the NAACP has opened a new front in the fight for clean energy,” said Jerome Ringo, past chairman of the National Wildlife Federation Board of Directors and president of the Apollo Alliance. “When the United States negotiates an international treaty in Copenhagen this year, Americans must be united in our commitment to curb global warming pollution. NAACP is signaling that unity will include the African American grassroots.”

“This is a breakthrough moment on the path to our clean energy future,” said John Grant, National Wildlife Federation Board of Directors and CEO of 100 Black Men of Atlanta. “Clean energy is the key that will unlock millions of jobs, and the NAACP’s support is vital to ensuring that those jobs help to rebuild urban areas.”

“Although everyone feels its effects, the impacts of global warming are disproportionately severe among communities of color,” said Marc Littlejohn, manager of Diversity Partnerships, National Wildlife Federation. “We need to protect low-income Americans, who spend a much larger share of income on energy-related expenses. We need to help Americans working in carbon-intensive industries transition to clean energy jobs.”

Learn more about the National Wildlife Federation’s work for fair and equitable climate solutions at FairClimateProject.org!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: climate energy NAACP ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: A Birthday Wish for NWF's Resident Social Media Guru STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: a-birthday-wish-for-nwfs-resident-social-media-guru CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 07/14/2009 12:21:54 PM ----- BODY:

A few of us at the National Wildlife Federation wanted to take a moment to give a shout out to our resident Social Media Outreach Coordinator, Danielle Brigida. If you have ever encountered NWF on a social media site, there's a 99 percent chance you found us because Danielle signed us up, or influenced the person who did.

Danielle is one of those superstar staff members who gives her all day in and day out to connecting people to nature through online (and offline) mediums. She has also helped countless people in the nonprofit and conservation field figure out how to engage audiences through social media.

Danielle is turning 25 tomorrow, and--it's no shock to us--she is donating her birthday to NWF through Facebook's Causes Application.
 

Danielle Brigida's Birthday Wish

Just wanted to let everyone know, as she's being a bit modest about promoting this page. I figure there might be one or two of you out there who have been influenced or touched by Danielle's love for nature and technology who at the very least might want to wish her a Happy Birthday!

In addition to her asking her friends and family to donate to this cause in lieu of getting her any gifts, she is also organizing a stream cleanup in lieu of having a big party. We're heading out to the creek where she spent countless "green hours" of her childhood chasing frogs, adopting box turtles and tadpoles and becoming the nature girl she is today.

Happy Birthday Danielle!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Stacy M. EMAIL: monaghan@thearc.org IP: 209.190.209.3 URL: DATE: 07/15/2009 11:39:14 AM Happy Birthday Danielle! Hope you have an awesome day :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robyn EMAIL: carmichaelr@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 07/15/2009 12:18:58 PM Happy Birthday, Danielle!!! Can't wait 'til you come out to Seattle! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cindy EMAIL: crainger2003@yahoo.com IP: 75.146.23.113 URL: DATE: 07/15/2009 01:30:56 PM HAPPY HAPPY Birthday! May you laugh A LOT especially today! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: The Gaze of a Gray Whale STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-gaze-of-a-gray-whale CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 07/14/2009 10:33:15 AM ----- BODY: GrayWhale

Fantastic article from this weekend's New York Times magazine on the history of the relationship between whales and people. One of the many great stories:

And then, within moments, the mother was surfacing again off to our stern and doubling back in our direction, but this time with her newborn male in tow: a miniature version of herself — if two tons of anything can be referred to as miniature — the calf’s skin still shiny and smooth. The baby gray glided up to the boat’s edge, and then the whole of his long, hornbill-shaped head was rising up out of the water directly beside me, a huge, ovoid eye slowly opening to take me in. I’d never felt so beheld in my life.

Take a few minutes to read the whole thing!

Photo via Flickr's FamilyKayak

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: New White House Report: Green Jobs on Track for Future Growth STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-white-house-report-green-jobs-on-track-future-growth DATE: 07/13/2009 10:18:38 PM ----- BODY:

Obama A new White House economic advisors report looks at employment through 2016 and finds that the health and green job sectors are growing.

Ascociated Press reports:

"President Barack Obama's Council of Economic Advisers said jobs ranging from technical record keeping to nursing and physical therapy will grow in the health fields and that greater spending on renewable energy and on a more efficient electrical power grid will spike employment in those sectors as well. The White House, seeking to calm domestic frustration, has insisted its plan would eventually boost millions of jobs. The CEA report stood by a prediction that the stimulus spending would save or create 3.5 million jobs by the end of 2010." See full article.

Download White House Jobs of the Future report:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Sen. Brown Won't Filibuster Climate Bill STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: sen-brown-wont-filibuster-climate-bill CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/12/2009 01:29:07 PM ----- BODY: SenBrown

Great news on Senate prospects for comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation:

Despite opposing cloture on a previous cap and trade bill, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) says that--whether he supports the underlying bill or not--he won't support a filibuster of climate change legislation this Congress.

"I'm not going to be part of a filibuster on climate change," Brown told me today. Brown voted against ending debate on the Lieberman-Warner bill in 2007, but he says he did that because the bill had no real chance of making it to the floor, and opposing cloture was his way of expressing his objection to aspects of that legislation.

Sen. Brown's stand sends a strong message to other senators from states that are currently coal dependent, like Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) and Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA). When even companies like Duke Energy and American Electric Power are getting behind the American Clean Energy and Security Act, arguments against action hold less water than ever. It's time for the Senate to lead.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy environment climate Congress politics Ohio ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Two-Minute Video: An AZ. Man Who Feeds Thousands of Hummingbirds (In A Day) STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: twominute-video-an-az-man-who-feeds-thousands-of-hummingbirds-in-a-day- DATE: 07/12/2009 12:00:30 AM ----- BODY:

Hummer2 Jesse Hendrix has a ranch in Arizona along the migration route for many species of hummingbirds.  During the peak of migration, as many as 9,000 hummers will visit him in a day and consume 13 gallons of nectar from his feeders.  In this two-minute video narrated by David Attenborough for the BBC you see the birds for yourself.  Really shows how one individual can make a difference.  

See the two-minute video   Fascinating.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: See The World's New, To-The-Second, Green House Gas Tracker STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: see-the-worlds-new-tothesecond-green-house-gas-tracker- DATE: 07/11/2009 06:29:34 PM ----- BODY:

NYC cabon counnter In New York City there is a large digital display that tracks the national debt to the second.  Building on that idea Deutche Bank has recently erected a similar dislay that tracks how many metric tons of green house gas are piling up in the atmosphere with each passing second.    Over 3.6 trillion!

The display is on a big screen in NYC but it is also on-line for you to check out -- but be ready -- it is pretty startling.   See the tracker here.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Minute and Half Film: Baby Sea Turtles Released in Mexico STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: minute-and-half-film-baby-sea-turtles-released-in-mexico DATE: 07/11/2009 09:50:46 AM ----- BODY:

SeaTurtlesHere's something that will help you smile. A Malibu (CA) based turtle rescue organization has instituted World Turtle Day -- (It was May 23, 2009). American Tortoise Rescue, has found homes for more than 3,000 turtles and tortoises since its inception in 1990. Part of the 2009 celebration was a baby turtle release in Mexico.

Learn more and watch the video. (via the LA Times)
 
 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Green Energy Job Creation: Return On Investment Facts STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: in-a-detailed-assessment-of-how-many-actual-jobs-are-created-for-every-1-million-invested-in-the-energy-sector-alt-energy-s DATE: 07/10/2009 09:40:23 PM ----- BODY:

Clean_energy_markup_onpage In a detailed assessment of how many actual jobs are created for every $1 million invested in the energy sector Alt Energy Stocks has reviewed the data. Bottom line -- green energy 16.7 new jobs to fossil fuel 5.5 jobs. That is three times better return on investment,

Tom Konrad for AltEnergyStocks.com reports:

"The best national report I read was Green Prosperity, which was sponsored by Green for All and NRDC, and written by the economists Robert Pollin, Jeanette Wicks-Lim, and Heidi Garrett-Peltier at thePolitical Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (PERI). This report used data from the US Commerce Department Input-Output tables and IMPLAN to look at the potential for job creation from each $1M of spending in various industries, some of which is presented below in table 3 from the report:"

Jobs created per $1million in investment:

Weatherization --17.1 Transit/Rail --20.8 Smart Grid --13.3 Wind --13.8 Solar --14.1 Biomass ---15.5

Av.------------------    16.7

____________________
Fossil Fuel ------------5.3

See full article

 


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: New Retrofit Kit To Make Your Car Into A Hybrid STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-retrofit-kit-to-make-your-car-into-a-hybrid DATE: 07/10/2009 08:51:22 PM ----- BODY:

Hybrid400 A former IBM engineer has designed a kit that can transform existing automobiles into hybrids. The kit would place an electric motor inside each wheel so that a majority of drivers would get double the fuel mileage.

EETimes.Eu.Uk and R. Colin Johnson (Automotive DesignLine) reports:

"Charles Perry ... recently received first prize for his invention at a green energy competition at the Tennessee Technology Development Corp. The patent pending Plug-in Hybrid Retrofit Kit will be developed into a commercial product by Palmer Labs LLC (Reston, Va.).

According to Perry, 80 percent of U.S. drivers make daily trips of less than 30 miles at 40 miles per hour or slower, all of which could be powered by his 10-15 horsepower electric motors to save as much as 120 million gallons of fuel per day in the U.S. alone, he claimed. The motors would be powered by extra batteries installed in the automobile's trunk. Perry said the kit will cost between $3,000 to $5,000." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- PING: TITLE: New Kit Enables Any Car To Go Hybrid URL: http://keetsa.com/blog/eco-friendly/new-kit-enables-any-car-to-go-hybrid/ IP: 71.6.152.48 BLOG NAME: Keetsa Mattress Store - Keetsa! Blog - Eco-Friendly and Green News DATE: 07/10/2009 10:16:30 PM How would you like to save an additional X amount of gallons of gas per month? Well with a new hybrid kit created by an IBM engineer, you might be able to. The creator of the kit claims any car can be converted to a hybrid, and thus saving the US 120 ... ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Video: NWF Scientist Connects the Dots Between Global Warming, Flooding STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-nwf-scientist-connects-the-dots-between-global-warming-flooding CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/10/2009 01:32:28 PM ----- BODY: ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: climate environment flooding science ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Young Eagle Sees Dog As Prey STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: young-eagle-sees-dog-as-prey- DATE: 07/10/2009 01:32:02 PM ----- BODY:

Dog eagle A Jack Russell Terrier recently had a run-in with a young bald eagle and, it seems, got the worst of the encounter.

HometownAnnapolis.com reports:

Trubee and Jurchison (dog's owners) suspect the eaglet spotted Moby as a potential meal and tried to fly off with him. They reason that Moby, who is mostly white, was a visible target against the green grass. Perhaps the eaglet didn't realize just how heavy the dog was. 'Who would have thought a raptor would swoop down and try to take your dog?' Trubee said. Moby suffered puncture wounds all over his body, which are now healing with the help of an antibiotic and painkillers from the veterinarian.

Read the full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Roofs That Make Electric Power STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: roofs-that-make-electric-power DATE: 07/09/2009 08:57:32 PM ----- BODY:

Solar_shingles_on_roof Roof tops are a huge potential source of power and using solar roof "shingles" show great promise.

The Energy Harvesting Journal Reports:

A transparent thin film barrier used to protect flat panel TVs from moisture could become the basis for flexible solar panels that would be installed on roofs like shingles. The flexible rooftop solar panels - called building-integrated photovoltaics, or BIPVs - could replace today's boxy solar panels that are made with rigid glass or silicon and mounted on thick metal frames. The flexible solar shingles would be less expensive to install than current panels and made to last 25 years.

'There's a lot of wasted space on rooftops that could actually be used to generate power,' said Mark Gross, a senior scientist at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 'Flexible solar panels could easily become integrated into the architecture of commercial buildings and homes. Solar panels have had limited success because they've been difficult and expensive to install.'

See full article.

Photo by Pam Owen, RLEP.org

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: How About A Car That Runs On Air? Really! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: how-about-a-car-that-runs-on-air-really DATE: 07/09/2009 08:43:21 PM ----- BODY:

Aircar-mdi-fd-340 A car is due out in 2010 that runs on compressed air and can be "refueled" in a few minutes. It goes 50 mph and can cover 90 to 125 mileson a charge. Later models will be able to go 80 mph.

Nick Kurczewski for Edmunds Inside Line reports:

"The heart of the 2010 MDI AIRPod is a piston engine that has been specially adapted by MDI to run on compressed air. The expansion of the compressed air within the cylinders moves the pistons. The engine is 'fueled' by a system of high-pressure air tanks. Built by EADS, an aerospace firm, the tanks are constructed of lightweight carbon-fiber. Though the tanks are presently limited to a capacity of 80 liters (21.1 gallons) at 200 bars of pressure (2,900 psi), MDI plans an increase to 200 liters (53 gallons) and 300 bars of pressure (4,400 psi, which is actually substantially less than the 10,000-psi rating of hydrogen tanks used in fuel-cell vehicles) for the first production models of the AIRPod, set to be built by the end of this year." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: What are Baby Raccoons Called...Besides Cute? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: what-are-baby-raccoons-calledbesides-cute DATE: 07/09/2009 07:52:22 PM ----- BODY:

Last week, work stopped for a good half hour at the National Wildlife Federation's headquarters in Reston, VA when a mother raccoon and four babies were spotted climbing precariously around a giant tree snag outside our office window. (See video here.)

Today, we caught them for a sequel. Check out these cute "kits" snuggled up with their mother in the crook of the tree.


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: http://profile.typepad.com/thegreenmiles DATE: 07/10/2009 12:20:46 PM I need to look for these guys next time I'm out in Reston! I'm surprised they haven't started harassing the lunch crowd for handouts. ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Amazing Wildlife Photos and the True Stories Behind Them STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: since-1970-national-wildlife-magazines-annual-photo-contest-has-attracted-wildlife-and-nature-enthusiasts-from-around-the-w CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 07/09/2009 02:22:38 PM ----- BODY:

Bobcat Photo by Deb DochertySince 1970, National Wildlife® magazine's annual Photo Contest has attracted wildlife and nature enthusiasts from around the world to share their work and compete with other amateur and professional photographers.

We can't say enough about the unbelievably inspiring and beautiful photos--and can't wait to judge the 2009 contest, which comes to a close July 20th (11 DAYS!).

We recently read through some of the great stories that were submitted with the photos, and noticed some fun trends.

10 Lessons Learned About Wildlife and Nature Photography from the National Wildlife Photo Contest:

  1. Family members both help and hinder in the creative process.

  2. Photographers love the thrill of the perfect moment and rare sights.

  3. Photography can be a long-term commitment.

  4. Photographers push themselves physically.

  5. Photography teaches about nature.

  6. Animals sometimes respond to photographers.

  7. Photographers make us want to travel to amazing places.

  8. Photography is not always glamorous.

  9. Photography can be therapeutic.

  10. Photography can be poetic and moving.

Read some of the stories we dug up, as well as the photos that inspired them...

Think you have a photo and story to match? Enter the 2009 Photo Contest by July 20, 2009!

Cash prizes total $25,000. You can submit up to 20 images in seven categories in professional, amateur and youth divisions. Winning images will be published online in NWF's PhotoZone and a selection of the winners will also be published in the December 2009 issue of National Wildlife® magazine.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Update on ACES STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: update-on-aces CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 07/09/2009 01:54:00 PM ----- BODY:

There's news today that the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee is pushing its timetable back a bit on the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act. I checked in with Joe Mendelson, the National Wildlife Federation's director of global warming policy, to get an overview of where ACES stands now:


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy environment politics Congress ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New NWF Report: Global Warming Increasing Heavy Storms, Floods STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-nwf-report-global-warming-increasing-heavy-storms-floods CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/09/2009 01:13:31 PM ----- BODY: Flood

A new National Wildlife Federation report (PDF) warns America is seeing more heavy storms and major floods -- and the situation could get far worse if we don't act now on global warming:

“Global warming is partly to blame for these heavy rainfall events,” said Dr. Amanda Staudt, climate scientist, National Wildlife Federation. “Warmer air simply can hold more moisture, so heavier precipitation is expected in the years to come.” [...]

“Now is the time to confront the realities of global warming, including the increasing frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events across the country,” said Dr. Staudt. “We must aggressively move toward a cleaner energy future and reduce global warming pollution, thereby ensuring that we avoid the worst impacts.”

That's why it's so critical for the Senate to follow the House's lead and pass comprehensive clean energy & climate legislation this year. Stay tuned for more details on how you can help make it happen!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: environment climate science ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: (Second) Smallest salamander in U.S. discovered STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: second-smallest-salamander-in-us-discovered DATE: 07/08/2009 11:08:34 PM ----- BODY:

Smallestsala A new and tiny species of amphibian has been discovered in Georgia.

Physorg.com reports:

The newly discovered salamander, which is the second-smallest salamander species in the U.S. and one of the smallest in the world at just two inches long, is now under study by a diverse group of researchers from several U.S. colleges. The team is searching for more of the salamanders, which are detailed in a new paper appearing in the .

   See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Prison Inmates Raise Endangered Frogs With Greater Success Than Experts! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: prison-inmates-raise-endangered-frogs-with-greater-success-than-experts DATE: 07/08/2009 08:33:45 PM ----- BODY:

Cedar creek correctional Two prison inmates in Washington State have discovered they have an extraordinary knack for endangered species TLC. Photo: Mike Siegel, S. Times.

Jennifer Sullivan from the Seattle Times reports:

Since spring, Greer and fellow inmate Albert Delp have spent the bulk of their days inside a small fenced-off area at the Cedar Creek Corrections Center fussing over — and fattening — several dozen frogs. The two men are part of a project to bolster the dwindling population of the Oregon spotted frog, an animal once widespread in the Puget Sound area. The effort focuses on raising the frogs until they get big enough to no longer be a snack for natural predators. 'They would like to re-establish them back at Fort Lewis and I'm part of the project,' said Greer, who is serving time for robbery. With guidance from a senior researcher from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and staff from nearby Evergreen State College, the two men started with 80 Oregon spotted frog eggs in early April. As the eggs grew into tadpoles then into frogs, the two men have been responsible for the frequent feedings and tank-water changes. The whole time they have taken detailed notes for state researchers. See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Elephant Seals Use Robotics To Help Monitor Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: elephant-seals-use-robotics-to-help-monitor-global-warming- DATE: 07/08/2009 07:42:23 PM ----- BODY:

Bull_elephant They say that creatures often sense things happening to the environment before people. Here Elephant Seals are assisted by robotics -- yup -- ROBOTICS!

CNN Technology Reports:

"Elephant seals equipped with electronic tags and robotic mini submarines using sonar were just two projects during the International Polar Year (IPY) that aimed to investigate the effects of global warming in polar regions.

The fourth IPY, which began in March 2007 and actually covered two full years, ended last month, after 160 scientific projects were undertaken by researchers from over 60 countries. A joint project by the International Council for Science (ICSW) and World Meteorological Organization. (WMO), the IPY hoped to spearhead efforts to better monitor and understand the Arctic and Antarctic regions." See full article

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Helping Paper Mills Get on the Right Track STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: helping-paper-mills-get-on-the-right-track CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 07/08/2009 04:13:23 PM ----- BODY:

Recycle Here at NWF, we're all pretty into recycling.You should see the recycling center at our headquarters-- it's a floor to ceiling distribution center, where you can recycle everything from egg cartons to batteries.  

Last week I learned a rather alarming fact.  Many of America's paper and pulp mills are finding ways to get around adopting environmentally conscious practices-- and due to a loophole in the in US tax code, they're even getting paid to do it!

Here's what's going on.  We give companies that use alternative fuels a tax credit to encourage them to do the right thing. Many paper companies burn a substance called black liquor. It's a waste product that comes from trees, so in a way it's a fuel that paper companies recycle. Or if you prefer--think about it as paper companies using every part of the tree to ensure not a single part of it goes to waste. Either way, it's just fine that the government is rewarding these companies with a tax credit, rewarding them for trying. They're not doing as well as recycled paper companies, who tend not to cut down trees at all. But they're trying.

Speak up for America's Trees Except... Some of these companies have found a way to pollute and still get the credit. They've been adding diesel fuel to their black liquor and calling it alternative. Learning that made me so irritated. We're all trying so hard to make a difference... Why can't paper and pulp companies try too? 

The Senate Finance Committee is also a little irked. That's why they're trying to close up the tax loophole and push paper companies towards actually committing to real clean energy solutions (like producing recycled paper). 

So if I've managed to get you feeling a little irked about this too, please send a comment into the Senate Finance Committee before this Friday, July 10.

They're accepting public comments as they decide what to do, and you can bet they'll be hearing from a lot of industry lobbyists. Make sure they hear from you too. I can forgive and move on, but let's make it easier for paper and pulp mills to do the right thing. 

It's going to take efforts from all of us to build our clean energy future.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Why Are Tricolored Herons in Nantucket? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: why-are-tricolored-herons-in-nantucket DATE: 07/08/2009 04:02:31 PM ----- BODY:

Tricolored_heron Since the 1940s, Tricolored (fromerly Louisiana) Herons, a bird of the South, have been seen rarely in the Natucket Massachusetts area but now they are nesting there.  Some say it is a warming climate at work. 

Kenneth Turner Blackshaw from the Natucket Independent reports:

"Humans may argue whether the climate is changing, but the birds figured it out years ago. I never looked for this week's bird in the 50s. It didn't make the pages of "The Birds of Nantucket" by Griscom and Folger. Besides, it carried the name Louisiana Heron back then, so why would it ever find its way to Massachusetts? The answer is that when you can just fly, at the drop of a hat so to speak, you can just show up where no one expects you.

Tricolored Herons are anything but endangered, within their normal range that is. At this time Nantucket is at the northern extreme. Herons wander widely after their nesting is completed and perhaps they are cataloging places where they might like to live next year.  It looks right now that our warming trend is just beginning. So if it's just the ambient temperatures that caused these delicate and fascinating herons to be with us, perhaps we'll see more of them.".  See full article.


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Wind Turbines Installed In Existing Power Line Towers STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wind-turbines-installed-in-existing-power-line-towers DATE: 07/08/2009 08:35:14 AM ----- BODY:

Wind-it_L_HD_450 There are tens of thousands of miles of transmission lines in the U.S. supported by towers that could be fitted with wind turbines. Some wind energy designers are offering an approach they call the Wind-it Project. It might also reduce possible adverse effects on birds.

Alternative Energy News.info reports:


"Wind-it project offers to answer many challenges we face while setting up wind farms in an area. One of the greatest challenges to the expansion of wind power: where to site wind turbines. Choppin, Delon and Menard’s design uses the existing infrastructure. They suggest the use of already existing towers and pylons that dot the more than 157,000 miles of high voltage power lines in the U.S. They ask us to install the wind turbines within already sited structures." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: New Report: Imperiled Species of the World -- The Red List STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-report-imperiled-species-on-the-world-the-red-list DATE: 07/07/2009 11:00:34 PM ----- BODY:

Parrots The International Union for Conservation of Nature recently issued its Red List report -- assessing the status of species in the global enivrioment.  The news is

The New York Times and Nathanial Gronewold of Greenwire report:

"In its latest four-year assessment of endangered species, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has added several new entries to the Red List of Threatened Species. Judging from the list's expansion, the report warns, the world is unlikely to meet a goal of reversing a trend toward species depletion by 2010.  The report, 'Wildlife in a Changing World,' estimates that 22 percent of known mammals are either facing the threat of extinction or are already extinct. It also found great stress for amphibians, with more than 30 percent classified as threatened or extinct.

'We now know that nearly one quarter of the world's mammals, nearly one third of amphibians and more than 1 in 8 of all bird species are at risk of extinction," IUCN warns. "This allows us to come to the stark conclusion that wildlife ... is in trouble."'  See full article

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Mysterious Three-foot Earthworm Up for Protection STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: mysterious-threefoot-earthworm-up-for-protection DATE: 07/07/2009 09:44:39 PM ----- BODY:

Palouse earthwrom The Giant Palouse Earthworm lives in the deep soils of the Palouse region or Idaho and Washington and has been seen only a few times over the course of a century. (Photo University of Idaho and AP archives)

The Star Telegram.com reports:

"Fans of the giant Palouse earthworm are again seeking federal protection for the rare, sweet-smelling species that spits at predators. Sightings of the worm have been reported only four times in 110 years, but supporters contend that it is still present in the Palouse, a region of about 2 million acres of rolling wheat fields near the Idaho-Washington border south of Spokane. Decades of intense agriculture and urban sprawl have wiped out much of the worm’s habitat, said Steve Paulson with Friends of the Clearwater. Only about 2 percent of the Palouse prairie remains in a native state, he said. The worm can reach 3 feet long, is white and reportedly possesses a unique lily smell, said Greenwald, who is based in Portland, Ore. It is the largest and longest-lived earthworm in North America." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: White Whale Gets Its Own Protection Zone STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: white-whale-gets-its-own-protection-zone DATE: 07/07/2009 09:31:00 PM ----- BODY:

White humpback A unique white humpbacked whale near Australia is getting some special privileges. Photo by: D. Burns.

Wire News Services reports:

"Australian authorities have warned the public to stay away from a rare white humpback whale named Migaloo that has made an appearance off the east coast. Officials in Queensland state have declared Migaloo a "special-interest whale" and banned anyone from coming within 500 metres of him. Anyone coming too close by boat, jet ski or aircraft will face a fine of ... (£8,000)."   See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Thousands Year-Old Process Could Help Defeat Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: thousands-yearold-process-could-help-defeat-global-warming DATE: 07/07/2009 08:44:14 PM ----- BODY:

Biochar Welsh scientists are looking at the ancient practices of Amazonian Indians who developed a process some 6,000 years ago that could help to trap carbon dioxide and lower greenhouse gas levels. Photo: International Biochar Inititiative.

Robin Turner, from the Western Mail reports:

 

"A process invented thousands of years ago by Amazonian Indians could play a key role in defeating global warming, experts in Wales claim today. The scientists from Swansea University have established a research group to develop the little-known but potentially planet-saving product Biochar. Itis is made when vegetable waste is burned in the absence of oxygen, a process called pyrolysis.The substance was first discovered in the Amazon where Indians used it to fertilise the rainforest’s nutrient-poor soil, between 2,500 and 6,000 years ago. It is an extremely good fertiliser, because it contains high levels of nutrients vital for plant growth, like nitrogen, phosphate, and calcium. It is also highly porous, which helps soil retain water, and provides a solid environment for various microbes that are beneficial for plant growth. Plus it locks carbon dioxide away, possibly for thousands of years." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: U.S. Government Maps Best Solar Regions STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: us-government-maps-best-solar-regions DATE: 07/07/2009 03:10:30 PM ----- BODY:

BLM_Solar_Energy_Study_Areas_Arizona_ The need for alternative energy could redefine the American landscape including how it is mapped and ultimately managed.

CNet News: GreenTech reports:

"The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, in conjunction with the Department of Energy, this week released six maps that could help determine the location of the next big push in solar energy.The BLM maps cover areas within the six U.S. states most suitable for solar energy generation and transmission as judged by the U.S. government: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.

"Only lands with excellent solar resources, suitable slope, proximity to roads and transmission lines or designated corridors, and containing at least 2,000 acres of BLM-administered public lands were considered for solar energy study areas. Sensitive lands, wilderness and other high-conservation-value lands as well as lands with conflicting uses were excluded," according to a BLM statement released with the maps." See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Dramatic Trout Rescue in New Mexico STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: dramatic-trout-rescue-in-new-mexico DATE: 07/07/2009 03:00:32 PM ----- BODY:

GILA%20TROUT This time when horsmen came to the rescue, it was to relocate trout.

Associated Press reports:


"As a lightning-sparked fire charred thousands of acres in southwestern New Mexico, biologists and firefighters used helicopters and trucks for an unusual evacuation. They captured 250 Gila trout — a threatened species — from a creek in southwestern New Mexico and are moving them to a hatchery in the opposite corner of the state. Biologists rode to the creek on horseback, then used electroshocking devices to temporarily stun the trout so they could quickly scoop them into a net. See full article. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: First Study of Rare Egg-Laying Mammal STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: first-study-of-rare-egglaying-mammal DATE: 07/07/2009 02:52:04 PM ----- BODY:

Echidna_450x350 An elusive nocturnal mammal has finally been studied.


Science Daily reports:

A Wildlife Conservation Society research intern working in the wilds of Papua New Guinea has successfully completed what many other field biologists considered "mission impossible"—the first study of a rare egg-laying mammal called the long-beaked echidna.


The long-beaked echidna is found only in New Guinea and is a member of the monotremes, a primitive order of mammals that forced zoologists to change their very definitions of what a mammal is. Unlike all other mammals, monotremes like the echidna (also called the spiny anteater) and the better known platypus lay eggs.

See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Larry Thorngren EMAIL: thorngrenlb@yahoo.com IP: 75.216.231.177 URL: http://www.larrythorngren.com DATE: 07/08/2009 02:59:21 PM Isn't it possible to study animals without putting radio transmitters on them? Every wildlife study I read about seems to involve handling and equipping some poor animal with intrusive tracking devices. Do these folks read about bird flu, swine flu and all of the other diseases that human can tramsmit to animals? Leave them alone. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Betty EMAIL: dzone_db@yahoo.com IP: 174.34.161.42 URL: http://adoptpet.info DATE: 08/29/2009 09:19:38 AM I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often. Betty http://adoptpet.info ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Efforts to Save the Rare Pallid Sturgeon STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: efforts-to-save-the-rare-pallid-sturgeon DATE: 07/07/2009 01:46:39 PM ----- BODY:

Pallidsturgeonrelease2A large white and very ancient fish lives in the waters of the Missouri River basin but it is becoming more rare.

The Constitution Tribune reports:

Pallid sturgeon, which are distinctively almost snow white and Federally “endangered”, and lake sturgeon are the only two species of larger fish (the rest are minnows, darters and cavefish) that are classified as endangered under Missouri Wildlife Code 10-4.111 and anglers are not allowed to possess them. Anyone catching a pallid sturgeon is required to immediately release it.

The Missouri River Recovery Team project, a cooperative effort involving MDC and their Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa counterparts plus the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Geological Survey, involves capturing pallid sturgeon in several locations in the Missouri River, one of the few rivers still containing any of this rare species.

See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: New Study: Shrinking Sea Ice Shrinks Polar Bear Population STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-study-shrinking-sea-ice-shrinks-polar-bear-population DATE: 07/07/2009 01:32:35 PM ----- BODY: Polarbear

A new study calls on Canada to re-examine its policies toward polar bear protection. (Photo: www.polarbearsalive.org/gallery.htm)

Bob Weber of the Canadian Press reports:

A major international report says the increasingly rapid loss of Arctic sea ice is already taking a toll on polar bears and Canada should reconsider its decision not to include the mighty predators on its list of endangered species.

The Polar Bear Specialist Group, which met over the weekend in Copenhagen, Denmark, has concluded that the overall condition of the world's 19 polar bear populations is deteriorating. The group is part of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, one of the world's largest environmental science networks.

See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kevin Coyle TITLE: Experts: Coral Reefs Need Relief From Climate Change STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: experts-coral-reefs-need-relief-from-climate-change- DATE: 07/06/2009 09:11:00 PM ----- BODY:

Coral Could Coral Reefs become a thing of the past within our life time?  A group of wildlife experts seems to think so. David Derbyshire for the Mail Online reports:

Children born today could be the last generation to enjoy swimming among stunning coral reefs, marine scientists have said. A meeting of leading wildlife experts - led by Sir David Attenborough - today warned that tropical reefs face 'imminent destruction' unless the world cuts the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  They say concentrations of CO2 have already gone beyond the tipping point for reefs - and need to return to the levels of the 1970s. Marine biologists say this does not just mean cutting greenhouse gas emissions - but finding a way to strip existing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

See full article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Chestnuts to Stop Planet from Roasting? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: chesnuts-to-stop-planet-from-roasting CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/06/2009 11:39:24 AM ----- BODY:

Chestnut

A revitalized American chestnut tree could be a factor in slowing global warming, according to a new study. But there's a big "if":

If scientists can develop a fungus-resistant version of the tree, the chestnut could play a key role in the battle against climate change, Purdue University scientists say.

"Maintaining or increasing forest cover has been identified as an important way to slow climate change," said Douglass Jacobs, whose chestnut tree study appears in the June issue of Forest Ecology and Management.

In a study conducted at four sites in southwestern Wisconsin, the American chestnut grew much faster and larger than the black walnut and northern red oak, allowing it to soak up more carbon dioxide, the study found. The tree's higher carbon capacity makes it an ideal candidate for forest restoration projects and carbon offset schemes, particularly on marginal farmland in the Midwest.

As Scientific American points out, the American Clean Energy and Security Act that passed the House recently would promote investment in reforestation projects to offset carbon emissions.

Photo via Flickr's *amalthea*

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: trees climate environment ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tammie Umbel EMAIL: sheacompany@msn.com IP: 166.217.223.46 URL: http://www.sheaterraorganics.com DATE: 07/07/2009 04:00:32 PM Thank you for this information. I have over 500 trees on my ten acre property. No, we don't leave on wooded land. This is old farm land that is now brimming with wildlife- and yes, it is much cooler here. Tammie Umbel, CEO Shea Terra Organics www.sheaterraorganics.com ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: low cost insurance rates EMAIL: emrducks@att.net IP: 65.69.234.205 URL: http://www.lowcostaffordableinsurance.com DATE: 08/09/2009 09:36:45 PM A fungus free version would be great for my land. I will monitor this. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Great News for Colorado Lynx STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: great-news-for-colorado-lynx CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 07/03/2009 09:26:12 AM ----- BODY:

This just in from Colorado:

The discovery of 10 lynx kittens this spring marks the first newborns documented in Colorado since 2006, heartening biologists overseeing restoration of the mountain feline.

The tuft-eared cats with big, padded feet were native to Colorado, but were wiped out by the early 1970s by logging, trapping, poisoning and development. They are listed as threatened on the endangered species list.

You have to -- have to -- go look at the picture of the lynx kitten. Right now. It might be the best part of your day.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: wildlife lynx Colorado ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Perriello: ACES Won on "New Politics" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: perriello-aces-won-on-new-politics CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 07/02/2009 10:03:55 AM ----- BODY:

In today's column, E.J. Dionne Jr. has an interesting take on the U.S. House's recent passage of the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act:

Accounts of the battle typically focus on how many industry giveaways were added to the bill to get it passed, how much it had to be weakened to round up the necessary votes and how much pressure House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Obama brought to win a 219-to-212 majority.

All of that is true, but it misses another dimension of the fight: A number of relatively young, politically vulnerable House members who had campaigned on promises to cleanse the environment decided that this vote was a risk worth taking. "A bill created by the old politics," says [Virginia Rep. Tom] Perriello, "was passed by the new politics."

Did your member of Congress support ACES? You can find out here.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: climate politics energy environment ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Baby Raccoons In NWF's Backyard STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: this-morning-at-nwfs-headquarters-in-virginia-a-raccoon-mom-and-her-two-babies-were-spotted-in-the-enormous-dead-standing-tr DATE: 07/01/2009 10:58:28 AM ----- BODY:

This morning at NWF's headquarters in Virginia, a raccoon mom and her two babies were spotted in the enormous dead standing tree (called a snag) on the edge of the woods behind our building.

The snag used to be a living white oak tree, an important species because of its high habitat value to wildlife.  Judging by its size, I'd guess this oak was several hundred years old at least.  Sadly, it was strangled to death by an invasive exotic vine that is still commonly planted in gardens: Chinese wisteria.

I remember the day several years ago when we finally had to end the last bit of life in the oak by chopping off its mostly-dead limbs, which were becoming a hazard to our building and to anyone walking on the trail beneath the tree.  We decided to leave the trunk standing in the hopes that wildlife would use it.

Seeing the raccoon family this morning using the snag as a place of shelter was a wonderful reminder that in nature, nothing ever truly dies, it's just transformed into a new form of life!

Check out the video of the raccoon family below, and let us know what wildlife you've seen.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Betsy S. Franz EMAIL: backyarder1@earthlink.net IP: 72.40.152.178 URL: http://thenaturelady.blogspot.com/ DATE: 07/01/2009 07:38:58 PM Why not be one of the firsts to add a comment to my blog post about the joys of being a nature nerd. Or better yet, blog about my post on YOUR very well read blog. Let's pull the nature nerds out of the woodwork! http://thenaturelady.blogspot.com/2009/07/you-may-already-be-nature-nerd.html Betsy S. Franz http://www.naturesdetails.net ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tammie Umbel EMAIL: sheacompany@msn.com IP: 32.178.208.103 URL: http://www.sheaterraorganics.com DATE: 07/07/2009 04:15:09 PM From one nature nerd to another, this is very cute. Tammie Umbel, CEO Shea Terra Organics www.sheaterraorganics.com ----- PING: TITLE: Baby RaccoonVid URL: http://wildtracks.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/baby-raccoon-vid/ IP: 66.135.48.206 BLOG NAME: Wild Tracks Blog DATE: 07/01/2009 12:49:33 PM I have a soft spot for raccoons. Theyre smart, tenacious, fluffy and cute. This attitude is no doubt helped by the fact they are not native to Alberta, and I dont have any digging through my garbage.  All indications are though, that they... ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jessica Jones TITLE: Wild Tweets: Using Twitter to Monitor Wildlife STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wild-tweets-using-twitter-to-monitor-wildlife CATEGORY: Environmental Education CATEGORY: Science CATEGORY: Web/Tech CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 06/30/2009 03:15:00 PM ----- BODY:

Since joining Twitter and making connections in the “green” Twitter world, I have heard a lot of people wondering whether the environmental community can focus all of Twitter’s positive energy towards a greater purpose.

Can we get people who tweet to use their voice to help nature and inspire others to do the same?

Many groups have started experimenting with Twitter, including holding fund-raising drives, marketing and just recently, NWF held a "Twestoration" where volunteers tweeted about their environmental restoration projects.

Roxanne's_Photos_004 NWF’s Wildlife Watch is hoping that the Twitter community will use their 140 characters to help monitor wildlife.

Wildlife Watch is a citizen monitoring program where the public reports animal, plants and natural phenomena sightings online to NWF.

Most of the data is collected on the Wildlife Watch website at www.nwf.org/watch. However, the program has now opened up to include the Twitter community.

Anyone on Twitter can participate and report cool wildlife sightings. 

You don’t even have to know what you see! Simply tell us about your experiences with interesting wildflowers, amphibians, birds, and mammals. All wildlife tweets are important, because they can be used to inspire others through environmental education.

Just getting excited about nature can have a huge impact on a child and teach them something new. We want to hear it all!

Twitter-bird “A ruby-throated hummingbird visited my balcony garden today! It was so beautiful with the metallic colors and fast wing beats! #nwf”

"Went for a hike yesterday at a Maryland park.  Spotted a toad, doves, red salamanders, and a kingfisher.  Can't wait to go back. #nwf"

How to Wildlife Watch through Twitter
All you have to do is write your Twitter status update about a nature sighting and finish it with #nwf.

The hashtag #nwf marks your tweet as Wildlife Watch data and sends it directly to NWF’s website.  If you follow Wildlife Watch online at http://www.twitter.com/wildlife_watch then you can stay updated on the latest news and even ask questions. Check out the Wildlife Watch Twitter stream.


Also feel free to follow @NWF Staff on Twitter!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jacqueline StJohn EMAIL: jrs118@centurytel.net IP: 207.118.212.73 URL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40001806@N03/3683382575/ DATE: 07/03/2009 10:43:55 AM Here's a link to a yearling bear. One of 3 cubs born last year. The cub is underweight. We have lost most of the oak trees and they used to rely on an abundance of acorns. Takes 50 years for an oad tree to produce acorns. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jacqueline StJohn EMAIL: jrs118@centurytel.net IP: 207.118.212.73 URL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40001806@N03/3684085100/in/set-72157620886367662/ DATE: 07/03/2009 10:45:49 AM Here's another addition to the link just posted.the Baby Bear foraging. This is Boulder Junction WI. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Obama Unveils New Efficiency Rules STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: obama-unveils-new-efficiency-rules CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/30/2009 10:50:33 AM ----- BODY: Bulbs

As Grist’s Kate Sheppard remembers, then-Sen. Barack Obama once pointed out that we won’t stop global warming through voluntary, individual actions -- like changing light bulbs. It will take mandatory, collective action -- like the new efficiency standards President Obama announced yesterday:

The president estimated that the new lighting standards would cut 594 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions between 2012 and 2042 and save American energy users $1 billion to $4 billion each year over that period—conserving enough energy to eliminate the need for as many as 14 new coal-fired power plants.

Obama also announced that the Department of Energy has outlined tougher efficiency standards for household appliances, responding to a request from the White House in February to speed up the delivery of new rules, and he noted major federal investments in energy efficiency for buildings.

“One of the fastest, easiest, and cheapest ways to make our economy stronger and cleaner is to make our economy more energy efficient,” said Obama. “By bringing more energy-efficient technologies to American homes and businesses, we won’t just significantly reduce our energy demand; we’ll put more money back in the pockets of hardworking Americans.”

After the big win in the House last week on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, it's great to see President Obama is staying focused on energy!

Photo via Flickr's KrisMicheal

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Craig TuftsThe National Wildlife Federation this week is mourning the loss of our chief naturalist, Craig Tufts, who passed away June 21 at the age of 62.

It is hard to find the words to express how much Craig's presence will be deeply missed around NWF's headquarters and throughout the NWF family. Craig embodied the very essence of the National Wildlife Federation, connecting countless people with nature and inspiring the creation and protection of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat in backyards and communities across the country.

During his nearly 33-year career with NWF, he helped lead the development and expansion of the Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program, authored The Backyard Naturalist and (with Peter Loewer) The National Wildlife Federation's Guide to Gardening for Wildlife, and also led nature and gardening courses at 25 NWF Summits, to name just a few of his accomplishments. Craig was the person we went to with any questions about plants, insects, birds or other wildlife species we wanted to identify or know something about. His love for nature inspired so many, and his patience and general desire to teach people about wildlife was beautiful.

Craig made learning about wildlife fun. He could turn what seemed like the most trivial leaf into an incredibly interesting and complicated subject. He inspired people to look at the world around them with new eyes and notice how intricate and meaningful nature is, whether it is the most basic leaf or rarest bird.

In honor of Craig and his family's wishes, the National Wildlife Federation has established the Craig Tufts Volunteer Education Fund to recognize individuals who share his passion for understanding, appreciating and connecting others with the natural world. Learn more...

Remembering Craig...

Below is a collection of memories and personal thoughts from a few of the many members of NWF's staff and volunteer corps who were touched by Craig. We would like to invite all other staff, volunteers, and anyone else who knew Craig to share a story, memory or thought by posting a comment at the end of this blog.

Ellen Lambeth, Executive Editor, Ranger Rick
Who was Craig Tufts? He was certainly a man of many graces and abilities. But the one thing that stands out for me is that he was the person you sought when you had a nature question--ANY nature question. The reason you'd go to Craig is that you knew he'd be the one with an answer. (If, by some strange twist, Craig might actually NOT know the answer to your question off the top of his head, he would carry you along with him in the search for it.) And it was always evident how clearly happy he was to give you the answer, no matter how simple the question might have seemed to him or how many times he might have answered it before. Then he'd tell you something else fun or fascinating about the subject of the question. And he would make it all seem so new and fresh and alive that you'd want to find out even MORE about it. You never felt that any question was too trivial or too dumb, because EVERYthing in the natural world--the commonplace as well as the rare--simply amazed Craig.

The problem is that I have so many more nature questions to ask Craig--a never-ending supply, since something in the natural world piques my curiosity every single day--but can no longer take the easy path by just asking Craig. Now I must find my own way to follow his lead. Strangely, I feel both emboldened and daunted by the task--emboldened because this is the legacy Craig leaves to all of us and daunted because few of us could ever measure up to his capacity and thirst for knowledge.

It almost seems too glib to say simply that I will miss Craig--but I simply will.


Greg Oskay, Volunteer
Even though I only met Craig once, I thought of him often.  Back in the '90s he visited Indianapolis and toured my backyard habitat.  I pointed out a Catalpa sapling that came up voluntarily in the yard.  I said that I was going to let it grow until it started to compete with the surrounding trees and then cut it for firewood since in my opinion it did not have any wildlife value.  He told me about how it would get Catalpa Worms on it (larval stage of Catalpa Sphinx Moth) and birds loved to eat them.  As a result, the tree got a reprieve.  It is now over 20 inches in diameter and about 60 feet tall.  Often, when I see that tree, it brings back memories of Craig's visit.  Craig will certainly be missed by Backyard Habitat enthusiasts all across this country.


Laura Hickey,
Senior Director, Eco-Schools USA and Global Warming Education
The Backyard NaturalistI started at NWF in 1986. One of my jobs was to work with NWF staff to coordinate the publishing of three books per year. One of these was The Backyard Naturalist by Craig, which was published in 1988. At that time, my husband and I had just bought our first home and we were novice gardeners at best. I took my complimentary copy of The Backyard Naturalist home with me, and it transformed the way that I viewed and cared for my garden. Before that book, I just liked my garden and sometimes resented the time it took to care for it; after reading Craig's book, I loved my garden and could see the potential that it had for being an oasis for wildlife, my husband and me.

Late last summer, I was lucky enough to be able to give Craig a ride home after his wife Jean had dropped him off for a noon nature walk that he led every other week at NWF's headquarters in Reston. I valued that one-on-one time with him greatly. When we got to his house, we took a walk around his garden, and I marveled aloud at all the different things growing, some of which I had never seen before. Craig promptly went into the house, got a little seed collection envelope, filled it with seeds and wrote the Latin and English names of the species, telling me when to plant it. Always giving, of his time, his knowledge, and his heart. I will miss my dear friend greatly, but always be grateful for the friendship we shared these past 23 years.


Cindy Wiles, Volunteer
This is indeed sad news, my thoughts and prayers go out to all of you at NWF and to his family. I remember how helpful he was when I became a habitat steward so many years ago. He was a role model and an inspiration to all of us.

I'm currently working as a docent at the live butterfly pavilion at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History as a direct result of my habitat steward training and continuing commitments to volunteer on behalf of NWF. It's a really great experience, and I look forward to coming over to your offices one of these days to tell you more about it.

I want you to know that I frequently think of how significant the NWF's Backyard Habitat program has been in my life, and I thank you.


Dave Strauss, Vice President,
Direct Marketing and Constituent Operations Membership
Over the past 15 years, I have had the good fortune to run thousands of miles with Craig. As we ran, I was always the one looking at my watch, making sure we were keeping pace, driving us to meet our goals. Craig on the other hand was always captivated by his surroundings and spent much of his time observing the great outdoors. I am sure those long runs went by so much faster for Craig because he was living two passions at once--running and nature.

I remember one run in particular. We were on a training run through the Snickers Gap portion of the Appalachian Trail. It was a 20 mile up-and-back through hilly trails. About half way to the turning point, Craig stops dead in his tracks. I turned around and he was glowing with excitement. He bent down and picked up some sort of cone. I, being the nature novice, thought it was interesting and was ready to move on. However, Craig started to search for more of these cones and began looking at all of the trees in the area. It was our good fortune and Craig's extensive knowledge of the great outdoors that we found several rare American elm trees and cones. We then spent 20 minutes picking up as many cones as we could handle and brought them back so Craig could later plant them. This experience reminded me of a kid in a candy store. The pure pleasure Craig got from being outside was captured in this moment.

He was an amazing man--not only for his love of nature, but for his love of people. I am so thankful and honored to have spent time with such a giving and sincere person.

He will be missed.


Kelly Senser, Senior Associate Editor, National Wildlife
Backyard birds amaze my four-year-old son. No matter if it's the tenth American robin he's seen in a day or a species he's discovering for the first time, he's equally fascinated--and eager to share the experience. Such makes me smile and stirs warm visions of Craig at a time when I welcome the comfort. Craig carried his own childhood sense of wonder into adulthood and helped me and countless others connect with nature's joys. Though he died, I know he will be forever present in my daughter's schoolyard habitat, my son's enthusiastic love of wildlife.... Because he shared the outdoors, I'm sharing. I'm grateful for the inspiration. Indeed, the gift.


Frances Neuhards, Volunteer
I have been thinking of Craig lately and had in mind to call or email the question to ask if he had retired. Craig was such an inspiration. I met him in fall of 1999, immediately after my retirement and during the Habitat Stewards classes. Ebenezer was beginning the second building program and County required to plant X number and types of plants.  During those classes my dream of a beautiful native planting campus was given hope. I went out to visit the church garden which Craig had been the facilitator and was able to work toward the landscape Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Stafford has today--Today that landscape is far beyond what I started out wanting. The Natives give four season interest and beauty, the Butterfly Garden is loved by so many and used by childrens groups very frequently--the several 3/4 year Preschool classes just this spring grew and released Painted Lady butterflies there. The Retention Pond Run-Off has been treated as a little stream and provides water for animals (seen at times), with an out door room developed by an Eagle Scout (in fact the last project needed on the property is happening the first part of July, bringing to a total of four Eagle Scout candidates putting in Nature Trails, "stream" improvement to look natural). The best thing is the opportunity to teach children and young people--often I have Community Service need youth--court, service for mission or college and....!

Ebenezer' landscape would not be as it is, had I not net Craig and Jean. I am so grateful to have known him and benefited from his interest and commitment. I am so sad about his death and send my regrets and love and admiration for his life and Jean's as I know their work!! They made a difference in my life.


Libby Schleichert, Senior Editor, Ranger Rick
Every once in a rare while, a person comes along in our lives who is so filled with joy and love that they light up the world around them. People like this seem to have few issues and are at peace with who they are. They are filled with the sheer wonder of being alive. Others just feel better in the presence of such people and find the best in themselves being drawn out. Such a person touches lives and is blessed with many friends.

I was a friend to just such a soul, Craig Tufts, the naturalist for nearly 33 years at National Wildlife Federation.

But such a light is too bright to be dimmed. He is everywhere in the call of the birds, nearly all of which he knew by heart, and in the glint of sun gilding the morning treetops, and in every perfect petal of the wild clumps of red clover along the roadside. Such a soul cannot be dimmed by death for he has touched too many hearts, inspired too many people.

Such a soul is not easily forgotten. May this one soul be at peace knowing how he did truly light up the universe.

***

Washington Post: Naturalist Who Promoted Back Yard Havens Dies

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bethe Almeras EMAIL: sassimonkee@aim.com IP: 98.218.252.23 URL: http://www.grassstainguru.com DATE: 06/26/2009 09:50:55 AM Craig taught me so much in the decade we knew each other - so much more than nature and wildlife. Craig knew how to live life with love and spirit. I wrote a tribute to him earlier this week: In Pursuit of Happiness: bit.ly/gV7gM Bethe Almeras, Friend http://www.grassstainguru.com ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Susie Headlee, Habitat Steward, NWF, State of Idaho EMAIL: Susie_Boring-Headlee@id.uscourts.gov IP: 208.27.203.128 URL: DATE: 06/26/2009 11:09:50 AM We met Craig in 2005 when he traveled to Idaho to award our community its certification as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat site. Craig was the perfect houseguest. He did his homework before he visited because upon arrival, he recognized all of the flora and fauna in the region, the types of birds in our state. He was a delight to be with -- he had that unbelieveable quality of making you feel like you were the most important person in the world. If I had to remember one thing about his visit, it was his love of his family. Craig's trip was spent making sure he set time aside to visit on the phone with his wife and that he was available to visit with her on the phone. He talked about their lives together -- how enriched his life was because of Jean, and his sons. We, in Idaho, express our deepest condolences to NWF, and to Craig's family. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Linda Ingersoll, friend EMAIL: lindaingersoll@gmail.com IP: 96.255.226.43 URL: DATE: 06/26/2009 01:21:17 PM As I told him many times, Craig was the reason I began working at the National Wildlife Federation in 1992. What I didn't know directly about NWF at that time, I knew from seeing Craig on tv and hanging out in my crunchy native gardening circle, where he was quite a celebrity. During my twelve years at NWF, I came to know that Craig truly was the heart and spirit of NWF -- a kind and generous soul. Always making time to help me understand the beauty and wonder of nature, one morning I ran to his office with a video of some kit foxes I had seen in my backyard habitat. He hung up the phone immediately to share the experience with me, as intrigued by the babies playing as he was with identifying every single bird singing in the background. The knowledge and kindness Craig shared with me over the years will never be forgotten, and will live on through my garden and my children. He will always be a star to me, and I will be forever grateful for having known him. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 70.179.120.175 URL: http://www.wildlifepromise.org DATE: 06/26/2009 02:43:23 PM Craig will always be an inspiration to me. From my first tour around NWF's building when I saw his impressive plant collection, to even a few months ago on a nature walk at NWF's Headquarters, when Craig excitedly gathered what must have been 20 of us around a pile of scat in the parking lot -- he was remarkable. One day as I was walking in the woods behind Reston I saw three male box turtles all along the path but yards and yards away from each other. This was an unusual sight! It seemed unlikely that all three would have wandered onto a path at the same time without a cause. I was trying to identify what the reasoning could be and of course I came to the conclusion that it was mating related, but I wanted to check with the expert. Naturally, I wanted to find Craig. When I came across him, I told him my story and waited excitedly for an answer. He looked contemplative and then said "What you witnessed was definitely a turtle battle." We shared a good laugh over how slow a turtle war had to be. Talk about quick wit! His smile, his good nature, his kindness, and so much more makes him a hero to me. He was never selfish with knowledge but was always learning more so he could share it with others. I loved that about him. His love for the environment and learning was contagious. He is exactly who I want to emulate in this life. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jessica Jones EMAIL: IP: 68.48.114.195 URL: http://profile.typepad.com/1222979996s19139 DATE: 06/26/2009 05:20:51 PM For every career, there is one dream person you wish you could work for and learn from. Amateur actors strive for roles with their favorite screen star and computer programmers dream of working for Bill Gates. For 3 weeks last year, I had the opportunity of working for the gold standard of my chosen career, Craig Tufts. I started at NWF as the coordinator of the FrogWatch USA program. After 7 months, I was transferred to work directly for Craig and help him with the citizen science and Wildlife Watch programs. I was given a dream job to learn from THE Backyard Naturalist. There is no one who could better teach me how to be a naturalist and educator. I had worked with Craig sporadically throughout my previous 7 months, with him giving me advice on learning frog and bird calls and identifying trees – anything I needed help with. I saw how he inspired people on his weekly nature walks, motivated the office to action to protect wildlife and was a constant source of knowledge. He would answer any wildlife question you threw his way – either from memory or by doing research till he got it right. Every person in the office has a Craig story – how they learned from him, utilized his gardening tricks or how he made them laugh. In a building filled with environmentalists, he was a naturalist’s naturalist. Three weeks after I started working for him, Craig was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I saw him occasionally after that when he came to the office – he helped me identify species for Wildlife Watch and we planned for the future of the program. I even had the good fortune of visiting his house twice to discuss wildlife and do a little bird watching. Within a month, I went from being new to Wildlife Watch to managing the program. For the past year, I have led the citizen science division in Craig’s stead, hoping that even a tiny part of what I do would make him proud. There is nothing more inspiring than working for your dream boss and yet nothing more challenging than having to follow in his footsteps. I think about him everyday and the lessons he taught me will be with me throughout my career. Thank you Craig for being my friend, co-worker and mentor. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Claire Miller EMAIL: clairemiller2@verizon.net IP: 71.191.38.242 URL: DATE: 06/28/2009 07:44:36 AM As a former editor on Ranger Rick's staff, I remember Craig as the cheerful answer man whenever I was stumped with a bird question and as the best leader ever on noon nature walks at both NWF Virginia locations. Ellen and Libby have summed up so well how the RR staff has regarded Craig for the 33 years he devoted to NWF. He was one of a kind and will be sorely missed by all the people touched by his life. Claire Miller ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Courtney Herrell EMAIL: courtney.herrell@yahoo.com IP: 76.101.2.140 URL: DATE: 06/28/2009 08:02:40 AM I had the pleasure of working with Craig during my short time at NWF, and I was truly touched by his love of nature, his patience and his gentle nature. He was always willing and happy to answer all my crazy wildlife questions. He always had a great sense of humor. And he was definitely an inspiration. I did not know of his illness, so learning of his passing was a shock. I honestly believe that the world has lost one of its great men in his passing. He was one of those people that even with a brief meeting, he will touch your life. He will be greatly missed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Shalen Fairbanks EMAIL: sfairbanks@rocketmail.com IP: 173.115.244.245 URL: DATE: 06/29/2009 12:28:52 PM Craig was one of the most amazing people I have ever had the pleasure and honor to work with. His knowledge and pure love of nature was contagious. My daughter still talks about his nature walks during NWF Family Summits and Bring Your Child to Work Days. His enthusiasm has inspired so many people whether indirectly or directly and he will be sorely missed! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bea McIntyre EMAIL: BMclntyre@AAHPERD.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 07/01/2009 02:21:36 PM It's odd how little "mementos" continuously remind us of people we've loved, but are no longer with us. Petunias remind me of my grandmother who loved flowers, especially petunias, and gardening; my brother relished green apples, so apples remind me of him. And Craig? I remember Craig joining us once during a lunchtime walk along the Nature Trail at the old building off Rt. 7, when he pointed out a little twig on the path, which turned out to be a young (and very small) copperhead. It most certainly would have gone unnoticed but for Craig's keen eyesight. He missed nothing, and nothing in nature was ever considered too insignificant (or "creepy") for Craig. He accepted it all. And Craig spent the last days of his exceptional life relishing all of it, surrounded by the people he loved. The joy he found in his life and work touched many who, like me, will remember him as one of the rare ones. I am privileged to have known Craig Tufts, and ask God's blessings on Jean, Ben and Dan as I keep them in my prayers. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Betsy S. Franz EMAIL: backyarder1@earthlink.net IP: 72.40.152.178 URL: http://thenaturelady.blogspot.com/ DATE: 07/03/2009 08:06:05 PM Although I never met Craig, I have been very inspired by his work and the work of others in the National Wildlife Federation. Those of you who know me know that what I consider my "life's work" was born when I first gave habitat steward training for NWF. I think the greatest legacy that we can provide for Craig is to keep up his work. I know that I shall! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Catherine Ladnier EMAIL: catherineladnier@aol.com IP: 67.86.221.117 URL: DATE: 07/04/2009 04:02:34 PM Words fail me. What a kind, gentle soul. Taking a walk with Craig was quite an experience. How he knew the sound of every bird amazed me. Craig helped us so much to get our Nalley Brown Nature Park launched. Craig helped us save a little piece of land that will bring much pleasure to folks of all ages. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dan Kowal EMAIL: dekowal@comcast.net IP: 24.8.80.25 URL: DATE: 07/07/2009 12:30:45 AM I was taken aback this morning opening up the Denver paper and by chance catching the obit of Craig on the back page. It just so happens that I was thinking of Craig a lot lately as my family has been contemplating the reshaping of the backyard to attract wildlife. "Where's my copy of The Backyard Naturalist?" has been the constant refrain for many days. I was an intern with Ranger Rick's NatureScope Magazine many moons ago and enjoyed my occasional talks with Craig in the office about the educational activities we wrote about or anything else Nature. He always had time to lend an ear and even turn over a log or two outside in search of salamanders. How weird to think of him one moment and get sad news the next. I will plant a butterfly bush in his memory. He will be missed! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF to ACES Supporters: Thank You STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-to-aces-supporters-thank-you CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/29/2009 03:58:28 PM ----- BODY:

Thanks to all the members of the U.S. House who delivered a historic win for climate action last Friday!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: video energy politics climate environment ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Liveblogging the ACES Floor Debate STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: liveblogging-the-aces-floor-debate CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/26/2009 03:43:02 PM ----- BODY:

Follow the latest over at Daily Kos!

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NWF staffers and supporters wanted to share with you the wildlife they're working to safeguard.

Which wildlife are you fighting for? Tell your Representative today.

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UPDATE at 4:30 pm. Here's a video from this great vote-day rally:


Just wanted to share a pic from our coalition partners, the Energy Action Coalition.

They're turning out on Capitol Hill to speak up for the future of our natural world.

Eacrally

Want to make your voice heard for wildlife today? Call your representative right away!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Video: Rallying for Clean Energy! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-rallying-for-clean-energy CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/26/2009 11:44:13 AM ----- BODY:

Here's a great recap of Wednesday's rally for clean energy just steps from the Capitol -- an amazing coalition of Congressmen, environmentalists, veterans groups, and so many others!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy Congress climate politics video ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Top 3 Reasons to Support ACES STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 10-reasons-to-support-aces DATE: 06/26/2009 10:49:53 AM ----- BODY:

TODAY's THE DAY! Within hours, Congress is expected to vote on legislation to confront the single greatest threat to America's wildlife and natural resources.  

Please make sure your representative will help pass this groundbreaking legislation today.

Here are the top 3 reasons this bill is good for our nation's wildlife, wild places, and you.

  1. The American Clean Energy and Security Act Will Prevent Deforestation in Developing Nations.

    The American Clean Energy and Security Act includes a large-scale program to secure agreements from developing nations to prevent tropical deforestation. This program will not only protect beautiful tropical rainforests from destruction, but also reduce global emissions by an amount equivalent to 10% of U.S. emissions (720 million tons CO2) annually as of the year 2020. 
  2. The American Clean Energy and Security Act Increases Our Energy Security and Reduces Our Dependency on Oil.

    When we invest in America's clean energy economy, we'll be able to safeguard the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from drilling. Arctic caribou and other wildlife will be thanking you.
  3. The Act Protects Natural Resources and Wildlife from Global Warming.

    The American Clean Energy and Security Act establishes the national policy framework and initial funding stream necessary to begin tackling the impacts of climate change on our natural resources. That means help will soon be on the way for moose, the American pika, and the whooping crane--wildlife that are already feeling the heat from rising global temperatures.

Excited? Today our country has a critical opportunity to take decisive action to safeguard wildlife for our children's future. It's going to be a close vote! So, please take just a few seconds to speak up for wildlife right now.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Down to the Wire: ACES Vote Today? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: down-to-the-wire-aces-vote-today CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/26/2009 10:44:43 AM ----- BODY:

With just hours left until the House debates and possibly votes on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, it's not too late to make your voice heard. Email or call your member of Congress right now to ask them to support the American Clean Energy and Security Act!

Here's a preview of Friday's action from Adam Kolton, the National Wildlife Federation's director of Congressional and federal affairs:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy Congress climate politics ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Video: Al Gore Urges House to Pass ACES STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-al-gore-urges-house-to-pass-aces CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/25/2009 03:15:39 PM ----- BODY:

Email or call your member of Congress right now to ask them to support the American Clean Energy and Security Act!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy Congress climate ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New Poll Adds to ACES Momentum STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-poll-adds-to-aces-momentum CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/25/2009 01:15:02 PM ----- BODY:

With a vote before the full House expected Friday or Saturday, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll is giving a big boost to the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act:

Three-quarters of Americans think the federal government should regulate the release into the atmosphere of greenhouse gases from power plants, cars and factories to reduce global warming, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, with substantial majority support from Democrats, Republicans and independents.

Some other highlights:

Please take a moment right now to email or call your member of Congress to urge them to support this critical legislation!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy Congress climate ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF Alaska Office (and Dog) Survives Quake STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-alaska-office-and-dog-survives-quake CATEGORY: News DATE: 06/25/2009 10:29:56 AM ----- BODY:

A moderate earthquake shook Alaska on Monday. Fortunately, the 5.4 magnitude quake was centered away from densely-populated areas. The Associated Press described the scene at NWF's Alaska Regional Center:

Still, Monday's widely felt earthquake was enough to force a nervous pause among residents. At the Anchorage office of the National Wildlife Federation, even the office dog, Oliver, trembled and wagged his tail slowly.

Office manager Heather McGee watched as her cup of tea shook near her keyboard. "I'm unscathed, but my tea spilled," she said.

How much do they love Oliver in our Anchorage office? I emailed Heather asking for a picture of him and she immediately sent back a file titled "Oliver_awesome.jpg":

Oliver_awesome

Become a fan of NWF's Alaska Regional Center on Facebook



----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: Alaska earthquake dogs ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Stacy M. EMAIL: smonaghan5@gmail.com IP: 209.190.209.3 URL: DATE: 06/25/2009 12:15:36 PM Glad to hear everyone is ok! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dad in NY EMAIL: jggary@twcny.rr.com IP: 67.241.67.254 URL: DATE: 06/26/2009 08:13:35 AM I know Oliver personally and find him to be fearless in the face of danger..."good boy Oliver". ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Rallying for Clean Energy STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: rallying-for-clean-energy CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/24/2009 05:54:39 PM ----- BODY:

The National Wildlife Federation joined joined a rally at the U.S. Capitol today with environmental, labor, and even veterans activists to urge Congress to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act this week. Representatives Henry Waxman, Edward Markey, Chris Van Hollen, Ben Lujan and Mike Doyle all spoke at the event. More details to come!

June 003 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Anne Keisman TITLE: 'Being Out There' With Secretary Salazar (VIDEO) STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-what-happens-when-a-us-cabinet-member-teams-up-with-nwf CATEGORY: Environmental Education DATE: 06/24/2009 09:25:15 AM ----- BODY:

It's amazing who you bump into in the woods on a Monday afternoon!

First, some background: National Wildlife Federation joined the U.S. Department of the Interior at Monday's kickoff of United We Serve -- President Obama's initiative to engage more Americans in serving their communities this summer

As part of the President's Summer of Service initiative, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued a call to action for every adult to mentor a child outdoors this summer. What could be more in line with NWF's Be Out There campaign?

Secretary Salazar spoke at the Big Meadows Campground with volunteers who removed invasive species in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park.

Be Out There's Executive Director, Becky Garland, reported from the national park and had a funny run-in with the Secretary:

We can already tell -- Secretary Salazar and NWF will make a great team!

How do you find great opportunities to mentor kids outside? Visit Serve.gov and plug in your zipcode to find service projects near you – or learn how to create your own service project online.

NWF offers free resources to help mentors and youth enjoy the benefits of our treasured landscapes through camping, fishing, cycling, hiking and other outdoor activities. Visit www.nwf.org/naturefind for information about family-friendly and affordable outdoor activities and events.

Read more about NWF's and the Department of the Interior's plans to make this summer all about the great outdoors.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Drew Tappan TITLE: Our Chance For Change STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: our-chance-for-change CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/23/2009 04:22:00 PM ----- BODY:

This is our chance for change. This week, Congress will vote on a piece of truly historic legislation.  The American Clean Energy and Security Act is our first real chance to cap the pollution that's causing global warming - the single largest threat to our precious wildlife and wild places. 

In addition to capping these pollutants, this important bill - often called ACES - is the largest natural resources funding bill in years, and creates a new clean energy economy that will create new jobs all over the United States.

We need your help.  Your member of Congress needs to hear from you.  They need to hear that you want change, that you support legislation that caps global warming pollution and safeguards wildlife.  They need to hear that you support the American Clean Energy and Security act ... and they need to hear it today.  You can make a huge difference for wildlife, and for generations of  Americans to come. This is the time to get involved. Email or call your representative today.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: JD Lasica EMAIL: jdlasica@gmail.com IP: 24.4.45.48 URL: http://www.socialbrite.org DATE: 06/24/2009 12:03:26 AM Didn't really know about the American Clean Energy and Security Act -- thanks for filling us in! Will keep an eye on this ... ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF's David Mizejewski on "The Today Show" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwfs-david-mizejewski-on-the-today-show CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 06/23/2009 01:46:06 PM ----- BODY:

National Wildlife Federation naturalist David Mizejewski was a guest on NBC's The Today Show this morning! He was previewing this weekend's Great American Backyard Campout:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: outdoors wildlife camping video ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Three Things You Can Do for Bees STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: three-things-you-can-do-for-bees DATE: 06/23/2009 09:33:31 AM ----- BODY:

I was just flipping through this month's National Wildlife magazine, and I saw this fascinating article on America's bees.

Bee

Bees and other pollinators are disappearing from our country due to a variety of threats to their habitat and climate. And while we depend on bees to pollinate more than two-thirds of our crops, we're not the only ones who stand to lose. Think about grizzly bears-- they're counting on bees to pollinate the fruit, nuts, and plants that make up their diet.

We need bees; bears need bees; birds need bees... So in honor of National Pollinators Week, here are three things you can do to protect our nation's bees, butterflies and bats:

ONE: Help protect bees from global warming.

Global warming has been playing havoc with nature's timing. For the past thirty years or so, pollinators like the Milbert's tortoiseshell butterfly have been showing up before the flowers are in bloom. According to biologist David Inouye, global warming is causing pollinators and plants to "lose the synchronicity they once had." 

Pollinators like bees, bats and butterflies are a crucial part of any ecosystem--not to mention a fascinating part of our natural world.

TWO: Share a photo of your favorite pollinators

Join us on Flickr, and check out all the great photos of bats, butterflies, and of course bumble bees.

THREE: Tell Your Friends

Bzzz. Thinking about the best way to help bees and bats thrive during #pollinate week: http://bit.ly/OFWzi

Let your friends and family know that you're thinking about the bees and butterflies that keep our world going strong! 
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Wildlife Heroes: How a Fourth Grade Class Made A Difference STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: elementary-students-basket-build-for-wildlife- CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 06/22/2009 05:05:43 PM ----- BODY:

National Wildlife Federation LogoNWF's mission is "to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future," but sometimes, I'm reminded that it isn't our efforts at all, but the determination of children, that convinces me that we can--and will--actually save wildlife.

I had the opportunity to get to know a fourth grade class recently that truly inspired me and my coworkers through their benevolent action and their smart business skills. By holding a fund-raiser at their school, they managed to raise $645 for the National Wildlife Federation.


The Back Story
A few months ago I was contacted by fourth grade teacher Chris Stanvick of The Abbott School in Westford, Massachusetts, who asked if I would be available to video chat with her class via Skype about NWF's mission and the work we do to protect wildlife. Her class was determining what charity they were going to raise money for. With so many causes to support, I found it inspirational that they felt protecting wildlife to be so important.

I have to say it was one of the toughest interviews I've ever done! Every student in the class got to ask me questions about what NWF does to protect wildlife. It was great to see them so engaged in making sure NWF was the cause they wanted to donate to (even if it meant I was put on the hot seat!).

A few days ago, I was invited back into their classroom for another video chat. That's when they told me the news: They had picked NWF, held a fund-raiser, and raised $645 to protect wildlife. I was truly touched! I want to thank Chris Stanvick and her class of devoted fourth graders for their planning and hard work. Wildlife stands a chance with motivated people like you!

Abbot Elementary

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Dave Mizejewski to Talk Bullfrogs, Bats and Backyard Campout on Tuesday's Today Show STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: dave-mizejewski-to-talk-bullfrogs-bats-and-backyard-campout-on-tuesdays-today-show CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 06/22/2009 03:56:16 PM ----- BODY:

UPDATE 6/23: Watch David's appearance here!

NWF naturalist David Mizejewski will be making a live appearance on the Today Show tomorrow morning (June 23rd) to promote the Great American Backyard Campout, happening in backyards across the country this weekend, June 27th.

Dave will be interviewed by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kopt between 10:30-11 a.m. ET for a segment about the animals you might see--or hear--during your backyard campout.


Great horned owl

Expected On-Air Animal Talent:

Campout Links:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New Boost to Clean Energy Bill, When Will Congress Act? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-boost-clean-energy-bill-when-will-congress-act CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/22/2009 01:05:29 PM ----- BODY:

A new Congressional Budget Office report is giving a big boost to the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act. According to The New Republic, "Low-income families come out slightly ahead under the cap-and-trade program, while the cost to the wealthiest two quintiles amounts to $245-$340 per year—less than a dollar per day."

Meanwhile, Grist says it's not clear when ACES will come to the floor for a vote:

A report from one Capitol Hill newspaper suggests that negotiations have bogged down over the legislation’s provisions on agriculture, raising the question of whether the bill will actually get to the House floor before the July 4 recess.

American Clean Energy and Security Act authors Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) have been meeting with members of the House who have expressed concerns about the bill in its current form, including Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.). Details of those negotiations have been hard to come by.

Tell your member of Congress we need comprehensive climate & energy legislation now! Send your representative a message urging them to vote for ACES. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy Congress ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Got a Story? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: eppppaaaa1 DATE: 06/19/2009 02:43:32 PM ----- BODY:
Wateringcan
Have you noticed climate change in your backyard?

Quick-- before you head out to enjoy what I hope is a sunny and beautiful weekend for you and your family--

Today it's time to tell the EPA that global warming is a threat to our health. Next week, the EPA will decide whether we need to regulate the greenhouse gases that are wreaking havoc with our atmosphere.

The EPA is collecting public testimony from citizens like you about the effects that global warming is having on you, your family and your community, and they really want to hear from you-- wildlife and nature enthusiasts-- who see firsthand how climate change is effecting your garden, your backyard, your parks and the natural world you live in.

With recent government reports suggesting that we're already in a state of emergency, there's no doubt that the time to speak up is now.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Gearing Up For Final Clean Energy Bill Push STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: gearing-up-for-final-clean-energy-bill-push CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/19/2009 09:01:47 AM ----- BODY:

Will the U.S. House take a final vote on the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act next week? That's what President Obama is asking for:

The Obama administration is planning to make next week “energy week” to rally support for the bill. Reports Politico, “The White House plans to dispatch Cabinet officials to push the administration’s energy agenda and urge Congress to pass climate legislation currently under siege from skeptical Democrats in the House.”

The admin started its push this week, with the release of a new government report on climate science that warns of dire effects across the country. The report’s authors have been holding briefings on the report on Capitol Hill this week to light a proverbial fire under legislators and their staffs.

Moose

If you love wildlife, the single biggest thing you can do to help them is to fight global warming. Our climate is simply changing too fast for many of the species we care about to adapt.

Put the power of your voice (and your vote) behind clean energy & climate legislation. Please take a moment right now to tell your U.S. Representative to pass the ACES Act.



Photo courtesy Flickr's issuez

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy Congress Obama ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Key Clean Water Bill Moves Forward STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: key-clean-water-bill-moves-forward CATEGORY: Public Lands DATE: 06/18/2009 01:52:42 PM ----- BODY: Ducks

Great news today from the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee, which passed the Clean Water Restoration Act! It now heads to the full Senate.

Here's what Jan Goldman-Carter, the National Wildlife Federation's wetlands and water resources counsel, had to say:

America’s waters are closer to again having the comprehensive Clean Water Act protections that Congress intended. This bill restores critical protections for our nation’s increasingly-precious fresh water resources while respecting private property rights and continuing longstanding Clean Water Act exemptions for agriculture and forestry.

Today was the first step for this important bill. Now the full Senate and the House of Representatives need to finish the job and ensure the health of our nation’s wetlands, lakes and streams for current and future generations of both wildlife and people.

Please take a moment right now to urge your senator to pass the Clean Water Restoration Act!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: water environment Congress ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Water Damage Tampa EMAIL: soniaservices@gmail.com IP: 122.162.42.207 URL: http://www.qci-online.com/Water_Damage_Restoration.aspx DATE: 08/26/2009 03:40:17 AM This is a rather interesting article. I think the Clean Water Restoration Act is a very commendable step taken. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nyc Mold Inspections EMAIL: moldinspectionsnyc@gmail.com IP: 122.162.19.121 URL: http://fiveboromoldspecialist.com DATE: 10/04/2009 02:41:29 PM A very good step...we do need clean waters considering the growing pollution all over the world. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mold Removal EMAIL: moldinspectionsnyc@gmail.com IP: 122.163.78.54 URL: http://www.nymoldinspections.com DATE: 10/05/2009 02:13:21 AM We must push such bills forward for a fresh unpolluted water. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF Scientist on NBC Nightly News STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-scientist-on-nbc-nightly-news CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 06/17/2009 09:21:00 AM ----- BODY:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: science climate environment ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New Federal Report: Climate Emergency STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-federal-report-climate-emergency CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 06/16/2009 05:20:16 PM ----- BODY: SunsetA federal goverment report released today pieces together the science of global warming in a startling new picture:

Man-made climate change is already lifting temperatures, increasing rainfall, and raising sea levels around the United States -- and its effects are on track to get much worse in the coming century, according to a report released this afternoon by federal scientists. [...]

[T]oday's report says that the evidence of global change is "unequivocal." And, in language stripped of the usual scientific jargon, it sketches out some of the costs of doing nothing to bring down emissions.

"The projected rapid rate and large amount of climate change over this century will challenge the ability of society and natural systems to adapt," the report says.

“Now is the time to set America on a new energy path that combines clean energy incentives and firm limits on carbon pollution that causes global warming," said National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger in response to the report. "The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) gives the U.S. more than 30 new tools to confront the climate crisis and advance the clean energy economy. There is no time for delay.”



Photo courtesy Flickr's law_keven

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: climate environment science ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Go In-Depth on ACES STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: go-indepth-on-aces CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 06/16/2009 12:57:49 PM ----- BODY:

The National Wildlife Federation has just released a great new fact sheet on the American Clean Energy & Security Act! It details all the new resources that ACES would add to our national toolbox for fighting global warming and its impacts on wildlife. You can download the PDF here!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy climate warming ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Avelino Maestas EMAIL: avelino@opencongress.org IP: 209.190.229.194 URL: http://opencongress.org DATE: 06/16/2009 03:26:40 PM And, if I can be so bold, your readers can track the bill as it moves through Congress: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h2454/show ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Save Wildlife EMAIL: tarunkjuyal@gmail.com IP: 117.55.242.66 URL: http://lifeofearth.org/topics/wildlife DATE: 06/17/2009 03:04:59 AM The CIC organised at its recent General Assembly an international competition on wildlife photography, with the title “Mammal Predators in Their Habitats”. For complete report http://lifeofearth.org/2009/06/wildlife-photography-competition-2009.html ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Save Wildlife EMAIL: tarunkjuyal@gmail.com IP: 117.55.242.66 URL: http://lifeofearth.org/topics/wildlife DATE: 06/17/2009 03:05:09 AM The CIC organised at its recent General Assembly an international competition on wildlife photography, with the title “Mammal Predators in Their Habitats”. For complete report http://lifeofearth.org/2009/06/wildlife-photography-competition-2009.html ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Save Wildlife EMAIL: tarunkjuyal@gmail.com IP: 117.55.242.66 URL: http://lifeofearth.org/topics/wildlife DATE: 06/17/2009 03:05:09 AM The CIC organised at its recent General Assembly an international competition on wildlife photography, with the title “Mammal Predators in Their Habitats”. For complete report http://lifeofearth.org/2009/06/wildlife-photography-competition-2009.html ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Save Wildlife EMAIL: tarunkjuyal@gmail.com IP: 117.55.242.66 URL: http://lifeofearth.org/topics/wildlife DATE: 06/17/2009 03:05:09 AM The CIC organised at its recent General Assembly an international competition on wildlife photography, with the title “Mammal Predators in Their Habitats”. For complete report http://lifeofearth.org/2009/06/wildlife-photography-competition-2009.html ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: 4 Ways to Make Backyard Camping An Adventure STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: ways-to-make-backyard-camping-an-adventure CATEGORY: Environmental Education DATE: 06/15/2009 11:59:01 PM ----- BODY:

Backyard Camping

The Great American Backyard Campout ® is set to take place on June 27th this year. For those who aren't familiar, the campout is an NWF tradition that encourages friends and families to camp in their backyard or at a close by camping spot. This may sound like a rather tame way to experience the outdoors, but the point of the whole thing is to explore the wonder of nature in your area. If you need ideas to make this campout fun and interesting visit the campout website and Flickr group. Here are just a few ideas that may liven up the night--if you are at all concerned about it not being enough of an adventure!

1) Night Watch for Wildlife
After the sun goes down, and the fire is burning--it may be a good idea to go on a night-time explore and quietly look for nocturnal animals. A whole new cast of characters comes out after dark and it may just be the best time to see a new set of eyes.

2) Experiment with Night Photography

If you have a camera, check out our tips on night photography: Once your eyes adjust to the dark, there are some amazing sights to be seen. So whether you hand over the camera to the kids or you take on the challenge yourself, keep your eyes peeled for unique sights. Night photography is a great adventure!

3) Make your own Tent or Fort!
Lying around your house are all the materials you need to make a homemade tent--we just know it! And we want to see the results! Make your homemade tent or fort outside--snap some pictures and upload it to our Great American Backyard Campout Flickr site. Make sure to tag it correctly: NWF_campout_tent. We'll be picking our favorites to feature on the Campout website.


4) Play Some Flashlight Tag
How to play: First decide on the boundaries of the game--using trees or existing structures in a park or backyard. Whoever is "it" waits at home base and counts to 20, then keeps the flashlight on while hunting for the others. "It" tags a player by shining the light on them and identifying them (calling out their name). Once "tagged," players return to the starting point until all are caught. The first person caught is "it" in the next round.


I know these tips seem relatively meek compared to the potential your backyard can hold, but these tips are EXACTLY what I plan to do in my new yard. I am very excited to leave the technology behind (except I may live-tweet my campout) and enjoy the sounds and the lights of nature! I encourage anyone who thinks of great ways to make backyard camping an adventure to share ideas below! 


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: greg padley EMAIL: gpadley@optonline.net IP: 67.94.186.170 URL: http://5691gerg.com DATE: 06/16/2009 01:11:29 PM Some more fun stuff for your campout -small campfire or candles to serve the ancient need for light and warmth Of course with a fire you need: -hotdogs cooked on a stick -marshmallows or smores = fun, sweet goodies -stories, skits and jokes Then there's always: -lightning bug catching -hand shadows on the tent wall -listening to and/or trying to identify night sounds = katydid, cricket, owls Most of all have fun! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Darren EMAIL: IP: 209.34.235.6 URL: DATE: 07/16/2009 05:26:58 PM Rub yourself in honey and release a bear ----- PING: TITLE: The Great American BackyardCampout URL: http://jesscera.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/the-great-american-backyard-campout/ IP: 66.135.48.157 BLOG NAME: J Cera DATE: 06/17/2009 04:37:44 AM ON SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH, SLEEP OUTSIDE THE BOX! That’s the night of the Great American Backyard Campout. It’s a night to turn off the computer and the TV, and spend the night outside with family and friends. Put up a tent. Count the stars. And realize ... ----- PING: TITLE: The Great American BackyardCampout URL: http://jesscera.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/the-great-american-backyard-campout/ IP: 72.233.96.143 BLOG NAME: J Cera DATE: 06/17/2009 04:02:03 AM ON SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH, SLEEP OUTSIDE THE BOX! That’s the night of the Great American Backyard Campout. It’s a night to turn off the computer and the TV, and spend the night outside with family and friends. Put up a tent. Count the stars. And realize ... ----- PING: TITLE: The Great American BackyardCampout URL: http://jesscera.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/the-great-american-backyard-campout/ IP: 74.200.245.189 BLOG NAME: J Cera DATE: 06/17/2009 03:47:41 AM ON SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH, SLEEP OUTSIDE THE BOX! That’s the night of the Great American Backyard Campout. It’s a night to turn off the computer and the TV, and spend the night outside with family and friends. Put up a tent. Count the stars. And realize ... ----- PING: TITLE: The Great American BackyardCampout URL: http://jesscera.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/the-great-american-backyard-campout/ IP: 66.135.48.207 BLOG NAME: J Cera DATE: 06/17/2009 03:33:06 AM ON SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH, SLEEP OUTSIDE THE BOX! That’s the night of the Great American Backyard Campout. It’s a night to turn off the computer and the TV, and spend the night outside with family and friends. Put up a tent. Count the stars. And realize ... ----- PING: TITLE: The Great American BackyardCampout URL: http://jesscera.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/the-great-american-backyard-campout/ IP: 74.200.245.188 BLOG NAME: J Cera DATE: 06/17/2009 03:21:33 AM ON SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH, SLEEP OUTSIDE THE BOX! That’s the night of the Great American Backyard Campout. It’s a night to turn off the computer and the TV, and spend the night outside with family and friends. Put up a tent. Count the stars. And realize ... ----- PING: TITLE: The Great American BackyardCampout URL: http://jesscera.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/the-great-american-backyard-campout/ IP: 66.135.48.208 BLOG NAME: J Cera DATE: 06/17/2009 03:18:44 AM ON SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH, SLEEP OUTSIDE THE BOX! That’s the night of the Great American Backyard Campout. It’s a night to turn off the computer and the TV, and spend the night outside with family and friends. Put up a tent. Count the stars. And realize ... ----- -------- AUTHOR: Lisa Eadens TITLE: Let's go slow on oil shale STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: lets-go-slow-on-oil-shale DATE: 06/15/2009 12:58:14 PM ----- BODY:

Underneath a 1300 square mile area along the T-shaped border of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming lies more estimated oil —in the form of oil shale-- than all the oil in of Saudi Arabia.

It seems perfect that we have all the oil we need for the next hundred years right in our own backyard.

That backyard, however, is literally my backyard. I grew up in western Colorado virtually on top of where this treasure waits for us. It is my home, along with hundreds of thousands of other people. We live here for the slow pace of life, for the clean air, the pronghorn and mule deer outside our living room windows, the cold, clear rivers and the simple beauty of this land. For people who have not seen this area, it may seem an easy trade but we who live here ask that the nation proceeds slowly on oil shale.

OilShale_Canada_WildlifePromiseBlog In Canada we've seen tar sands development (similar to oil shale) rip up large swaths of wildlife habitat, leaving it a virtual moonscape. In the US, new technologies are being tested to extract oil from shale rock while it is still underground. However, too many questions still remain about the environmental impacts of oil shale development, the largest of which is how much water it will use.

Water is vital to your life, my life and the lives of every creature on this earth. Water is also one resource we just cannot produce more of. Right now, the amount of water needed to develop oil shale will drain the habitats of native fish, destroy agricultural communities and put us all at risk. Ways to reduce the amount of water needed to develop oil shale are on the way and we need to wait for them before gambling on this precious resource.

We all use oil and know its importance even as we explore new, alternative fuel sources. And, with such a large prize waiting beneath us, oil shale promises to remain a potential energy source well into the foreseeable future. But for now, we need to be patient and not put the homes and water of thousands of Americans and wildlife unnecessarily at risk.

There's still work to do on oil shale and other public lands issues! Please spread the word about public lands with an eCard!

See what tar sands development looks like in Canada: National Geographic – The Canadian Oil Boom

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New Clean Energy Ad: "Do Right" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-clean-energy-ad-do-right CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/15/2009 10:55:00 AM ----- BODY: ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: energy ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Bizarre Blue Bug STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bizarre-blue-bug CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 06/15/2009 10:53:31 AM ----- BODY:

"Is that a bug?"

"No, it's just a tiny piece of blue fuzz caught in the breeze."

"But it's changing direction."

So went the conversation in my backyard the other night. It was way too tiny to get a look at while in flight, so I gently pawed at it to try to get it to land on a nearby bush.

When it did, I almost didn't believe what I saw. It looked like a microscopic moth with a pale blue version of Doc Brown's hairdo. I got my camera and zoomed way, way in to get this photo of it:

May 026

I shared the photo with the National Wildlife Federation's Dave Mizejewski and Doug Inkley, who told me it's a woolly aphid. It's a common insect, but one I'd never spotted before, and one that looks like it comes from another planet. Amazing what you can find in your own backyard!



----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: insects ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Principals for Change Roll Into DC STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: principals-for-change-roll-into-dc CATEGORY: Energy DATE: 06/12/2009 12:07:52 PM ----- BODY:

Here's a guest post from NWF communications intern Max Greenberg!

Just a couple of weeks after Rolling Thunder roared through Washington, a very different kind of ride hit town.

Not only was this biker group far more emissions-friendly, they were focused on a different kind of cause -- America's climate & energy crisis.

The members of Principals for Change do look the part -- check out the video clip below of the group riding up to the Lincoln Memorial in mud-spattered bandannas and racing gear. Executive Director Aaron Steinly and other Pennsylvania educators are clearly men on a mission.

Steinly and company had just completed a 50-hour, 222-mile journey to the steps of DC's Lincoln Memorial from Meyersdale, PA, in the name of raising awareness about the need for increased environmental education in schools across the country. Steinly, currently the assistant principal of United High School in Armagh, PA, also touted PFC GreenSpaces, a new web initiative aimed at helping schools build online environmental communities. Visit Principals for Change to learn more about a cause worth more than two days of sweat, sun, and rain.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: education energy climate environment ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Plant a Tree, Grow a Job STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: plant-a-tree-grow-a-job DATE: 06/11/2009 02:02:18 PM ----- BODY:

Got this email recently from Jeremy Symons, the National Wildlife Federation's senior vice president for conservation and education:

I was returning from a meeting in Congress a week ago and saw the following "green jobs" scene, and thought I'd share this picture. The workers had a number of these trees that they were planting. The physical similarity to the immortalized raising of the flag on Iwo Jima struck me and I snapped this picture. Not long after seeing this, I listened to retired Marine and U.S. Senator John Warner compare our efforts to pass a climate bill with Marine tactics in WWII: first establish a beach-head from which you can base your operations and win the war.

GreenJobsScene ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: trees jobs ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF's Larry Schweiger on the American Clean Energy & Security Act STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwfs-larry-schweiger-on-the-american-clean-energy-security-act- CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 06/11/2009 10:16:08 AM ----- BODY:

Via the ClimateOne blog, here's a clip of National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger talking about how the Waxman-Markey bill affects international climate treaty negotiations coming up in December:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Urgent Request from Congress: Tell Us About Wildlife STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: urgent-alert-from-congress-tell-us-about-wildlife DATE: 06/10/2009 03:34:41 PM ----- BODY:

I just got an email from Robyn, in the Western Regional Center, with an urgent call to action she'd seen in the Mercury News. Oddly enough the author was not a wildlife enthusiast or environmental activist.  It was from a U.S. representative.

He wants to know why he's not hearing from you:

... [A]n underwhelming number of citizens have written, e-mailed or phoned government officials in the last 12 months to urge them to take action on global warming. Even among those who support a vigorous national response, only 10 percent had contacted their elected officials.

Since constituent opinion matters to most members of Congress, the fact that most Americans are quiet on climate change does not bode well for the planet. Given that our window of opportunity to take action on climate change is quickly closing, how do we increase the sense of urgency?


Today, we asked that National Wildlife Federation's online community to send their messages to Congress. We've got three weeks to make sure the U.S. House of Representatives hears from us, and votes YES for the American Clean Energy and Security Act-- a bill that will protect wildlife by giving as much as $1.7 billion per year to wildlife management programs across the country, as well as reduce the global warming emissions that threaten up to 30% of plant and animal species with extinction.

We all have our reasons why we care about global warming. Whether it's your kid's future, your desire to do right by Planet Earth, or the knowledge that if you don't act soon, it may be too late.  For me, it's the 30%-- how can I stand by and let 30% of plant and animal species go extinct?

But even more so, it's the knowledge that Congress is waiting for us. I believe in citizen action, but I had no idea Congress was actually hoping to hear from us. I guess everyone needs some encouragement and a nod of approval. Your representative is asking for a gentle nudge, a reminder that Americans are committed to a clean energy future, committed to protecting our natural world.

I'm willing to give my representative that word of encouragement.  Will you send one too?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Bald Birds STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bald-birds DATE: 06/09/2009 04:06:39 PM ----- BODY:

Cardinal - USFWS

At this time of year, you might start seeing something strange at your bird feeder: bald birds.  Blue jays and cardinals are the most commonly reported bald birds, but it can happen to any number of common backyard species.

Ornithologists aren’t 100 percent sure what is going on but there are several theories.  Baldness can be caused by skin mite infestation.  Birds can’t groom their own heads, which makes that area a haven for mites.  A bad mite infestation can cause a bird to lose its feathers.  So can malnutrition or severe stress.  

Balding could also simply be a rapid molting of feathers.  At this time of year, birds normally shed out their old feathers and grow new ones.  Usually it’s not all at once in one part of the body, but it seems that in the case of bald birds, that could be what’s happening.  Judging by the fact that most bald birds are observed to survive their baldness and completely re-grow their feathers, the rapid molt theory probably explains most cases.

Find out how to help birds (bald or otherwise) on our Gardening for Wildlife website.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: The Clean Energy Future is Here STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-clean-energy-future-is-here DATE: 06/03/2009 04:30:18 PM ----- BODY:

Here's a huge milestone on our path toward a clean energy future: According to the United Nations Environmental Program, this year marks the first time the majority of global investments in energy development went to renewable sources.

Global investors spent $140 billion in investing in wind, solar, hydropower and geothermal energy development; 56% of the total investments in building power capacity.

Speak Up For Wildlife!

It looks like more and more businesses and investors are slowly, but surely understanding that fossil fuels not only harm our natural resources, but don’t make good economic sense either.

With Congress set to debate comprehensive global warming legislation, this is a great time to make sure your Congressmember hears this news and sets the stage for an even greater shift to clean energy investments!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Anne Keisman TITLE: Obama Declares June Great Outdoors Month STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: obama-declares-june-great-outdoors-month CATEGORY: Environmental Education DATE: 06/03/2009 03:41:00 PM ----- BODY:

Boy_puffs_dandelion

School's ending, the fireflies are out, and cold days are well behind us -- as far as months go, June is perfect for exploring the great outdoors.

Apparently, the President of the United States agrees. Barack Obama just proclaimed June Great Outdoors Month. Also, 25 states have issued similar proclamations, with many more to come. Find out if your state is on the list.

A few months ago, the National Wildlife Federation, the American Recreation Coalition and several other national groups asked President Obama and all U.S. governors to issue public proclamations urging Americans to get outdoors during June, and proclaim the month Great Outdoors Month.

Basically, our elected leaders have said, "Get your Green Hour, people!"

So, how will you celebrate Great Outdoors Month? We’ve got ten ideas for you.

Photo by Charlie Archambault

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Morning Joe on Clean Energy STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: morning-joe-on-clean-energy CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/03/2009 03:40:26 PM ----- BODY:

Via ThinkProgress' Wonk Room, MSNBC's Morning Joe talks about the economic opportunities of clean energy:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Flat Earth Society Meets in DC STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: flat-earth-society-meets-in-dc CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 06/02/2009 04:03:38 PM ----- BODY:

The debate over climate change in America has long since moved past the questions of "Is the planet warming?" (yes) and "Is man-made pollution to blame?" (it is) to "What should we do about it?" (ACES).

But in DC this week, the flat earth society is meeting to try to turn back the clock. The Heartland Institute is hosting yet another event to shift the focus away from climate action and back to the debates of the 1980s. As DeSmogBlog reports, the conference is a who's who of polluter-funded deniers.

I asked to get press credentials to cover the event here at the National Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Promise blog and over at Grist. But Heartland refused.

Fortunately, so far I haven't seen any evidence DC reporters fell for Heartland's attempt to confuse the need for climate action.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Alec Rawls EMAIL: IP: 67.180.34.212 URL: http://profile.typepad.com/aerawls DATE: 06/02/2009 05:28:56 PM Sorry to clue you in, but the global temperature peaked TEN YEARS ago (with the smoothed temperature record falling for 6 years now). Just look at any of the major temperature records, like for instance, HadCRUT3: http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/info/warming/ NO informed person thinks the planet is warming, and only eco-religionists think that this non-existent warming is being caused by CO2, or that it is imperative to "do something" about it. Why is the earth cooling? Because the sun has gone quiet, just as it cooled in the past when the sun went quiet. The Maunder Minimum of solar activity coincided with the onset of the Little Ice Age. The Dalton Minimum was cold, the end-of-the-1800's minimum was cold, and it is turning cold today. The only mystery is how so many well-intentioned people can be oblivious to these readily available facts. ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: It's Baby Bird Season STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: its-baby-bird-season DATE: 06/01/2009 12:04:05 PM ----- BODY:

Baby Bird Season
(C) Susan Lander Baby RobinI was reminded this week that we are in the thick of baby bird season. I was heading out to run some errands a few nights ago and as I was getting into my car I spotted movement across the street.  It was a cat, stalking something. Suddenly, I became aware of a robin calling frantically from the tree above—not something you normally hear once the sun goes down. Sure enough the cat was stalking a fledgling robin. I was able to scare off the cat and put the fledgling in the cover of some dense shrubs under the parent bird’s tree.

The next afternoon, I found another fledgling robin on the ground, this time in my own backyard. Given that my two dogs roam the yard, I thought it best to move the young bird over the fence into the brush. The minute I picked it up, both parents, who were clearly watching over their baby from the cover of the trees, began shrieking and dive-bombing me. Luckily I only had to move the fledgling about 20 feet or I might have been nailed in the head by one of these panicky parents!

Fledglings are birds that are old enough to leave the nest, but can’t fly yet. Parent birds keep a close eye on their fledgling young, feeding them and, as I learned, protecting them from danger. I intervened in both of these cases only because the young robins were in immediate danger from domestic animals. Our pets are not part of the natural ecosystem and, collectively, they kill a lot of wildlife.  Had my dogs or the neighbor’s cat not been around, I would have left the robins on the ground where they were.  While it’s a dangerous time for young birds, the fledgling period is part of their natural life cycle.

Check out our new Gardening for Wildlife website for ideas on helping wildlife right where you live.

And speaking of parent birds on the attack, check out my recent appearance on Fox News' "America's Newsroom" about mockingbirds. New research is showing that they are a lot smarter than we thought!

Mocking Birds - David Mizejewski on You Tube

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Amanda Kohler EMAIL: mjane122883@hotmail.com IP: 64.205.186.162 URL: http://www.insidehertwistedmind.com DATE: 06/01/2009 04:15:28 PM Thank you, finally! I'm so tired of explaining that to people who bring in all sorts of baby birds...... AAH it gets frustrating! Mainly its the reason why I put a hold on working at my refuge! I get tired of really "ignorant" people who do not do there recherche, Thank you fror putting this up so maybe this year there wont be as many "kidnapped" baby's! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jana Sheeder EMAIL: dogparkmiami@aol.com IP: 65.7.206.68 URL: http://www.dogparkmiami.com DATE: 06/01/2009 07:17:44 PM Great post! People don't realize that the fledglings must learn to fly, but it's our job to protect them from companion animals and predators. Like all animals, they can't speak for themselves. Keep up the good work, NWF! Great blog. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tedd EMAIL: arries@mac.com IP: 68.8.67.164 URL: DATE: 06/02/2009 01:49:03 PM We have so many around the yard! I love it! I love animals! It's so cute watching the House Sparrows that are almost as big as mom, and they are flapping their wings while mom gets the food and gives it to them even when the food is right next to them, but mom is teaching them! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: A Different Kind of Solar Power STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: a-different-kind-of-solar-power CATEGORY: Energy DATE: 05/29/2009 08:58:58 AM ----- BODY: National-Ignition-Facilit-001

Very cool story out of California today, where the $3.5 billion National Ignition Facility is set to open. Among its functions - generate energy the same way the sun does:

Inside the building, scientists will use the world's most powerful laser to create 192 separate beams of light that will be directed at a bead of frozen hydrogen in a violent burst lasting five billionths of a second. Each fuel pellet measures just two millimetres across but costs around $40,000, because they must be perfectly spherical to ensure they collapse properly when the laser light strikes.

The intense beams produce a powerful shockwave that crunches the fuel pellet at a million miles an hour, generating temperatures of around 100,000,000C. Under such extreme conditions, which are found only in the core of stars, the hydrogen atoms will fuse, producing helium and vast amounts of energy.

Over the coming decades, this facility may result in critical breakthroughs that deliver new clean energy technologies. But from a climate change perspective, we can't afford to wait that long to transition to very-low-emissions energy sources. Scientists say we need to transition away from dirty fossil fuels to clean, renewable power sources like solar and wind right now to avoid the worst effects of global warming.

So while fusion power may one day light up the homes of our great-grandchildren, it doesn't change our short-term energy solutions like the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- PING: TITLE: Solar Power How It Works For Homes URL: http://diysolarhomes.com/blog/home-solar-power/solar-power-how-it-works-for-homes/ IP: 69.56.174.98 BLOG NAME: DIY Solar Homes Blog DATE: 08/11/2009 04:57:43 AM Ive written this simple blog post to explain solar power how it works for homes. I have long had an interest in alternative and renewable power source. Living in a country where we have 7 out of 7 days of sun light every year, solar power seems ... ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: An Urgent Call to Protect America's Waterways STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: an-urgent-call-to-protect-americas-waterways CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 05/28/2009 12:13:32 PM ----- BODY: Over at Huffington Post, Steve Fleischli says America's waterways are under attack -- and that Congress needs to act:
In Southern California, the battle has taken center stage on the Los Angeles River. Decades ago, the Army Corps paved and, with the assistance of local government, fenced many of the local rivers. Last year the Corps achieved a new low by claiming the Los Angeles River is not a traditional navigable waterway, thus introducing the notion that many of its tributaries - and possibly much of the river itself - are not worthy of protection under federal clean water laws. [...]

The truth is, whether we talk about prairie ponds or streams, creeks or lakes, America's waterways desperately need federal protection. New EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson already has expressed support for congressional action on the issue. Now Congress - as the only entity that can untangle the mess created by the Supreme Court - should make this protection clear by restoring the integrity of the Clean Water Act with passage of S. 787 (Feingold) and reintroduction of H.R. 2421 (Oberstar).
Please take a moment now to ask your Senators to pass the Clean Water Restoration Act! ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: In the West it's Cookin and It Ain't Good Lookin STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: in-the-west-its-cookin-and-it-aint-good-lookin DATE: 05/27/2009 04:00:28 PM ----- BODY:

In Western states, land is literally being cooked to extract oil. Long avoided due to its intense water and energy demands, industries are starting to look at oil shale development to meet America's domestic energy needs. Oil Shale Development in Australia

However, this growing interest in oil shale development is two steps back in the wrong direction.

The process of extracting, heating and processing the shale rock that produces oil intensifies the burden on the West's already strained water resources, places well over 2 million acres of our wildlands at stake, and threatens vital habitat for wildlife such as mule deer, black bears and the bald eagle.

Although America's need for energy is undeniable, we need to decide if our western lands should continue to serve a tired, old, dirty energy industry.

That's why earlier this year, the U.S. Interior Secretary imposed a temporary halt on further leasing of public lands to companies looking to extract oil shale and he's now asking for public input on whether the federal oil shale program should proceed. 

The current regulations for oil shale development do not have anywhere near the appropriate environmental or financial standards needed to protect U.S. taxpayers, our climate, the precious water in the Rockies or the millions of acres of wildlife habitat that provide some of the best opportunities for outdoor recreation out west.

So, please join me today in urging the U.S. Interior Secretary to focus on promoting cleaner sources of domestic energy that will help to protect wildlife and our communities.

by Dominique Burgunder-Johnson, Online Grassroots Coordinator, National Wildlife Federation

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Journowl EMAIL: scott@journowl.com IP: 69.236.165.87 URL: http://journowl.com DATE: 05/27/2009 07:27:44 PM It just escapes me why we were able to meet a Presidential mandate to race to space and the moon, but in regards to clean fuel technology society seems so lackadaisical. From what I see in the media there is definitely a market, a need, and a desire, but I hope it is not just an outcry that surfaces when gas prices escalate to $4-5/gallon. What we need is an absolutely clear mandate from our leaders that all American’s can stand behind and without doubt will be achieved ASAP. Keep up the great work! Scott ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Make a Statemant for Public Lands STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: make-a-statemant-for-public-lands DATE: 05/27/2009 03:16:25 PM ----- BODY:

Lisa PhotoCovering almost 1/3 of the nation, America's public lands are some of the last and best habitat for wildlife.

If you're like me and value the beauty of public lands, the wildlife they support and recreation opportunities they provide, you may sometimes wonder what you can do to help protect these special places. While calling and sending letters to your political leaders is always a good idea, the National Wildlife Federation is giving us another way to support public lands.

They just finished designing and printing all organic, public lands T-shirts. Their goal is to spread the word  about public lands by having people all over the country wear these shirts in support of public lands. All proceeds from the shirts will go to support the public lands work of the National Wildlife Federation.

There's a shirt for everyone! See the entire collection of shirts and colors…

Many people don't know about National Wildlife Federation's public lands program, which is based in the Rocky Mountain Regional Center in Boulder, Colorado. Lately, a majority of the work has been focused around the recent energy boom in the West and helping to ensure we balance energy extraction with wildlife protection.

Recently, public lands won a huge victory when a court ruled that plans to drill for oil and gas development on New Mexico's Otero Mesa ignored the protection of key wildlife habitat and groundwater. Otero Mesa is one of most biologically rich and diverse desert ecosystems in the world and was at significant risk from drilling.

The National Wildlife Federation was a key player in this effort to protect the wildlife habitat and water of Otero Mesa. With your support we can all continue to protect these special places for generations to come.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NRDC's Destination: Greenland STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nrdcs-destination-greenland CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 05/27/2009 02:53:48 PM ----- BODY:

The Natural Resources Defense Council's OnEarth magazine is featuring Destination: Greenland, tracking two explorers as they make their way across Greenland's Humbolt Glacier. The story features a daily diary with some fantastic photos.

National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger led a trip to Greenland two years ago. Watch the video series on YouTube:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: "The Empress of the Docks" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-empress-of-the-docks CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 05/27/2009 08:22:04 AM ----- BODY: The Washington Post has a fascinating profile today of a DC naturalist:
In the long tradition of American self-reliance -- that urge to eschew social conventions for a simpler life -- most refugees have headed for wilderness. Henry David Thoreau went to Walden Pond. John Muir to Yosemite. Then there is Paula Smith, who came to Washington about 20 years ago and has been pretty much living off the land ever since.
The article refers to Smith as "the Potomac's keeper," but she's not to be confused with the Potomac Riverkeeper, a group that works to protect and restore the Potomac's water quality. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Obama on ACES STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: obama-on-aces CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 05/22/2009 09:39:45 AM ----- BODY: The House Energy & Commerce Committee passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act last night! Here's President Obama's reaction:
I commend Chairman Waxman and the Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee for a successful effort to pass a comprehensive energy and climate bill out of their committee today. We are now one step closer to delivering on the promise of a new clean energy economy that will make America less dependent on foreign oil, crack down on polluters, and create millions of new jobs all across America. The bill is historic for what it achieves, providing clean energy incentives that encourage innovation while recognizing the concerns of sensitive industries and regions in this country. And this achievement is all the more historic for bringing together many who have in the past opposed a common effort, from labor unions to corporate CEOs, and environmentalists to energy companies. I applaud the committee for its action and look forward to signing comprehensive legislation.
So what's next? As Grist reports, "At least six other House committees have jurisdiction over some portion of this bill." The battles on the House floor, then the Senate will be difficult, but we'll preview those another day.

This morning, let's celebrate a major victory in the fight to pass comprehensive climate & energy legislation in 2009!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: ACES Scorecard & Updated Charts STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: aces-scorecard-updated-charts CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 05/21/2009 04:06:05 PM ----- BODY: Just a couple of quick updates on the American Clean Energy & Security Act (HR 2454), also known as Waxman-Markey.

Is your member of Congress voting the right way on ACES amendments in committee? The League of Conservation Voters has set up a scorecard for House Energy and Commerce Committee members.

Over at Grist, Dave Roberts takes a look at updated charts showing the projected cuts in emissions under ACES. "Is this a grotesque ruination brought on by special interests or a modest adjustment necessary to build a political coalition with a fighting chance," asks Dave. "As I said, I’m seeing it kind of shimmer back and forth between those two states, and it’s making me a little dizzy."

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Gore Gets Behind ACES STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: gore-gets-behind-aces CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 05/21/2009 12:29:29 PM ----- BODY: Politico reports Al Gore has been putting his political muscle behind the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009:
Over the past few days, the former vice president and environmental activist has mobilized his green grass roots, marshaled his well-endowed lobbying organization and even personally called Democratic committee members in an effort to push the bill through the House Energy and Commerce Committee and through Congress.

“I have enormous respect for Al Gore. When it comes to climate change, he’s the guru,” said Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.).
Rumor has it the bill could get a final vote before the full committee as soon as tonight. We'll keep you updated!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: The EPA Wants You STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-epa-wants-you DATE: 05/21/2009 09:54:39 AM ----- BODY:

Over the past week, the EPA has heard testimony from celebrities like James Bond, scientists like Dr. Amanda Staudt, and concerned Americans from Northern Virginia to Washington’s Puget Sound. They’re all telling the EPA what you already know – that global warming is a serious threat to our public health.

Recently, several of us here at NWF got the chance to talk with Olga Malutin, a community leader from Kodiak Island, Alaska, about the way that global warming was affecting her life.

Whether or not you live on Kodiak Island, and have seen a polar bear in your backyard, you are an expert. The EPA wants to hear from American citizens about whether global warming is a risk to YOUR health and wellbeing. Nobody knows better than you how climate change is going to affect you, your family, and your friends.

As a wildlife enthusiast, someone who always gets your Green Hour, someone who's noticed the winters aren't quite as cold as they used to be, and that polar bears are at serious risk of becoming endangered, you can add your comments too. The more the EPA hears from experts like you, the more likely they'll be to encourage the federal government to regulate the global warming pollution that puts us all at risk.

Tell the EPA you want to support their finding that global warming puts your family and the whole natural world at risk.

They're waiting to act, until they hear from you.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Arte AdBird EMAIL: rs@adbirds.com IP: 69.91.89.70 URL: http://www.adbirds.com DATE: 05/23/2009 12:40:18 PM ADBIRDS is designed to help comsumers and businesses save hundreds of millions of gallons of fuel, and millions of hours lost by shopping closer to home or office. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: More Silliness from Shimkus STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: more-silliness-from-shimkus CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 05/20/2009 04:10:02 PM ----- BODY:

The House Energy & Commerce Committee is continuing the amendment process today for the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. The committee's Republican leadership is introducing hundreds of proposed amendments, hoping to stall the bill. Over at Really? Seriously?, Hasan breaks down one of the sillier GOP arguments against the bill:

Mr. Shimkus goes on to make his case by citing the completely debunked Spanish study on how clean energy investments led to high unemployment.


MR. SHIMKUS: Gabriel Calzada Alvarez from Spain came and asked "America, are you crazy? We've lost 22,000 jobs! You want to model your (unintelligable) after us?"

If you haven't already, please take a moment to tell your member of Congress to support the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Pierce Brosnan Testifies at EPA Climate Forum STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: pierce-brosnan-testifies-at-epa-climate-forum CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 05/19/2009 08:06:41 AM ----- BODY: The Associated Press provides a full recap of yesterday's Environmental Protection Agency public forum on the EPA finding that global warming is a threat to public health and welfare. Meanwhile, here's one more video from the forum, testimony from actor Pierce Brosnan, best known as 007 from the James Bond films:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: taxiguy EMAIL: goallelogynak@gmail.com IP: 213.30.114.26 URL: http://www.algarvetaxi.com DATE: 05/26/2009 04:28:26 AM Fantastic and interesting forum will look through more a little later, i drive a taxi in Portugal so if anyone from this forum comes on holiday to the Algarve Portugal, come and have a coffee with me, and i can also let you know lots of history from the area... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: taximan EMAIL: deseteceteree@gmail.com IP: 213.30.114.49 URL: http://www.farotaxi.me.uk DATE: 05/26/2009 12:22:16 PM Just like to say hi will come and chat a little later just finishing off some homework, and believe me it is not easy writing in the heat here at the moment. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Agopagemo EMAIL: issuenruich@gmail.com IP: 67.205.89.48 URL: DATE: 07/01/2009 02:54:11 PM Just wanted to say hi and see how everyone's doing - I'm new to the forum. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Virginia Members: Congress Must Pass Climate Legislation STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: virginia-members-congress-must-pass-climate-legislation CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 05/18/2009 03:16:19 PM ----- BODY: During the lunch break of today's Environmental Protection Agency hearing, the National Wildlife Federation joined several other environmental groups to host a news conference on the need for Congress to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation. Two members of Congress joined us for the event, Virginia's Jim Moran and Gerry Connolly:





----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: climate globalwarming Virginia politics Congress energy ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Video: NWF's Dr. Amanda Staudt on Need for Climate Action STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-nwfs-dr-amanda-staudt-on-need-for-climate-action CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 05/18/2009 12:04:58 PM ----- BODY: Dr. Amanda Staudt, a climate scientist with the National Wildlife Federation, just testified at today's Environmental Protection Agency hearing on climate change. I caught up with her outside the hearing room:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Kicking Off the Week with Two Key Climate Hearings STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: kicking-off-the-week-with-two-key-climate-hearings CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 05/18/2009 08:22:07 AM ----- BODY: It's a busy day for climate action in the DC area! On Capitol Hill, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will begin debating and amending the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES), also known as Waxman-Markey. In today's New York Times, columnist Paul Krugman writes in support of the bill.

And just across the Potomac from Capitol Hill in Arlington's Crystal City, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is holding hearings to take public comment on its proposal to list greenhouse gases as a threat under the Clean Air Act.

I'm heading to the EPA hearing shortly. I'll keep you updated!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jennifer Jones TITLE: Into the Belly of the Beast STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: into-the-belly-of-the-beast CATEGORY: Larry Schweiger DATE: 05/15/2009 04:35:35 PM ----- BODY: Real leadership is uncomfortable. It involves the willingness to do whatever it takes to promote truth – even if it means walking right into enemy territory – right into the belly of the beast. It involves facing the opposition with perseverance.

National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger demonstrated that kind of leadership when he walked right into enemy territory and the Mike Pintek’s show on KDKA, the largest a.m. talk show program in the Pittsburgh PA market. (The National Wildlife Federation recently held its 73rd Annual Meeting in the city.)

Within 30 seconds of our arrival, Pintek announced that he was not going to talk politics or global warming. “Don’t want to talk about global warming because it’s a load of crap.” Nice ...

Pintek introduced Larry and then asked about the top issue the National Wildlife Federation works on. Larry told him: to reform America’s energy policy. Well of course it didn’t take Pintek long to say, “Whaddya mean reform America’s energy policy?” and then, there we were, talking about global warming.

Despite Pintek’s insistence that we weren’t going to talk about global warming, he kept at it for about 30 minutes. Larry, calmly and clearly, kept refuting Pintek’s weak claims (not man-made, the sunspot theory, etc). Larry patiently explained what it means to keep polluting the atmosphere with carbon, what it means to do nothing in the face of this danger, what our responsibility must be to the next generation.

Watching from a corner seat, I have to confess I was squirming. Gritting my teeth. Here’s this guy Pintek, reciting from random pieces of paper strewn on his desk, what he considers the facts about global warming -- implying he knows more than the president of the National Wildlife Federation who has read enough scientific-reviewed studies on global warming to fill Pintek’s studio from floor to ceiling.

Perhaps the most telling moment was when Larry suggested during a break that despite what Pintek believed, his audience deserved to hear the other side of the story. Not missing a beat, Pintek replied, “No. No. That’s not my responsibility. This is a talk show.”

Pintek kept insisting he wanted to talk about wildlife, and he decided to keep Larry on air longer to do just that. One question after another, whether it was about invasive species, wolves, eagles, endangered species, the Chesapeake Bay, the deer population in Pennyslvania, etc., Larry answered with the full authority of a man who has devoted his life to protecting nature.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nicola Schwim EMAIL: nicolaschwim@gmail.com IP: 41.208.11.160 URL: http://www.elephantwhispers.blogspot.com DATE: 05/16/2009 07:53:38 AM HI There A great cause I fully support. If you are interested in some touching encounters with man and wild elephants please feel free to pay my blog a visit on www.elephantwhispers.blogspot.com Warmest Regards, Nicola Schwim ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: NWF Poll: Overwhelming Support for Clean Energy, Climate Legislation STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-poll-overwhelming-support-for-clean-energy-climate-legislation CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 05/15/2009 02:34:56 PM ----- BODY: A newly-released National Wildlife Federation poll shows two-thirds of registered voters support all elements of a comprehensive climate and energy plan:
The support for all elements of the plan is even stronger among key swing voter groups such as Independent women (78%), moderate Republicans (70%) and conservative Democrats (66%).

“Americans want change and that includes changing our energy policy,” said Jennifer Jones, Vice President, Strategic Communications. “The findings show that Americans aren’t interested in the status quo and want to move the clean energy economy forward to create jobs, revitalize the economy and reduce global warming pollution.”
It's encouraging news as clean energy & climate legislation continues to build momentum in Congress!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: A newly-released National Wildlife Federation poll shows two-thirds of registered voters support all elements of a comprehensive climate and energy plan. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Take Friday to Think About Endangered Species STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: take-friday-to-think-about-endangered-species DATE: 05/14/2009 05:10:15 PM ----- BODY:

Last week, the Senate passed a resolution declaring today, May 15, as Endangered Species Day. It's a day for all of us wildlife enthusiasts (and those who are still joining the party) to learn about endangered species and their habitats.

I was talking with my colleague and fellow blogger Danielle this morning, and she brought up a great point:

"Everyone knows that panda bears and African elephants are endangered. But do we ever think enough about the Virginia big-eared bat?"

So I did some research and found more than twenty wildlife species that live in my neighborhood, all threatened with extinction.

Today, in honor of Endangered Species Day, @wildlifeaction is tweeting for the Red-cockaded woodpecker, native to the DC-area, and already extinct in nearby Maryland. #speciesday


What animal are you thinking of today?


I'm going to turn this over to Danielle (@nwf & @starfocus) now, so she can give you some more facts.

What does Endangered Species Day mean to me? Julia mentioned my pet peeve -- everyone seems to know everything about endangered species that are cute, large and very often cuddly-- but they also live very far away. I think it's equally important to know about the animals in YOUR area. Yes I know, some people don't think they have to care about endangered clams in Virginia--but the truth is-- you should. These are the animals that we have an effect on and that have an effect on us.

The sad truth is that we can't even go to America.gov and get an exclusive look at our nation's endangered species, and believe me we have plenty of them to fill a page. But that's ok. Now that we know there are plenty of local animals let's work to protect them! NWF offers lots of ways.

I think that Endangered Species Day is about ALL of these animals, and that we should never underestimate the importance of protecting even animals far away.

Gray_Bat_USACE

I want to challenge our readers to learn at least ONE new species that is endangered in your area. I think just by being aware of these animals and learning how to protect them, we can be better stewards of the earth. To me, Endangered Species Day reminds me that while it's important to save what we love it's equally important to protect what we may not understand.
 
Just a heads up: "There are currently 1317 species listed in the U.S.: 746 plants and 571 animals. To find out what endangered species are near you, and how you can help, please visit www.fws.gov/endangered."


I'll be tweeting for the Gray Bat! (pic above).

At the National Wildlife Federation- we want to know about the endangered species you care about, whether  you tweet it, share it on facebook, post a blog or even a comment below! Share with us a species you learned about or want to protect and if you are on twitter, hashtag it #speciesday. We look forward to hearing about them.
 (Also- be sure to join the fun even if you aren't in the US! We would love to hear from you too)

If you are on Twitter,  help us spread the word! Copy and paste this into your "tweet" window:

Twitter

I'm tweeting for (Enter your species here) with @NWF in honor of Endangered Species Day! #speciesday
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 98.169.97.52 URL: DATE: 05/15/2009 07:52:35 AM I'm tweeting for the Gray Bat! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mat Paulson EMAIL: 3littlebirds@gomoorhead.com IP: 68.177.129.31 URL: DATE: 05/15/2009 09:36:43 AM I am supporting and educating about 3 endangered species today from my area! The Karner Blue Butterfly and the Sprague's Pipit and the Narrow Leafed Milkweed. All great beneificial species that are losing the battle because of habitat loss in grasslands. The Karner Blue is dependent on the wild Lupine, Sprague's Pipit on grasslands but their habitat is disappearing partly due to gravel pits in our area and the Narrow Leafed Milkweed is almost lost in MN and a host plant for Monarchs. Plant for Wildlife, Plant Natives and learn about beneficial species that should be in your 'backyard'. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson EMAIL: kjohnson@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: http://www.nps.gov/shen/naturescience/shenandoah_salamander.htm DATE: 05/15/2009 10:06:55 AM I'm tweeting for the Shenandoah salamander, which was "listed as Federally Endangered in 1989. This is due to its restricted range, limitations on range expansion and potential threats within defined population areas. Although its range falls entirely within a National Park where protection might be assumed, there are many threats to this species. Periodic infestation of park forests by non-native insects and disease that result in defoliation and tree mortality alter habitat for the salamander. Acid deposition is believed to be altering park soil conditions. This, in turn, could alter hydro-chemical conditions that the Shenandoah Salamander needs, could alter forest vegetation growth and develop thus changing habitat, and could affect soil organisms that are consumed. Finally, human use (hiking, camping, trail maintenance, etc.) could have impacts on the salamander." http://www.nps.gov/shen/naturescience/shenandoah_salamander.htm ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David Mizejewski EMAIL: mizejewski@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 05/15/2009 10:20:12 AM I picked the Shiny Pigtoe, a species of mussel. Someone's got to represent the endangered invertebrates! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: TheGreenNag EMAIL: TheGreenNag@live.com IP: 209.121.56.19 URL: http://twitter.com/TheGreenNag DATE: 05/15/2009 10:24:00 AM I'm tweeting for ALL endangered species as each and every one has it's place in our eco system! From the small to the large they all play vital roles in our world! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: flmom EMAIL: kahana96@hotmail.com IP: 70.118.26.194 URL: http://a-skip-in-my-step.blogspot.com/ DATE: 05/15/2009 11:17:07 AM I'm tweeting for the Wood Stork. I really had an enlightening moment yesterday when I found they are on the endangered species list - never realized that! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: phoenix EMAIL: phoenix@novawerks.net IP: 65.210.57.1 URL: http://www.novawerks.net/ DATE: 05/15/2009 11:34:35 AM Do I h have to choose? I'm in love with the Piping Plover and the Least Tern, even though neither are in my area - I just think they're beautiful birds, and I never realized they were endangered! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: flmom EMAIL: kahana96@hotmail.com IP: 70.118.26.194 URL: http://a-skip-in-my-step.blogspot.com/ DATE: 05/15/2009 11:53:59 AM I blogged about my choice as well. Didn't leave my Twitter link before - http://twitter.com/aussiemamma (2 m's) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: bigcatcentral EMAIL: kahana96@hotmail.com IP: 70.118.26.194 URL: http://bigcatcentral.blogspot.com/ DATE: 05/15/2009 01:10:14 PM I am tweeting - http://twitter.com/bigcat_C - and I blogged. My endangered species is the Florida Panther! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gina Buss EMAIL: fisheyedview@gmail.com IP: 68.225.213.131 URL: http://fisheyedview.com/endangered-species-pictures-the-fishing-cat/ DATE: 05/15/2009 02:33:35 PM What a wonderful post! It is so true that most of us do think of only the fuzzy cute endangered animals when we can probably make the most difference if we think more locally. I'm currently learning about the endangered desert pupfish living in Arizona. Thanks, Gina ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: oceangrant EMAIL: carol@oceangrant.com IP: 24.144.89.167 URL: http://www.oceangrant.com DATE: 05/15/2009 02:37:29 PM Tweeting & making known our beloved Florida manatee: http://twitter.com/oceangrant ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rickbischoff EMAIL: RickbischoffTransmit@gmail.com IP: 208.104.49.162 URL: http://rickbischoffprofile.blogspot.com/ DATE: 05/15/2009 03:06:34 PM WOW I knew there were a lot of animals on the list... THAT is TOOO many. will spread the word. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mysticle EMAIL: mysticle@gmail.com IP: 208.104.49.162 URL: http://mysticle.blogspot.com/ DATE: 05/15/2009 04:03:23 PM Great article and Great idea! I'm tweeting for ALL http://twitter.com/Mysticle We recently posted a blog on the endangered California Condor http://rickbischoff.blogspot.com/2009/04/california-condor.html Thank You ~ ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barbara, Conservation Northwest EMAIL: barbara@conservationnw.org IP: 66.114.43.82 URL: http://www.conservationnw.org DATE: 05/15/2009 04:35:41 PM We are tweeting this week for the North Cascades grizzly bear as part of Bear Awareness week! http://twitter.com/conservationnw With only 10-20 bears left in the Cascades, very little chance for natural genetic influx, and a recovery plan that has been sitting on the shelf unfunded for nearly 15 years, they really need our help! NWF rocks! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF: "Massive Momentum" Behind Climate & Clean Energy Bill STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-massive-momentum-behind-climate-clean-energy-bill CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 05/13/2009 11:48:10 AM ----- BODY: House Democrats have unveiled the details of comprehensive clean energy & climate legislation that could come up for a vote in a matter of days. Here's what Joe Mendelson, the National Wildlife Federation's director of global warming policy, had to say:
House Democrats are nearing a historic agreement that would clear the way for the Energy and Commerce Committee to pass a clean energy jobs plan by Memorial Day. We are witnessing a remarkable coalition united from oil patch states to the Rust Belt and beyond. It’s clear now that there is massive momentum to deliver comprehensive climate and energy legislation to President Obama this year.

Congress must act now to begin building a new clean energy economy that will generate millions of clean energy jobs, break our dependence on oil and reduce the carbon pollution that causes global warming.
Please take a moment right now to send a message to your member of Congress to help this legislation get the support it needs by Memorial Day!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: 10 Ways to Change the World Through Social Media STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: citizen-journalism-open-government-status-updates-community-building-information-sharing-crowdsourcing-and-the-election DATE: 05/12/2009 02:00:55 PM ----- BODY:

At National Wildlife Federation we are very serious about protecting wildlife for our children's future. That's why we are very active on social media sites, because we know that there are a number of ways these sites can protect wildlife with your help! I'm excited to share this post with you, the majority of it coming from Max Gladwell. I look forward to your comments!


Citizen journalism, open government, status updates, community building, information sharing, crowdsourcing, and the election of a President.

Editor's note: This is first guest post from Max GladwellOur children will inherit a world profoundly changed by the combination of technology and humanity that is social media. They'll take for granted that their voices can be heard and that a social movement can be launched from their laptop. They'll take for granted that they are connected and interconnected with hundreds of millions of people at any given moment. And they'll take for granted that a black man is or was President of the United States. What's most profound is that these represent parts of a greater whole. They represent a shift in power from centralized institutions and organizations to the People they represent. It is the evolution of democracy by way of technology, and we are all better for it. For most of us, social media has changed our lives in some meaningful way. Collectively it is changing the world for good. Given the pace of innovation and adoption, change has become a constant. Every so often we find the need to stop and reflect on its most recent and noteworthy developments, hence the following list. Please note this is not a top-10 list, nor are these listed in any particular order. It's also incomplete. So we ask that you add to this conversation in the comments. If you'd like to Retweet this post or take the conversation to Twitter or FriendFeed, please use the hashtag #10Ways.


1. Take Social Actions: The nonprofit organization Social Actions aggregates "opportunities to make a difference from over 50 online platforms" through its unique API. It recently held the Change the Web Challenge contest in order to inspire the most innovative applications for that API. The Social Actions Interactive Map won the $5,000 first prize. The result is a virtual tour of the world through the lens of social action. "People are volunteering, donating, signing petitions, making loans and doing other social actions as we speak -- all over the world. To capture the context of the where, this project uses sophisticated techniques to extract location information from full text paragraphs." You can also join the Social Actions Community, which is powered by Ning...which now boasts more than one million individual social networks.

2. Twitter with a Purpose: This list could be exclusive to Twitter. The micro-blogging sensation was featured on our first two lists (a three-tweet), and it's certain to be a fixture. From Tweetsgiving, the virtual Thanksgiving feast, to the Twestival, which organized 202 off-line events around the world to benefit charity: water, it's become the de facto tool for organizing and taking action. Tweet Congress won the SXSW activism award, and celebrity Tweeps Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Rose Tweeted their two million followers about ending malaria. Max Gladwell recently initiated the #EcoMonday follow meme as a way to connect and organize the Green Twittersphere.

3. Visit White House 2.0: Inside of its first 100 days, the Obama administration has managed to set the historic benchmark for government transparency and accountability. The President's virtual town hall meeting used WhiteHouse.gov to crowdsource questions from his 300 million constituents, complete with voting to determine the ones he'd have to answer. All told, 97,937 people submitted 103,978 questions and cast 1,782,650 votes. The White House continues to raise the bar with its official Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter channels. In so doing President Obama is not just setting the standard for state and local government in the U.S. He's establishing the world standard. The Obama administration is spreading democracy not by force but through example. Because you don't have to be an American citizen to be a friend or follower of White House 2.0.


4. Claim your Zumbox or Reduce Junk Mail: What happens when all mail can be sent and delivered online to any street address in a paperless form? That's the big question for Zumbox, which has created an online mail system with a digital mailbox for every U.S. street address. And while the answer to that question remains to be seen, it promises to be as liberating as it is disruptive. A key quality for Zumbox is that it's closed system much like that of Facebook, only instead of true identity it's true address.  Welcome to Mail 2.0.

CatalogchoiceThere are also other online resources for to reduce your paper such as Catalog Choice- just by signing up and selecting which magazines you don't want to receive you can really cut back on junk mail!

5. Host a Social Media Event: This is the year of the social media event. Just like when NWF encouraged people to participate in Twestoration, no meaningful gathering of people is complete without an interactive online audience, especially when it's so easy and cost effective to pull off. Essential tools include a broadband connection, laptop, video camera, projector, and screen. Add people and a purpose, such as entrepreneurship. Promote it through social media channels, and you have a social media event. A recent example in the green world is the Evolution of Green, which was hosted by Creative Citizen, a green wiki community. It celebrated the launch of a new Web property, EcoMatters, while also establishing a new Twitter tag. By posing the question, "How can we go from green hype to green habit?" and including the #GreenQ hashtag, it sparked a conversation between attendees and the Twittersphere in real time. Thus was born a new mechanism for getting answers to green questions via Twitter.

6. Travel the World: More than anyone else, Tim O'Reilly knows the potential for social media to change the world. In his opening keynote at this year's Web 2.0 Expo, he called for a new ethic in which we do more with less and create more value than we capture. This provided the context for SalaamGarage founder Amanda Kostner, whose presentation followed O'Reilly's. The idea is that social media has enabled each of us to have an audience. Whether through Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, or a personal blog, each of us can have influence and reach. What's more, it can be used for good. SalaamGarage coordinates trips for citizen journalists (that means you) to places like India and Vietnam in conjunction with non-government organizations like Seattle-based Peace Trees. The destination is the story, as these humanitarian journalists report on the people they meet and discoveries they make. Their words, images, and video are posted to the social web to gain exposure and because these stories just need to be told.

 

7. Build It on Drupal: You may not have noticed, but the open-source Drupal content management system (CMS) has quickly become the dominant player on the social web. While we still prefer WordPress as a strict blogging application, Drupal has emerged as the go-to platform for building scalable, community-driven Web sites. It powers Recovery.gov, a key part of President Obama's commitment to transparency and accountability. PopRule uses it as a social news platform for politics. And Drupal will soon become the platform for Causecast, a site where "media, philanthropy, social networking, entertainment and education converge to serve a greater purpose." This is especially significant because Causecast CEO Ryan Scott is tranWildObsObserversitioning the site off of Ruby on Rails because Drupal has proved more efficient, user friendly, and cost effective. (Disclosure: Max Gladwell founder Rob Reed is co-founder of PopRule.)

8. Watch for Wildlife With Your iPhone:With the Wild Obs iPhone application you can track your  wildlife findings and share them for citizen science purposes. That way, you not only keep track of the wildlife that you've seen, but you are also being useful to scientists! This iPhone application will hopefully make it more convenient for people to identify wildlife as well and works very nicely with NWF's Wildlife Watch program.

9. Unite the World Through Video: Matt's dancing around the world video inspired many to tears. Today, more than 20 million people have viewed his YouTube masterpiece, where he performs a kooky dance with the citizens of planet earth. The most recent example of this approach is Playing for Change, which connects the world through song. The project started in Santa Monica with a street performance of the classic Stand By Me and expanded to New Orleans, New Mexico, France, Brazil, Italy, Venezuela, South Africa, Spain, and The Netherlands. The project was superbly executed via social media, complete with a YouTube channel, MySpace, Facebook, and Blog. It's received tremendous mainstream media exposure and also benefits a foundation of the same name.


10. Rate a Company: The conversation about corporate social responsibility (CSR) takes place across the social web on blogs, Twitter, and YouTube, but a central hub for this information and opinion is still to be determined. SocialYell seeks to address this by building an online community around the CSR conversation, where users can submit reviews of companies together with nonprofit organizations and even public figures like Michelle Obama. The major topics are the Environment, Health, Social Equity, Consumer Advocacy, and Charity. The reviews are voted and commented on by the community in a Reddit-like fashion with both up (Yell) and down (shhh) voting. The site is relatively new and still gaining traction, but there's no question that a resource like this is needed to shine a bright light on CSR and and other related issues.

11. Publish a collective, simultaneous blog post on a universal topic
: As Nigel Tufnel might say, this list goes to eleven. Let the #10Ways conversation begin...

Final note
: This is Max Gladwell's third list of "10 Ways to Change the World Through Social Media." The first was posted a year ago today on Sustainablog.org, and the sequel followed five months later. If a single headline can capture the Max Gladwell raison d'etre, this is it.


Like this subject? Read how social media and the web can save wildlife.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: EcoLabel Fundraising EMAIL: jreslan@ecolabelfundraising.com IP: 72.188.51.212 URL: http://www.ecolabelfundraising.com DATE: 05/12/2009 03:50:00 PM Great post - I'm going to tweet this! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kimberly Schoemaker EMAIL: kimberly@virgance.com IP: 173.11.99.190 URL: http://virgance.com DATE: 09/01/2009 02:06:02 PM My name is Kim. I work at Virgance where we build projects aimed at creating massive positive social or environmental change (http://virgance.com). I am spearheading our next big venture, called Lend Me Some Sugar, which is a new way to fund social entrepreneurs and non-profits. We're hoping to do a media blast in the next couple weeks and wanted to see if Causecast would participate in a simultaneous blog post about LMSS to get this idea off the ground. Details Lend Me Some Sugar is basically American Idol for social entrepreneurs. We will run a series of themed contests, for example clean water or renewable energy, using social networks to reach millions of people who will vote on their favorite idea. The winning contestant will receive a large cash prize (think millions) to get their project off the ground, and the money for this prize will come from a big brand who sponsors the contest. For the brand, LMSS will be a highly engaging social media marketing campaign that associates their company with doing good, and for us it's a way to turn massive advertising budgets into funding for great ideas. We have generated a lot of interest from brands but first need to prove that we will reach a big audience when we launch. Therefore our first step is to get 1 million fans of our Facebook page: http://facebook.com/LendMeSomeSugar. To do this we are coordinating a simultaneous post about LMSS across dozens of blogs (similar to the Max Gladwell 10 ways post: http://www.causecast.org/news_items/8430-max-gladwells-10-ways). Let me know if you can help us out. Thanks so much! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Waxman Ready to Show Cards on ACES? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: waxman-ready-to-show-cards-on-aces CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 05/12/2009 11:44:50 AM ----- BODY:

The National Wildlife Federation has been lobbying hard to help build support for strong provisions in the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. Now Grist reports Democrats have reached a deal on details:

House leaders have reportedly reached a tentative deal on a climate and energy bill—and in the absence of details, speculation is rampant about how the bill has been weakened or otherwise changed.

Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the bill’s coauthors, had wanted to start markup of the legislation two weeks ago, with the aim of passing it out of committee by Memorial Day. But it’s taken longer than expected to reach agreement with moderate Democrats, who requested a lot of changes to the bill.

Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee are scheduled to meet Tuesday night to hammer out the final details; then text of the revised bill is expected to be unveiled on Wednesday, and debate is to begin on Thursday.

We'll keep you updated on the bill. In the meantime, tell your member of Congress to support strong clean energy & climate legislation this year!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ares EMAIL: wallalla@live.com IP: 75.111.78.137 URL: http://www.ares.net DATE: 05/12/2009 12:40:07 PM Thanks for posting this. I have contacted my congressman, asking him to support the actions designed to help our future citizens. We must begin to reverse some of the damage we've done, or at least begin to contain it. ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Wildlife and Weather STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wildlife-and-weather DATE: 05/11/2009 06:10:27 PM ----- BODY:

I write an e-newsletter for NWF called Wildlife and Weather that goes out to meteorologists.  In it I share current news, science and natural history about how climate, seasonal conditions and the current local weather all impact wildlife.  My goal is to provide meteorologists with interesting information that they can use in their weathercasts.  Since most Americans tune in to their local TV or radio news to get the weather report for their area, it’s a great way to help millions of people understand the natural world around them.  As a naturalist, that’s my job.

I write about things like what bird species are migrating though the Mid-Atlantic states the second week in April, when you can expect to hear the Pacific tree frogs singing in Seattle, what wild turkeys are up to around Thanksgiving-time, and how a summer drought is going to affect hibernating bears come winter. 

All of this is generally met with positive feedback from the meteorologists who receive it—unless I mention climate change.  Then a vocal minority is prone to reply with tirades about how global warming is a liberal scheme or quotes from isolated studies with questionable funding sources that purportedly prove that the planet’s climate isn’t changing.

My response to this type of response is that the overwhelming majority of scientists agree that climate change is happening, that it’s happening at an unprecedented rate far in excess of previous natural shifts in climate, and that human beings are the direct cause of it. [INSERT SOME LINKS THAT SHOW THIS - MAYBE THE LATEST IUCN REPORT?] Even the former head of the American Meteorological Society agrees that the scientific data are clear on this (see Bob Ryan’s series on climate change here).

To me, it’s also just common sense.  How can you talk about bird migration and not mention that some species no longer migrate as far south as they used to because it’s staying warmer further north than it was 50 years ago?  Or that the long-term trend of increasing frequency and severity of hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts has destroyed valuable nesting habitat for birds and sea turtles? 

It is true that we cannot attribute any one weather event to global climate change.  But at the same time it’s also true that climate determines weather.  If our climate is changing, and the data show that it is, weather conditions are also going to change.  Weather impacts wildlife, and we are already seeing how changes in weather patterns due to climate change is changing wildlife behavior and ability to survive.  I can’t stop talking about those kinds of things simply because some politicians and corporations—and meteorologists—with a vested interest in the status quo would have us to ignore the science.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NJ Volunteers Fight to Save Piping Plovers STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nj-volunteers-fight-to-save-piping-plovers CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 05/11/2009 10:19:25 AM ----- BODY:
Pipingplover

A National Wildlife Federation expert was quoted in a recent New York Times article on New Jersey's efforts to monitor its piping plover population:

Because piping plovers nest directly on the beach — and their feathered camouflage blends with their sandy surroundings — they can be tramped on by beachgoers, run over by dune buggies and beach-cleaning machines and harassed by pet dogs. Plovers are also unusual in that they do not feed their young. The chicks are mobile shortly after hatching and parents lead them down to the water’s edge to feed, making the chicks vulnerable to predators like foxes, seagulls and feral cats.

“A key part of the conservation effort for beach-nesting birds such as the piping plover is public awareness,” said Curtis Fisher, Northeast regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation. “New Jersey’s volunteer program is a model for that.”

You can learn more at the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife website!
Photo courtesy Flickr's Billtacular

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Moms Gone Wild! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: moms-gone-wild CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 05/09/2009 09:08:34 AM ----- BODY:

Motherhood is a life-changing experience for humans and wildlife alike. Wildlife mothers devote precious resources to finding a mate, digging dens, building nests, giving birth and protecting and feeding their babies. Just because they’re not human doesn’t make wildlife mothers any less dedicated.

Possum mom

Going Hungry

Human moms often diet after giving birth to lose their baby weight, but in the wildlife world, some mothers start extreme fasts before they even give birth in order to give their young the best start in life. Female bears give birth in their winter dens, where the helpless young will be safe and warm, even though that means mom doesn’t get to eat for weeks or even months prior to giving birth. Bears gorge themselves on such rich foods as nuts and berries (black bears), salmon (grizzlies) and blubbery seals (polar bears) in order to pack on weight in preparation for their fast.

Pacific gray whales
migrate thousands of miles from cold, plankton-rich Arctic waters to relatively  nutrient-poor tropical lagoons off of the coast of Mexico where they give birth. This protects their calves from killer whales, which stick to the colder waters. It also gives their newborns time to feed on their incredibly rich milk (53% fat!) and build a layer of insulating blubber before the must head to the icy Arctic. Like bears, the mother whales go hungry for months while still needing to produce high calorie milk for their babies. During this time they may lose as much as 8 tons of weight!

Delicate Touch

RaccoonPredatory animals are expertly equipped for killing. Claws, fangs, and brute strength ensure that predators can take down prey that’s often much larger than themselves, but these adaptations for killing prey are the equivalent of the steak knives and scissors in the playpen. Such lethally designed predator mothers need to be extremely careful with their delicate babies.

Alligators have powerful jaws that clamp down on prey including fish, snakes, and small mammals. The jaws of an adult alligator can exert over 2,000 pounds of pressure! They are strong enough to crush right through turtle shells and tear giant chunks of flesh from prey too large to swallow in one gulp. Yet alligator moms use those same jaws to delicately tear open their nest of mud and decaying vegetation to release their newly hatched young. Not only that, they have the gentle skill to individually pick up their tiny hatchlings, which only measure a few inches long, and transport them to the safety of the water.

No Strollers Needed


It’s a dangerous world out there and wildlife moms need a to make sure they can move their young from  place to place to find food and avoid predators. Some baby animals are able to run and keep up with mom soon after birth, such as young zebra, quail and hares. Monkeys and apes have arms and hands similar to humans’ and many can carry their babies around with them or have their babies cling to them. Other species without such dexterous hands have babies that are able to balance on or cling to their mom’s back, including sloth bears, swans, opossums, loons and anteaters.

Surinam toads have an even more unique way of moving their young around. Rather than simply laying a clutch of eggs and leaving them to their fate, female Surinam toads carry their eggs on their back. The sticky eggs settle into their mom’s spongy, honeycombed skin where they hatch, grow and complete metamorphosis before striking out on their own, getting the protective benefit of their mom’s speed and size the whole time.

It Takes a Village

Lucky human moms have the help from their extended families, friends and of course, dads. Many wild species live in social groups and enjoy the same benefit. Elephant herds are matriarchal and made up of the dominant female, her sisters and all of their young. Baby elephants are coddled and protected by the entire herd and are often play under the watchful eye of a babysitter, called an allomother, while the rest of the adults are foraging. Musk ox calves also get the protection of the herd.  If wolves attack, the adults form a protective ring around the young, facing the wolves with their thick skulls with sharp horns. Wolves themselves are social animals, and while only the dominant female gives birth, the rest of the pack actively takes part in the care, protection and feeding of cubs.

Manatee_motherandcalf_USFWS_260wQuantity not Quality

Humans devote an amazing amount of time to the care and protection of their babies, and so do many wild animal moms. But in nature some species have evolved a different, but equally effective, tactic. Instead of having just a few babies, many species have dozens, hundreds or even thousands of offspring. It’s just not possible for a mother to take care of that many young. Without that care, most of those offspring will fall prey to predators or fail to find food or habitat and die. But given the sheer numbers of young, some are bound to survive to adulthood to reproduce and ensure the survival of the species. Wildlife species as diverse as fish, frogs, sea turtles and insects employ this motherhood strategy.

Mr. Moms

In some species, the male takes on the bulk of the baby care. Seahorse males have a pouch in which the female deposits her eggs. The male fertilizes them, supplies them with oxygen from his own body and carries them until they hatch and head out on their own. The female visits with the male each day and will mate with him again when his pouch is empty, but takes no active part in the development of the young after she lays her eggs.

Emperor penguin females lay their single egg at the beginning of the Antarctic winter and immediately pass it on to their mate before heading back out to sea. It’s the male’s job to incubate the egg by holding it on his feet covered by a flap of skin on his abdomen to prevent it from freezing. For 65 days he does nothing but protect his egg, not even eat. Shortly before the eggs hatch the well-fed female returns to relieve him of his duties. The male heads out to sea to feed but will return to feed his chick and take turns with his mate returning to sea for food.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marian Ross EMAIL: marianrss@yahoo.com IP: 69.120.20.19 URL: DATE: 05/10/2009 11:50:14 PM Very interesting article on the "moms gone wild" Animals are fascinating!Great caretakers fr their young ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Disappointing Decision on Polar Bear Protection STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: disappointing-decision-on-polar-bear-protection CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 05/08/2009 12:14:30 PM ----- BODY:

The decision is in, and it's not what we were hoping for. The Obama administration has announced it will stick with the Bush administration's regulation weakening protections for the threatened polar bear. The rule, put in place in the waning days of the Bush administration, downplays the causal link between global warming pollution and the decline of the polar bear's sea ice habitat. It also weakens habitat protections needed to help polar bears survive the threat of global warming.

photo by digitalvisionHere's what John Kostyack, the National Wildlife Federation's executive director of wildlife conservation and global warming, had to say about the decision:

We are disappointed that the Obama administration has chosen to leave the Bush-era polar bear rule in place. Polar bears are very much on thin ice, so we need to jettison any rules that limit the Endangered Species Act's ability to do what it does best, protect the critical habitat species need to survive

Now more than ever we need Congress to get the whole job done and pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation that both reduces emissions and provides dedicated funding to safeguard wildlife and natural resources from climate impacts.

Any project that adds more carbon to the atmosphere will increase the risk of the polar bear's extinction. Arguing otherwise is akin to saying that adding another pack of cigarettes will not increase a person's risk of cancer.

Ask Congress to protect the polar bear at our Speak Up for Wildlife page.

(Photo by DigitalVision)

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: DATE: 05/08/2009 03:37:37 PM So sad about this! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bill Jacobson EMAIL: bill@socialalliancenetwork.org IP: 69.19.14.12 URL: http://www.socialalliancenetwork.org DATE: 05/08/2009 03:41:33 PM And this is HOPE. WTF! I'm contacting Plouffe to Demand a refund to my Obama contibutions. How about you? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ted Michaels EMAIL: jdwd@inbox.com IP: 79.78.244.49 URL: DATE: 05/09/2009 09:07:00 AM Not good enough, Obama. Very angry, disappointed, and surprised by this unfair and illogical decision. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Andrea Backus EMAIL: ambackus@uvm.edu IP: 67.240.25.96 URL: DATE: 05/09/2009 11:50:30 AM W. T. F. !!!! I never had faith in Obama to begin with, but this intolerable and offensive! I never expected he'd be so oppressive. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Billy Watts EMAIL: billymwatts@yahoo.com IP: 74.10.165.76 URL: DATE: 05/14/2009 07:41:29 PM It seems like the Obama administration does not want to take any serious action until it is absolutely necessary. That time is quickly appraoching. The polar bear population is always dropping, and their habitat is melting from underneath them. Obama was supposed to bring hope, but he too looks like he is turning a blind eye ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: AEI: You Can Think Polar Bears are Cute. Or Threatened. But Not Both. STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: aei-you-can-think-polar-bears-are-cute-or-threatened-but-not-both CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 05/08/2009 11:30:36 AM ----- BODY:

Inside_PolarBearandCub While we're waiting on a decision from the Obama administration on protecting polar bears, I thought I'd  pass along this little laugher from the American Enterprise Institute:

The National Wildlife Federation, which sells cute little plush polar bears, warns us that "[p]olar bears are literally drowning from global warming, unable to swim the increasingly longer distances between land and receding sea ice."

I guess AEI thinks that anyone who thinks the polar bear is cute cannot be trusted to rationally interpret a temperature trend chart.

The AEI article then wastes literally hundreds of words attacking the science of polar bear populations before concluding that ... well, AEI doesn't really care about the science. Even if it would admit that global warming is happening and is threatening the polar bears, AEI would still maintain that polar bears "are robust creatures that have survived past periods of extensive deglaciation."

Hear that, polar bears? Hope you've been brushing up on those swimming skills, because AEI won't throw you a lifeline. Polluting trumps polar bears.

Ask Congress to protect the polar bear at our Speak Up for Wildlife page.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Polar Bear Protection Decision Due STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: polar-bear-protection-decision-due CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 05/08/2009 08:02:24 AM ----- BODY: PolarBearsUPDATE 10:27am: Hearing we may get a decision this morning. I'll keep you updated.

A critical decision is expected any minute now from the Obama administration:
A decision involving the iconic polar bear could determine whether protecting endangered species might also help save the earth from global warming.

The Obama administration is approaching a weekend deadline to decide whether it should allow government agencies to cite the federal Endangered Species Act, which protects the bear, for imposing limits on greenhouse gases from power plants, factories and automobiles even if the pollution occurs thousands of miles from where the polar bear lives.
All the regulatory hand-wringing only underscores the need for Congressional leadership on clean energy and climate change. Tell your member of Congress to act now at our Climate Action Center!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Water, Water Everywhere STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: water-water-everywhere DATE: 05/07/2009 09:47:59 AM ----- BODY:
But if Congress doesn't pass the Clean Water Restoration Act soon, there won't be a drop to drink. 

Over 1/3 of America's drinking water supply is at risk because of a recent Supreme Court decision, which removed protection from many of our streams and wetlands. A few weeks ago, we talked about the consequences of that decision--from the threat to North America's duck population, to the increased risk of flooding in our homes and communities. 

But now there's a chance to protect clean water for wildlife and humans alike. Please send a message to your senators today. 
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Protections for the Pika STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: protections-for-the-pika- CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 05/06/2009 04:58:46 PM ----- BODY:

No Room at the Top is an article describing some issues the North American Pika is facing with the changing climate. http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?issueID=79&articleId=1147

Action Alert
https://online.nwf.org/site/Advocacy?&cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=881


Pika

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Rep. Pence's Five Seconds of Silence STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: rep-pences-five-seconds-of-silence CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 05/06/2009 02:48:05 PM ----- BODY: Five seconds doesn't seem like a long time. Heck, it took me that long to type that sentence.

But when you're behind a microphone at a press conference, five seconds can seem like an eternity. Just ask Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN).

Kate Sheppard of Grist had just asked Rep. Pence about the push for a cap on global warming pollution from the coalition of businesses and environmental groups called the U.S. Climate Action Partnership. "What's your answer to those business leaders who are asking for a cap?"

Rep. Pence's responds with long ... uncomfortable ... silence:



Once Rep. Pence starts talking, it only gets worse. "I don't want to confirm that business leaders are asking for a cap," says Pence. Then seconds later, "I'm aware that some [business leaders] are [asking for a cap]."

When a reporter can catch you in a "gotcha" and have you admit you were wrong within ten seconds ... well, as the kids on the internets say, epic fail.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jennifer Jones TITLE: What Are We Waiting For? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: what-are-we-waiting-for CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 05/06/2009 02:05:26 PM ----- BODY: There’s nothing like going to a college campus to remind you about what’s really at stake. The University of St. Thomas Students for Sustainability invited me to the campus to talk about global warming. Lois Quam, National Wildlife Federation Board member and founder of Tysvar, also was there to talk about why the new green economy is the economic opportunity of our lifetime.

Congress first passed legislation mentioning the need to address climate change in 1975 -- more than a generation ago. The bill authorized and directed a “coordinated national program relating to climate ... and required an annual report to Congress that would describe man’s effect on climate.” In 1975!

A few days later, I read in Juliet Eilperin's article Democrats May Ease Bill’s Emissions Rules that Representative Joe Barton (R-TX), ranking minority member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, noted “his side” wants to “put compliance off as long into the future as possible” and is working with conservative Democrats to do just that.

As long as possible? I’d say 34 years is long enough.

To all those obstructionists, I ask you, What are you are waiting for? Why wait to unleash American business and the entrepreneurial spirit to provide these students and millions of other Americans good paying jobs? Why wait to invest in clean energy that won’t threaten the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat? Why wait until more plants and wildlife are on the brink of extinction? Why wait to make the U.S. a global leader in clean energy technologies?

Enough of the waiting. Americans are done with the status quo. They want investments in clean energy and they want it now. It’s time to end the partisan division that leads lawmakers blindly down a path of inaction. It’s time to believe in American business and the entrepreneurial spirit. It’s time to believe that Americans will do what is necessary when the time requires it. And the time is now.

It’s time for comprehensive climate and energy legislation that caps carbon pollution, improves our economy, our security and the health of our planet.

We might not know precisely how we will get there – but that shouldn’t be an excuse to do nothing. Bracken Hendricks, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, addressed the National Wildlife Federation’s 73rd Annual Meeting last week. Hendricks noted that when President Kennedy made his call to put a man on the moon, we didn’t have the technology to get there. But eight years later, Neil Armstrong was landing on the moon. And the average age in the control room that day was 26. Which means, as Hendricks pointed out, those engineers and computer technicians were 18 when they heard the call.

They were inspired to go into science, and engineering and technology. They heard a vision and wanted to be part of building it. The students at University of St. Thomas, and every other college and university in America need to have the opportunity to be part of building the clean energy economy, and they should have the right to inherit a planet not fundamentally different than the one we have enjoyed.

House members now working on the climate and energy legislation shouldn’t stand in their way of building the new clean energy economy. We’ve wasted 34 years. Let’s not waste one more day. Go to ClimateAction.org and find out what you can do.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF: GOP Leaders Resurrect Cheney Energy Plan STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-gop-leaders-resurrect-cheney-energy-plan CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 05/05/2009 12:50:27 PM ----- BODY: House Republicans are holding a mock climate hearing today in the Capitol Visitors Center. Here's what Joe Mendelson, the National Wildlife Federation's global warming policy director has to say about the "hearing":
Republican leaders have resurrected the Cheney energy plan, written by oil companies for oil companies. They have a new set of talking points to disguise the same old plans to increase profits of greedy energy companies. Their real agenda is to derail efforts in Congress to build a clean energy economy that creates millions of clean energy jobs and protects our environment.
Grist's Kate Sheppard is inside the "hearing." You can see updates on her Twitter feed!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Obama to Huddle with House Dems on Clean Energy Bill STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: obama-to-huddle-with-house-dems-on-clean-energy-bill CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 05/05/2009 08:10:37 AM ----- BODY: President Obama is calling all 36 Democrats from the House Energy & Commerce Committee to a meeting at the White House today:
A White House aide said Obama plans to meet with the lawmakers Tuesday to discuss two of his key domestic priorities - legislation to cut the emissions linked to global warming by requiring cleaner sources of energy and efforts to overhaul health care.

House Energy and Commerce Chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., unveiled a draft bill in March that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with a proposal Obama called for in his campaign.
Learn more about how you can ask Congress to pass strong clean energy & climate legislation at our Climate Action Center!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: House GOP Holding "Mock" Climate Hearing STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: house-gop-holding-mock-climate-hearing CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 05/01/2009 07:55:37 AM ----- BODY: Mocking the climate crisis? Mocking the political process? A little of both, I guess. Reports Politico:
While Democrats bicker over a sweeping climate change bill, Republicans are going rogue, crafting an alternative hearing stacked with people they agree with. [...]

Thirteen other Republicans, including a number of members of the Energy Committee, will join Pence in the new Capitol Visitor Center for the mock hearing.
The "mock" hearing will reportedly take place next Tuesday.

The lesson: hearings are a lot more fun when you don't invite people who disagree with you! I'm sure the Founding Fathers would be proud. (Sorry, this mocking thing must be more catching than swine flu.)

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Chris Lundgren EMAIL: betterpanic@yahoo.com IP: 75.174.54.162 URL: http://betterpanic.blogspot.com DATE: 05/01/2009 01:25:06 PM Remember Bush had people manhandled when they showed their democratic tendancies at his speeches during his last election. When you are not smart enough to convince others of you ideals then preach to the choir. Chris ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Insomniac Bears STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: insomniac-bears DATE: 04/30/2009 03:10:07 PM ----- BODY:

Last week I met a wildlife biologist from New Hampshire. Each year he sees animals that can't adapt to the rising temperatures-- grizzly bears that won't hibernate and snowshoe hares whose fur won't turn white. He came to DC to ask Congress to help out wildlife, by investing in safeguards for wildlife and our natural resources.

Grizzly bears have a hard time getting an audience with their Representatives. But you can help them out, and send a message on their behalf.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NRDC Digs Into Newt's Cement Story STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nrdc-digs-into-newts-cement-story CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/30/2009 02:06:34 PM ----- BODY: When I live-blogged Newt Gingrich's testimony before the House Energy & Commerce Commmittee last week, I left out a yarn Newt spun about a cement factory. The story was allegedly supposed to illustrate the deny & delay crowd's "America can't act before China & India do" talking point.

I didn't mention Gingrich's story in my live-blog. Why? It smelled fishy. Far away places, generic descriptions, no names.

Pete Altman of the Natural Resources Defense Council tried to confirm Newt's story. Pete's conclusion? Probably a tall tale:
For a case that is supposed to be "fairly famous," it's awfully hard to find any information on it. To be more precise, we can't find any evidence that it actually happened.
Makes you wonder about the rest of the stories that Newt tells, doesn't it?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Shadowy Group Launches Attack on Clean Energy STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: shadowy-group-launches-attack-on-clean-energy CATEGORY: Energy DATE: 04/30/2009 12:15:47 PM ----- BODY: As the National Wildlife Federation predicted last month, big polluters and their allies have launched a major blitz against clean energy & climate legislation. And now CQ reports the latest wave comes from a mysterious group called the "American Energy Alliance":
The lobbying and advocacy group, which was formed last year, is headed by Thomas J. Pyle, a former energy policy aide to onetime Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas (1985-2006). It is affiliated with the Institute for Energy Research, a public policy center advocating what it terms “freely functioning energy markets.”
So what is the "American Energy Alliance"? The New Mexico Independent tried to find out and didn't get far:
Information on the group is hard to come by. There are no online Federal Energy Regulatory Commission filings, no Internal Revenue Service filings and no way to contact the group. The latest news on an American Energy Alliance comes from 1996, in a Washington Post article describing the group as "a coalition of the National Association of Manufacturers, American Petroleum Institute and Edison Electric Institute." [...]

In the mid-’90s, at least, the group was a group funded by oil companies. David Halvarg wrote an article in The Nation that described the group’s strategy as "’the Tobacco Institute strategy’ of alleging scientific uncertainty."
Tobacco campaigns paid off doctors and scientists, successfully confusing the public for decades. Now big polluters are following in big tobacco's footsteps, trying to muddy the waters on global warming.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Clean Energy & Climate Impact of Specter's Switch? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: clean-energy-climate-impact-of-specters-switch CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 04/28/2009 01:12:49 PM ----- BODY: Just talked to Adam Kolton, the National Wildlife Federation's senior director for Congressional & federal affairs:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: PA's Sen. Specter Switching Parties STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: pas-sen-specter-switching-parties CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 04/28/2009 12:42:19 PM ----- BODY: As first reported by The New Republic, Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter is joining the Democratic Party. Specter is pointing to GOP opposition to the economic stimulus bill, supported by the National Wildlife Federation, as the last straw:
When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing. Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable.
What does Sen. Specter's switch mean for the chances of passing comprehensive clean energy & climate legislation in 2009? I'm going to go talk with some of our key legislative staffers and hope to have more on that this afternoon, check back later!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ed EMAIL: paglobalwarmingoutreach@gmail.com IP: 71.58.76.142 URL: DATE: 04/30/2009 08:34:55 AM Sen. Specter switching parties is just one more positive sign that we will get climate legislation passed this year. The threat of a filibuster by my fellow republicans has prevented climate legislation from being passed. Sen Specter will likely be the 60th vote we needed. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New Poll: Voters Cheer Obama's Fuel Efficiency Push STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-poll-voters-cheer-obamas-fuel-efficiency-push CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 04/28/2009 11:34:41 AM ----- BODY: Now that we're through President Obama's first 100 days, which of his policy decisions has proven to be the most popular with voters? A new Marist poll has the answer:
During his first 100 days in office, President Obama has taken on many hot button issues. Did voters agree with his actions? More than three-quarters — 76% — say the president hit the mark in ordering the Environmental Protection Agency to institute higher fuel efficiency standards including six in ten Republicans.
Back in January, National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger joined President Barack Obama at the White House as he directed the EPA to grant state waiver requests to strengthen tailpipe emissions standards. The requests from California and thirteen other states as well as the District of Columbia had been turned away by the Bush administration. President Obama also instructed his administration to develop new fuel-efficiency guidelines for the auto industry covering 2011 model-year cars.

"Today’s decision provides the kind of sound direction the auto industry needs to once again lead and build the kind of cars not only America needs, but the world needs," Larry said at the time. "Our energy policies will no longer be based on denial and delay but instead on sound science that tells us we don’t have to choose among efficient vehicles, jobs and a healthy environment."

Let's hope Congress hears this message from voters as it considers comprehensive clean energy & climate legislation in 2009!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: AP Distorts Gore's Testimony STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: ap-distorts-gores-testimony CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 04/27/2009 02:53:09 PM ----- BODY: As Media Matters points out, an Associated Press "analysis" bungled some facts from Al Gore's testimony last week before the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

Let's compare the AP's account to last Friday's NWF live-blog (emphasis added):
NWF -- 11:33am ... Gore compares people who take their science advice from global warming deniers to people who took their financial advice from Bernie Madoff.

AP -- Gore then compared Barton and Bernard Madoff, who swindled investors out of $50 billion, prompting Barton to interrupt Gore: "I've never talked to Bernie Madoff."
Gore wasn't comparing Barton to Madoff. He was comparing Barton to Madoff's victims. Big difference.

Let's look at another exchange (again, emphasis added):
NWF -- 12:03pm: What's with committee Republicans wasting hearing time to take surveys? Rep. Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA) is asking every witness if they want a "transparent" hearing for the bill. Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) is asking every witness if they've read the entire draft bill (then complaining he didn't get enough time for questions).

AP -- "I have read all 648 pages of this bill," Gore bragged, a boast that would surprise no one who caught his teacher's-pet performance in the 2000 presidential race. "It took me two transcontinental flights on United Airlines to finish it."
Gore wasn't bragging -- he was prepared to give an answer to a question that every other panelist all week had been asked. Was everyone else who said they read the bill "bragging"?

Clearly the AP's Laurie Kellman was trying to re-write the exchanges to fit the frame of her "analysis" piece -- there goes that know-it-all Al Gore again, trying to make himself look smart and us feel dumb! The article makes similar broad generalizations about Newt Gingrich.

You know what makes me feel dumb? When reporters ignore the economic, energy and climate crises that America faces and instead waste our time trying to perpetuate political stereotypes.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dash RIPROCK III EMAIL: helpfromafriend2002@yahoo.com IP: 74.194.215.123 URL: http://www.hootervillegazette.com DATE: 04/27/2009 11:51:28 PM Here is a review of Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth: http://www.hootervillegazette.com/GlobalWarming.html ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dash RIPROCK III EMAIL: helpfromafriend2002@yahoo.com IP: 74.194.215.123 URL: http://www.hootervillegazette.com DATE: 04/27/2009 11:56:43 PM I'm for clean water, clean air, a lot of trees and finding alternative fuel sources so we will no longer be dependent on others for our fuel. I even spent last Saturday planting trees with the local county beautification group. Having said that, I do not believe in Anthropogenic Global Warming. I've read everything I can find on the issue and have sided with skeptics. So let's continue to clean the environment for the real reason, because it's the right thing to do, not because Al Gore has been screaming that the sky is falling. BTW, cap and trade has not worked in Europe if one looks at CO2 produced since the agreement was signed in 1998. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Americans Give Obama High Marks on Climate Action STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: americans-give-obama-high-marks-on-climate-action CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/27/2009 08:07:42 AM ----- BODY: One of the questions in last week's Washington Post-ABC News poll:
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling global warming?

Approve 61%

Disapprove 23%

No opinion 16%

The same poll shows just four percent of Americans have "a great deal of confidence" in Congressional Republicans' ability to make the right decisions for the country's future. It doesn't help their case that when the House holds hearings on America's interconnected economic, energy and environment crises, all House Republicans can respond with is jacuzzi jokes. Or that when he's asked for his plan to confront our energy and climate challenges, the House Minority Leader can't give a straight answer.

The National Wildlife Federation is working with members on both sides of the aisle to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation in 2009. We hope Congressional Republicans join our push to create millions of clean energy jobs, secure our energy supply, and preserve our climate for our children's future.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Gore vs. Gingrich: Liveblogging House Clean Energy Hearings, Day 4 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: gore-vs-gingrich-liveblogging-house-clean-energy-hearings-day-4 CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/24/2009 10:34:30 AM ----- BODY: We've spent all week glued to the House Energy & Commerce Committee video feed, taking notes for you on the committee's hearings on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. That's the draft clean energy & climate legislation introduced by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA).

But today is the main event. Set to testify are former Sen. John Warner (R-VA), former Vice President Al Gore and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The question is, which Newt will show up? "Look at Me, I'm Centrist and Presidential" Newt who cut an ad for Gore's We Campaign declaring "our country must take action to address climate change"? Or "My 527 Needs Big Oil Money" Newt, who used voodoo economics to trash President Obama's clean energy & climate action plan?

The hearings are due to start at 10am and we'll have minute-by-minute notes over at DailyKos!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Crafting Clean Energy Legislation: Live Blog, Day 3 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: crafting-clean-energy-legislation-live-blog-day-3 CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 04/23/2009 12:25:05 PM ----- BODY: We're live over at DailyKos with another day of live blogging the House Energy & Commerce Committee hearings on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, draft clean energy & climate legislation introduced by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA). To read the full live blog, click here!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Live Blogging House Hearings on Clean Energy Legislation STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: live-blogging-house-hearings-on-clean-energy-legislation CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 04/22/2009 01:01:55 PM ----- BODY: National Wildlife Federation staffers are taking notes on today's House Energy & Commerce Committee hearing on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, draft principles for clean energy & climate legislation introduced by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA). Read our live blog here!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Sportsmen & Women Call for Clean Energy STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: sportsmen-women-call-for-clean-energy CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/22/2009 09:44:39 AM ----- BODY: Dozens of sportsmen and women from all across America are in Washington, DC this week, asking their members of Congress to take bold action on climate and energy legislation. I got the chance to talk to some of them before they headed to Capitol Hill:







----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Obama to Talk Clean Energy in Iowa STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: obama-to-talk-clean-energy-in-iowa CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 04/22/2009 08:17:14 AM ----- BODY: As the House Energy & Commerce Committee continues hearings today on the Waxman-Markey draft climate legislation, President Obama is traveling to Iowa, the nation's No. 2 wind energy producer:
Heather Zichal, a top aide on Obama's energy team, said the president would urge Congress to pass a bill that commits $15 billion annually for 10 years to the renewable-energy industry.

"Go back to this plant in 10 years and, once we get this comprehensive energy and climate legislation through, they will see a dramatic rise in the number of employees," said Zichal, deputy assistant to the president in the Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy. "We're not suggesting we would completely fill this hole, but we're making dramatic improvements and steps in the Obama administration to get there."
You can read our summary of the opening statements at Tuesday's E & C hearings here. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Anne Keisman TITLE: Can Twitter & Facebook Help Connect People With Nature? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: can-twitter-facebook-help-connect-people-with-nature DATE: 04/21/2009 04:11:33 PM ----- BODY:

The National Wildlife Federation is connecting people with nature -- through the Internet.

Sounds paradoxical, doesn't it?

It's true. With just a few mouse clicks and key presses, we are raising awareness about the importance of outdoor time. Hopefully, with our gentle reminders, people will find the time to unplug and have a Green Hour.

Recently, our social media coordinator, Danielle Brigida (@starfocus), sent a single question out to our Twitter followers and Facebook fans:

QUESTION:

Twitter_question

She received a deluge of responses -- here are just a few:

ANSWERS FROM THE TWITTER-VERSE:

Twitter_WP_2 

Twitter_WP_1  

AND FROM FACEBOOK FANS:

Facebook_WP_3 

Too many people today miss out on these kind of memories. Inspire others by sharing some of your own childhood memories with @NWF, @starfocus, or on our Facebook page.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 98.169.97.52 URL: DATE: 04/21/2009 11:22:15 PM Thanks for posting this Anne! Here's a way to carry on the conversation through our Facebook page: http://poprl.com/1auM ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Sportsmen Tell Congress: We Need Clean Energy Now STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: sportsmen-tell-congress-we-need-clean-energy-now CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/21/2009 01:38:04 PM ----- BODY: Dozens of sportsmen from all across America are in Washington, DC today. They're here to ask their members of Congress to take bold action on climate and energy legislation. With Congress kicking off "the mother of all climate weeks", the timing couldn't be better.

To help make sure members of Congress get the message, the National Wildlife Federation Action Fund and several other conservation groups bought Download NWFActionFundPoliticoAd today in Politico:

PoliticoAd

The ad features more than 800 sportsmen and conservation groups from across the country who've come together to ask Congress to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation in 2009.

We'll have more coverage of the sportsmen fly-in and lobby days in the week ahead here at Wildlife Promise. To learn more about our outreach to sportsmen, visit TargetGlobalWarming.org!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: "The Mother of All Climate Weeks" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-mother-of-all-climate-weeks CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 04/21/2009 08:59:53 AM ----- BODY: Today Congress is launching what Politico calls "the mother of all climate weeks":
Fifty-four witnesses will testify on climate change legislation in three full days before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, topped off with an appearance from Al Gore on Friday. The committee will also hear from EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and high-profile representatives from business and the environmental movement.

The hearings are timed to coincide with Earth Day on Wednesday.

Three weeks ago, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the outlines of a bill establishing a cap-and-trade system. They plan to move the bill through committee and to the full House by the Memorial Day recess.

The House Science and Technology Committee will also hold a hearing on Wednesday on monitoring and measuring greenhouse gas emissions.

Over in the Senate, State Department climate change envoy Todd Stern is headlining a hearing at the Foreign Relations Committee on new global climate change agreements. Stern just returned from two weeks at the international climate change negotiations in Bonn, Germany.
The House Energy & Commerce Committee will kick things off this afternoon with opening statements.

One major question leading up to the hearings -- will Republican committee members offer real policy critiques or continue to try to muck up the gears?

"[A]t hearings designed to discuss the particulars of climate policy, Republican representatives and their witnesses have been bogging down the proceedings with skeptical rants and cockamamy theories," writes Grist's Kate Sheppard. "If you want to know how seriously Republicans are taking the process, keep an eye on these hearings."

So far their record isn't good. Rep. Barton and Rep. Shimkus have earned plenty of unwanted attention for their shaky grasp (to put it kindly) of climate science.

We'll keep you updated on this week's hearings!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: Help Protect Wildlife Threatened by Alien Invasion STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: help-protect-wildlife-threatened-by-alien-invasion DATE: 04/20/2009 05:22:39 PM ----- BODY:

Speak up for Native Wildlife!For centuries, America's wildlife and wild places have been under threat from the ongoing introduction of non-native plant and animal species into our country's ecosystems.

As one example, back in 1869 the European Gypsy Moth was brought into the US. Since then, the moth has spread out over half the country, decimating hundreds of thousands of acres of white oak forests.

Unfortunately, the gypsy moth is just one of many invasive species that harm wild places in the country and compete with native wildlife over resources. Not only do they threaten native plants and animals, but they can be a huge economic burden to agriculture, forestry, fish industries and more.

It's no wonder that currently a Congressional committee is considering legislation that would protect America's native wildlife and wild places from invasive species. This bill would strengthen our wildlife import laws, which is critical to protecting our native wildlife from future invasive species.

Please speak up for the plants and animals in your neighborhood today by asking your representative to support the Non-native Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Real Question for GOP on Energy: Where's the Beef? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: real-question-for-gop-on-energy-wheres-the-beef CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 04/20/2009 12:36:19 PM ----- BODY: House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-MI) has gotten a lot of unwanted attention for yesterday's appearance on ABC's This Week. Boehner told host George Stephanopoulous, "George, the idea that carbon dioxide is a carcinogen that is harmful to our environment is almost comical. Every time we exhale, we exhale carbon dioxide. Every cow in the world, you know, when they do what they do, you’ve got more carbon dioxide." The video below and Grist has the transcript.

There's a whole lot of mumbo jumbo jammed into those three sentences. Joe Romm unpacks it best: "One of the GOP’s senior leaders thinks this debate is about whether carbon dioxide is a carcinogen? And thinks carcinogens harm the environment, rather than people? And thinks that cows are of concern because they produce carbon dioxide, rather than methane?"

While most of the initial reaction has been focused on mocking Boehner's "cows fart a lot" comment, it's the end of the interview that's most telling. For all the attention to Boehner's ham-handed cow comparison, he just can't deliver the beef. All Boehner can do is duck and flounder.

Watch an increasingly exasperated Stephanopoulos give Boehner chance after chance to give a straight answer a simple question: What's your plan?
STEPHANOPOULOS: But it sounds like from what you’re saying that you don’t believe that Republicans need to come up with a plan to control carbon emissions? You’re suggesting it’s not that big of a problem, even though the scientific consensus is that it has contributed to the climate change.

BOEHNER: I think it is — I think it is an issue. The question is, what is the proper answer and the responsible answer?

STEPHANOPOULOS: And what is the answer? That’s what I’m trying to get at.

BOEHNER: George, I think everyone in America is looking for the proper answer. We don’t want to raise taxes, $1.5 to $2 trillion like the administration is proposing, and we don’t want to ship millions of American jobs overseas. And so we’ve got to find ways to work toward this solution to this problem without risking the future for our kids and grandkids.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So you are committed to coming up with a plan?

BOEHNER: I think you’ll see a plan from us. Just like you’ve seen a plan from us on the stimulus bill and a better plan on the budget.
Here's the full clip:



----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Breaking: Major EPA Climate Decision Expected Today STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: breaking-major-epa-climate-decision-expected-today CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/17/2009 10:45:30 AM ----- BODY: Just in from Reuters:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to declare on Friday that greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide endanger human health and welfare, environmental and congressional sources said.

The EPA's decision could clear the way for possible U.S. regulation of these emissions, and is expected to spur action in Congress to pass carbon-capping legislation to curb global warming.
This is great news! As the National Wildlife Federation's Joe Mendelson said earlier this week, "This EPA decision will quite simply be a game-changer for climate policy. It’ll have repercussions domestically and abroad, showing the Obama administration’s firm commitment to aggressive action to fight global warming."

Keep checking back to Wildlife Promise today for updates on this historic decision.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: Got a few minutes to walk in for wildlife this week? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: got-a-few-minutes-to-walk-in-for-wildlife-this-week DATE: 04/16/2009 12:20:23 PM ----- BODY:

Walk in for Wildlife this Week!

I know many of you have sent in emails and made phone calls to advocate on behalf of bold climate action to safeguard wildlife from global warming, but this week we have a special opportunity to take a slightly different sort of action.

This week, many members of Congress are in their home-districts for the April recess, which offers a wonderful opportunity to stop into your senators' or representative's office to meet with them in person and let them know why safeguarding our natural world from global warming is important to you.

Recently, draft legislation to cap the carbon pollution that causes global warming and invest in clean energy technologies was introduced into the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce. This draft bill will not only repower our economy with millions of new clean energy jobs, but also provides the safeguards necessary to protect our natural world for generations to come. Your Members of Congress need to know that America's wildlife enthusiasts support this legislation.

I know what you're thinking: What difference does walking in really make?

Well by now Congressmembers are up to their ears with facts, graphs and charts detailing how strong climate and energy legislation will curb the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming and create millions of new jobs. (And they're also hearing plenty from the opposition.)

But who they don't hear from enough is everyday Americans like you and me. If you're reading this right now, chances are you know how climate change will affect you. For me, hailing from Long Island, New York, I worry about how sea level rises will impact coastal communities around the world.

Visiting your Congressmember's office sends an unbeatable message. It shows just how much you care about confronting global warming – and that you represent a host of concerned citizens who share your views.

And don't worry — we know that walking in to your Congress member's office can seem a bit scary. That's why we've already created resources and tips to support you. So, if you do have a few minutes during these last two days of the April recess, pop by your Congressmember's office and let them know that you're there and you care, and you hope they do too!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: sohbet EMAIL: murat@aol.com IP: 78.178.233.177 URL: http://www.ircask.com DATE: 07/13/2009 09:07:33 AM came in the form of 100 new sohbet nuclear power plants. sohbet odalarıThat vision has not left chat the republicans’ eyes. And on Tuesday, Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) added his two cents. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Pending EPA Climate Decision: “A Game Changer” STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: epa-climate-decision-a-game-changer CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/15/2009 02:13:25 PM ----- BODY: SmokestacksIt’ll be the most significant federal climate action in American history.

That’s how the National Wildlife Federation’s Joe Mendelson, our director for global warming policy, describes the announcement expected as soon as this week from the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA will reportedly declare global warming pollution a danger – a threat to public health subject to enforcement under the Clean Air Act.

Joe was one of the attorneys who drafted the original complaint that led to the Supreme Court’s finding two years ago that the EPA has the power under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide as pollution. That decision set the stage for the EPA’s expected ruling.

Here’s more analysis from Joe:
This EPA decision will quite simply be a game-changer for climate policy. It’ll have repercussions domestically and abroad, showing the Obama administration’s firm commitment to aggressive action to fight global warming.

It will also demonstrate a firm commitment to sound science and clean energy solutions that will bury the notion that we won't make historic progress confronting climate change this year. It seems more than fair to say this would be the largest single step the federal government will have ever taken to fight climate change.
Of course, the EPA's ruling will be no substitute for comprehensive climate and energy legislation. Congress must act in 2009.

To learn how you can help push your member of Congress to keep legislation moving, visit the NWF Climate Action Center!

Photo courtesy Flickr's Jim Frazier

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jim Frazier EMAIL: jim@jimfrazier.com IP: 99.153.47.248 URL: DATE: 04/20/2009 11:21:30 AM The credit for the smokestack photo should be to Jim Frazier, not Jim Martin. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: grantm@nwf.org IP: 69.143.164.187 URL: DATE: 04/21/2009 11:29:18 PM Sorry Jim, it's fixed! ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Tune Into NWF's Chill Out on April 15th! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: tune-into-nwfs-chill-out- DATE: 04/14/2009 05:14:45 PM ----- BODY:

Chill Out - National Wildlife Federation_1239309077210On April 15, National Wildlife Federation will unveil the winners of the 2009 campus Chill Out competition!  These campuses are incredible examples of how the students, faculty and staff at colleges and universities are leading the way towards a sustainable and clean energy future.

We’re announcing the results in a free webcast - Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming that you can screen on your campus or on your laptop. Tune in to hear from colleges that are leading the clean energy movement and lowering their carbon footprints.

Speaking of footprints, we made sure to keep this a low carbon production, going well beyond the industry’s sustainable filmmaking guidelines. In fact, we were recognized by the Environmental Media Association’s Green Seal Program for using the film industry’s best environmental practices.

This year’s webcast features an all-star cast of students, faculty and staff from all over the country, along with some Hollywood faces—Comedian and host of Planet Green’s Wa$ted Annabelle Gurwitch, Academy Award Winner Producer Lawrence Bender, Actor Efren Ramirez (Napoleon
Dynamite), Actor Michael Welch (Twilight), Actor Jose Yenque (Traffic) and many more!

Register to see how we greened our production, who were this year's competition winners, and what real ingenuity and leadership on campus looks like. We recommend you use Chill Out as a mobilizing tool, on its own or as part of your other Earth Day activities. We’ll even send you an organizing kit via email to help you plan. The webcast will be available at 9am on April 15, so you can download and view at your own convenience. The program lasts 30 minutes and is designed for students, faculty, staff and administrators.

(Oh, and there are prizes for a lucky few, like a Kaplan Test Prep course or an Mp3 download from The Steps. Just thought you’d want to know.)



----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Andy Rooney: "I'm Our Problem" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: andy-rooney-im-our-problem CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/13/2009 03:26:53 PM ----- BODY: Via Grist, here's Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes last night talking about why he's a conservationist -- and why he's part of our planet's problem:



For more on the breakup of the Wilkins Ice Shelf, read Larry Schweiger's View.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: What the Easter Bunny was REALLY Doing STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: what-the-easter-bunny-was-really-doing CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 04/13/2009 02:03:01 PM ----- BODY:

RabbitThis past weekend the Easter Bunny made his rounds, leaving baskets filled with marshmallow peeps,  jellybean-filled plastic eggs, and chocolates made in his image.  But real rabbits and their cousins the hares aren’t interested in baskets and candy.  For them, Easter time is baby-making time.

Rabbit behavior gives credence to the phrase “breeding like bunnies.”  At this time of year, eastern cottontails are having the first of as many as seven litters of young.  The equally prolific desert cottontails of the western plains, mountains and deserts and the brush rabbits of California and the Pacific Northwest are also giving birth at this time of year. The semi-aquatic marsh rabbit of southeastern coastal and wetland areas have the benefit of milder temperatures and often breed year-round. That’s a lot of bunnies!

Both the black-tailed and white-tailed jackrabbits of the West are actually hares, which give birth to precocial young. That means that, unlike rabbits, hare babies are born fully furred, with their eyes open.  They are ready to run and hide shortly after birth.  Baby rabbits are blind and immobile when born and much more dependent on their mother's ability to hide them in the vegetation.

Arctic hares of the tundra and snowshoe hares of the northern forests and plains aren’t having babies just yet.  It’s still too cold and vegetation is too scarce. They are, however, beginning the process of molting their white winter coats and growing in their thinner, grayish-brown summer coats. This seasonal change in fur color helps these hares blend with their background and avoid predators. Hare babies are born with summer-colored fur for maximum camouflage. 

Orphaned Rabbits
What do you do if you find a baby rabbit or hare?  The best thing to do is to leave it alone. Mother rabbits leave their babies in fur lined depressions hidden in the vegetation called forms. She’ll leave her babies alone most of the day, returning for brief periods to nurse them. The babies aren’t abandoned.  Similarly, if you spot a baby hare running around, chances are its mother is also nearby.

If a young rabbit or hare is injured or clearly orphaned (its mother was killed or it’s been alone for more than 24 hours), you can either let nature take its course or contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.  Never try to take care of a wild animal yourself.  It's illegal to keep wild animals and they require specialized care in order to give them the best chance of survival and release back into the wild.

BunnyRabbits as Pets
Each year thousands of baby rabbits are given to children as Easter pets. And each year, a few weeks  later, thousands of rabbits are abandoned. Domestic rabbits can make great pets, but not for young children. Rabbit care is too demanding for unsupervised children and rabbits can easily be injured or traumatized by a child’s rough handling. Resist the urge for a cute baby bunny this Easter. If you must get a rabbit, adopt one from a shelter rather than purchasing one, and never leave its care solely up to a child.

Invite Rabbits and Hares to Your Yard
NWF has launched a brand new gardening for wildlife website that will help you provide the perfect habitat for local wildlife, including rabbits and hares. Learn about the components of habitat, get how-to articles, find the best native plants for wildlife, share your wildlife photos, and get your garden recognized by NWF as a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Greenpeeps STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: greenpeeps CATEGORY: Games DATE: 04/10/2009 03:51:16 PM ----- BODY: Just got this from the National Wildlife Federation's Pacific Region:
The Seattle office of the Pacific Region has gone beyond the call of duty and entered the Seattle Times Peeps contest! What are Peeps you ask? They're the colorful marshmallow bunnies and chicks that you either loved or hated to get as a kid. This annual Peep contest encourages the concoction of sculptures, dioramas, or any other form that provides inspiration, as long as it's made (mostly) of marshmallow Peeps.

This year’s theme was "Newsmakers." As a show of support for a clean energy, job-generating future for America, we submitted “Greenpeeps for Green Jobs”. With Patty Glick's amazing "peepitude" and the rest of the office's creativity, how could we lose?
Check it out:

Greenpeeps Green Jobs Training Program1

I love the little green hard hats!

You can see more entries at the Seattle Times peeps page.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Clean Energy Sparks New Jobs in Michigan STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: clean-energy-sparks-new-jobs-in-michigan CATEGORY: Energy DATE: 04/10/2009 10:36:43 AM ----- BODY: Between the economic slowdown and the struggling auto industry, Michigan's economy has been dealt a double whammy, sending unemployment soaring into the double digits. But now the Detroit area is getting some good news, thanks to clean energy:
A wind turbine assembly plant opening later this year in Novi could give the region's sputtering economy a much-needed lift by creating about 250 manufacturing jobs. [...]

State leaders say Michigan's technological know-how and manufacturing expertise for milling large volumes of precision parts make it ideal for building and assembling wind energy equipment.

"We're used to building and finishing various metal parts for the auto industry. Wind turbines need gear boxes and ball bearings, too," said John Sarver, chairman of the Michigan Wind Working Group, a part of the state's Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth.
To learn more about how clean energy can create new jobs, visit RepowerAmerica.org!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Video: Asking Congress to Repower America STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-asking-congress-to-repower-america CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/08/2009 04:16:29 PM ----- BODY: Watch this video, then take action here!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: 6 Ways to Reduce Your Garden's Carbon Footprint STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 6-ways-to-save-energy-and-reduce-your-yards-carbon-footprint- DATE: 04/07/2009 06:38:12 PM ----- BODY:

How Green Is Your Garden? Here are some tips shared by NWF! Be sure to check out the Gardener's Guide to Global Warming too!

Orange Coneflower - Native To U.S.

Gardening season is nearly in full bloom. Now more than ever, people are interested in learning what they can do to make their gardens as green as possible, in more ways than one. National Wildlife Federation shares six ways to reduce your backyard’s carbon footprint, which translates to saving both energy and money.

Follow these steps to help reduce your beautiful garden’s contribution to climate change:

Tip 1: Reduce the size of your lawn. Better yet, consider eliminating it entirely. Families with young children require only a small area of lawn where the kids can play. Everyone else can manage without turf by creating patios for living space, enlarging planting beds or installing a rock garden.

Hint: Consider replacing your lawn with a native wildflower meadow. This will provide habitat for wildlife and requires no watering after its young plants are established. Since introducing plants to your property that are not indigenous to your region can contribute to ecological problems, ask your local native plant society which species are appropriate to cultivate.

Tip 2: Use hand tools instead of power equipment. When you reduce the size of your lawn, for example, you’ll only need a push mower.

Tip 3: Choose materials with low-embodied energy. Brick and concrete have large carbon footprints compared to gravel and especially wood. Used brick and other recycled materials are good choices, too.

Tip 4: Emphasize woody plants that capture more carbon than fleshy herbaceous species. Create a flower meadow or vegetable patch, but plant most of your property with low-maintenance native trees and shrubs, preferably those that also provide food and nesting and resting places for birds and other wildlife. Again, choose species native to your region.

Tip 5: Plant trees and shrubs where they will block winter winds and provide shade in summer.
This will reduce the amount of energy required to heat and cool your home and thus reduce your carbon footprint even further. The particular landscape strategy depends on your climate.

Tip 6: Minimize, or better yet eliminate, the use of fertilizers and pesticides on your property.
Make this spring a chemical-free gardening season! Use compost and mulch produced from garden trimmings to enrich your soil instead, and use native plants that are naturally pest- and disease- resistant.

Want more tips? Visit www.nwf.org/gardenersguide.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gina EMAIL: ginamrau@gmail.com IP: 63.145.198.196 URL: http://www.changebecomeschange.typepad.com DATE: 04/08/2009 06:00:07 PM Great information to really make a difference. We are also looking to shelter our air conditioning unit this summer which gets a lot of sun with a "teepee" of bamboo and growing vines up it. The only other thing I would add is composting to reduce waste and provide rich material for your garden. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Chris Noble EMAIL: chris@grittedteeth.com IP: 86.18.191.197 URL: DATE: 04/08/2009 06:49:21 PM I'm sure I'm not the only one wanting an explanation of how a nice concrete patio is better for the climate than a lawn. Are you perhaps assuming that the garden is an area where the lawn needs a lot of watering? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David EMAIL: lostmessiah@gmail.com IP: 74.83.78.76 URL: DATE: 04/08/2009 07:05:39 PM Gina, if you make those vines a climbing bean variety, not only will you shade your A/C, you'll have delicious organic beans, too! And Chris, yes, the idea (I'm assuming) is that you don't water concrete. You'd be better off making the patio out of recycled brick, or something like. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John P EMAIL: mattingly233@yahoo.com IP: 38.97.88.20 URL: DATE: 05/22/2009 09:42:37 AM Great blog post! I love learning about this online as gardening/landscaping are not only hobbies of mine but I actually do a little bit of work like that during the summer months as a second job. I appreciate your content in your blog and wish that you would keep up the good work :) ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Will Congress Act Soon to Protect the Nation's Waters? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: will-congress-act-soon-to-protect-the-nations-waters DATE: 04/07/2009 05:14:05 PM ----- BODY:

Given how much we all depend on clean water, the answer should be a no-brainer. But believe it or not, this is a decision that each member of Congress now faces and – remarkably – many seem to be struggling to do the right thing.

Perhaps you thought that we already protected the waters of the United States? Think again.

Congress got it right in 1972 when they passed the Clean Water Act to clean up the nation’s waters. They understood that to clean up and protect our waters we have to stop pollution at its source: the small streams and wetlands that absorb, cleanse, and release precious water – and pollution – downstream. For the next 30 years or so, it was pretty well understood that the Clean Water Act protects virtually all of the nation’s important wetlands, lakes and streams.


This common sense understanding that the Clean Water Act broadly protects America’s waters held for over a generation. That is until two recent Supreme Court decisions (SWANCC in 2001 and Rapanos in 2006) questioned whether Clean Water Act protections extend to many of our most important streams, lakes and wetlands.

These court decisions have placed millions of acres of so-called "isolated" wetlands and lakes, intermittently flowing streams and wetlands adjacent to these streams at risk of losing federal safeguards - leaving them vulnerable to pollution and destruction. In 2008, the Enivornmental Protection Agency reported that the legal uncertainty that was created by these decisions has compromised its ability to enforce the Clean Water Act in at least 500 cases – including oil spill and chemical pollution sites.

Here’s What’s At Stake if Congress Fails to Act Soon:

· About 60% of U.S. stream miles flow periodically throughout the year and may lose Clean Water Act protection. Over 1/3 of America's drinking water from public supplies fed in whole or in part by these intermittent and ephemeral streams that are vulnerable to pollution. In other words, the waters that we depend on for our drinking supplies may be polluted and destroyed and the government may have little choice but to stand idly by.

· We’re losing wetlands. Potentially millions of priceless acres of them! (Well, not quite priceless.) Economists figure that one acre of wetlands provides about $10,000 worth of ecosystem services, which include:

*filtering drinking water — treating drinking water is expensive for communities strapped for cash. Wetlands and headwater systems do it for free!

*preventing flooding — Wetlands and intermittently flowing streams naturally absorb flood waters, moderating peak flood stages and reducing flood damage.

*protecting our coasts from hurricanes and storms — wetlands buffer our coastlines from heavy wind, rain and storm surges that strike coastal communities during hurricanes and severe storms.

*providing nesting grounds for and supporting diverse fish and wildlife populations — the Prairie Pothole Region of the Midwest is dominated by "isolated wetlands" that are losing Clean Water Act protection. These "isolated" wetlands provide essential breeding habitat for 50-75% of North America’s duck population. Many small streams and associated wetlands provide essential spawning and nursery habitat for fish.

*supporting fish and wildlife related outdoor recreation —  Hunters, anglers, birdwatchers, canoeists, water skiers – they all depend on clean water and healthy wetlands for recreation. Businesses and communities depend on the billions of dollars in revenue that outdoor enthusiasts spend each year.

BUT, there's something you can do about all this. While your senators and representatives are home for April recess (April 6-17), urge them to move quickly to pass legislation to restore Clean Water Act protections for the nation’s streams, lakes and wetlands.

And here's some tips on communicating to your legislators: a. you can schedule in-district meetings with them while they’re in your home district; b. you can write them a letter (here's an example); or c. you can submit a letter to the editor of your local paper. 

And since it's always a good idea to arm yourself with information, here’s a fact sheet and information on what we have to lose if Congress fails to restore protections for our waters.

Now's your chance to ask your Members of Congress for yourself: Will you vote this year to protect our waters?  

By Jan Goldman-Carter, Wetlands & Water Resources Council, National Wildlife Federation and Caroline Wick, Restoration and Water Resources Intern, National Wildlife Federation.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nathan Winters EMAIL: nathan@follownathan.org IP: 68.84.69.122 URL: http://www.follownathan.org DATE: 04/08/2009 09:53:40 AM Clean water is the backbone of our existence. From the foods we eat to the parks we play in we must protect and keep our waters healthy. Not to mention the wetlands we lose on a daily basis are amazing resources for our wildlife and ecosystem. This is very important. ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: My Day with the Elephants: A "Ranger Rick" Editor Tells All STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: ranger-rick-magazines-editor DATE: 04/07/2009 12:21:54 PM ----- BODY:

Ranger Rick When I meet new people and tell them that I write for Ranger Rick Magazine, they often get a nostalgic, far-away look in their eyes. Many exclaim, “Oh, I used to love that magazine when I was a kid.” Or, “My kids used to read it cover-to-cover.”

Of course, like any job, mine is not—are you ready for this?—always blissful. There are days of writers’ blocks, of difficulties getting a story wrapped up, of dealing with blunt criticism. Still, working on this wonderful magazine often does seem like a dream-come-true. 

My favorite day on the job? I’d have to say it was the time I got to hang out with elephants.

Asianelephant

(photo by aprilandrandy)

was writing a story about Marie Galloway, the elephant keeper at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Since I live maybe 20 miles from the zoo, it made sense for me to go there and interview Marie in person and get a feel for what the life of an elephant keeper was like. I had known Marie via our email correspondence for nearly 10 years, but had never met her in person before. She had always responded cordially to various elephant questions I had sent her. So I was looking forward to
finally meeting her. 

Marie couldn’t have been more cordial or forthcoming. She greeted me upon my arrival and took me immediately to meet the zoo’s three Asian elephants—two “girls,” Shanthi and Ambika, and Shanthi’s son, Kandula. My first impression of the animals? They were large--very, very LARGE. (An Asian elephant can weigh up to 11,000 pounds!)

Marie then got busy giving the elephants their morning baths. She demonstrated how well trained each was, knowing how to follow her commands to roll over, lift up their feet, one by one, and generally comply with the whole bathing-grooming gig. 

As the morning went on, I learned some fascinating tidbits about Marie’s charges. For instance, Ambika is a 60-year-old female, one of the oldest Asian elephants in the country. Her trunk and ears are dappled pink, something that happens to elephants as they age (like our hair turning gray).

And Marie related a story that demonstrated how the herd has adopted her as one of their own and watches out for her. One time, a while back, a helicopter flew distressingly low over the zoo. “The next thing you know,” commented Marie, “I found myself inside a protective circle of elephants, a place usually reserved for calves.” Obviously, the elephants weren’t going to let any harm come to their favorite human!

Later in the day, while I was in the exercise yard with Marie and the two “girls,” she turned to me and asked, “Would you like to pat Ambika and Shanthi?

I said, “Sure.” 

LibbyShe beckoned me to come over and urged me to pat the elephants by their ears. Boy, was their skin ever wrinkled and leathery to the touch! (Hmm, baby oil, anyone?) Soon afterward, Shanthi uncurled her trunk and waved it in front of my face. Marie explained, “Shanti is sniffing your breath. It’s her way of trying to figure out, ‘Do I know you? Have we met?’”

That made me smile. Being sniffed by an elephant had to be one of the coolest experiences of my life. And working at Ranger Rick, on days like this one, that ranks pretty high in my book, too.


by Libby Schleichert, Senior Editor, Ranger Rick Magazine

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New "We Campaign" Video: Hot and Cold STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-we-campaign-video-hot-and-cold CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/07/2009 11:02:53 AM ----- BODY:

Learn more about the Alliance for Climate Protection's "We Campaign" at WeCanSolveIt.org! ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: For Every Playground You Visit and Share-- NWF Recieves $1 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: visit-playgrounds-and-help-wildlife- DATE: 04/03/2009 04:31:37 PM ----- BODY:

We’re so glad you found your way to the National Wildlife Federation!  We’re excited to share a new  project we have going and hope you’ll join us!  OK…here’s how it goes:


Have you ever heard of KaBOOM!?  If not, let me tell you…
 

Logo KaBOOM!  is the national non-profit that empowers communities to build playgrounds. They  passionately believe that play has purpose, and that unstructured play in particular helps make children happier, fitter, smarter, more socially adept and creative.


Have you ever heard of Be Out There?  If not, here we go…

Be Out There!Nature for the Next Generation:


So, KaBOOM!  +  Be Out There = cool community service project!

Here’s where you come in:

  1. Grab your camera, your children, grandkids or neighborhood kids and head outside. Take some photos of parks, playgrounds, trails and other "playspaces" in your neighborhood.

  2. Afterward, go home, turn on your computer and visit kaboom.org/nwfClick on the big JOIN button and join both the KaBOOM! site and our team and start entering the information and uploading your photos into the “Playspace Finder.” Check out the video tutorial.

  3. The KaBOOM! Playspace Finder is an online tool that allows users to identify and rate parks across the country. Is your local park or playground in there?  If not, you can help us win some money!

  4. Here's the best part: For every valid Playspace you enter on the KaBOOM! website, $1 will be donated to NWF. And if NWF generates the most Playspaces, we win an additional $20,000!

Playground

Still have questions?  Here are a couple answers:

Q: What is the definition of a playspace?
A: A playspace can be a field, skatepark, horseshoe pit, roller hockey rink, disc-golf course, playground, lake, dog park, community center, basketball court or ice rink -- any public place where anyone can engage in unstructured play either for free or for a nominal fee.

Q: What might be rejected by KaBOOM! as not a valid playspace for the 100,000 in 100 days challenge?
A: An amusement park, a golf course, a gated childcare center, or a backyard play set would not qualify. If there is more than a nominal fee for usage of the playspace, or the playspace is located on private property, it will likely be rejected.

Click here for more FAQs

Thanks everyone! Now go outside and find those playspaces!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: nitul borah EMAIL: nikhilborah@rocketmail.com IP: 117.198.57.157 URL: DATE: 05/30/2009 02:09:23 AM i like the initiative taken by ur organization so that for the children. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jennifer Jones TITLE: Global Warming: New Challenge to Protecting Southeast U.S. Wildlife STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: global-warming-new-challenge-to-protecting-southeast-us-wildlife CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 04/03/2009 04:18:53 PM ----- BODY: On April Fool’s Day the New York Times gave us yet another look into the impacts of global warming in the editorial, State of Birds. A third of bird species in America are endangered, threatened or in serious decline, caused by the usual suspects: development, air and water pollution; and now, global warming.

This is certainly no joke. The Times accurately declared, “Every threatened species reveals some aspect of our lives that could be adjusted.”

BirdI recently spoke on the topic of “Saving What You’ve Saved: Why It’s Important to Engage Your Communities on Global Warming” at the Southeast Land Trust Conference in Alabama, hosted by the Land Trust Alliance. Without any “adjustment,” the Southeast faces some serious impacts by the end of the century –- precipitation increasing by 20%, but higher temperatures that will increase evaporation. For example, the July heat index is expected to rise by 8-20 degrees. That combo means more severe flooding and more severe drought.

For those land trusts working so hard to protect the amazing biological diversity of the Southeast, global warming is one of their biggest challenges. Based on research from the United States Geological Survey, 78% of the 127 National Wildlife Refuges in the Southeast will be in a different habitat system if we don’t reduce global warming. That means temperate forests could become grasslands and shrublands. Many birds, including the state bird of Georgia will no longer live or breed in the Southeast. And more and more communities along the coast will be threatened by sea level rise.

We all need to be thinking about how we have to “adjust” -- starting with adjusting our country’s energy policy so we can finally turn the corner on the old dirty fossil fuel era and toward a clean energy future. That’s an adjustment worth making.

For more information on how global warming impacts wildlife, click here.

To find out more about global warming impacts in the Southeast, click here.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeffrey EMAIL: jeffrey@thefuntimesguide.com IP: 68.19.253.41 URL: http://green.thefuntimesguide.com DATE: 04/07/2009 09:15:30 PM the state of TN actually has a campaign to help invoke legislation to protect it's wildlife, specifically our songbirds, from global warming. it's called KeepTNSinging.org. pretty cool. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Clean Cars for Penguins STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: clean-cars-for-penguins DATE: 04/03/2009 11:45:45 AM ----- BODY:

emperor penguin

Okay, okay, you and I both know that penguins don't drive. But they stand to benefit just as much from hybrids and electric cars as we do.

Recently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that seven species of penguins--nearly half of known penguin species--have now been added to the list of species threatened or endangered by global warming.

As our penguin friends are already realizing,
the longer we wait to confront global warming, the more costly it will be.

Over the past month, thousands of NWF's wildlife advocates have sent messages to the Environmental Protection Agency, asking them to grant the clean car waiver.

If the EPA decides to grant the clean car waiver, it will help states to reduce the vehicle emissions that contribute to global warming.

We have to act now to safeguard the wildlife in our communities and across the world. From penguins in Antarctica to the pika in Colorado, global warming is the biggest threat facing our wildlife and wild places today.

Please let the EPA know you support the clean car waiver, which will empower states to take immediate action to reduce carbon pollution from cars and trucks.

Sending in your message during the EPA's comment period on the clean car waiver will help ensure the agency hears that America's wildlife advocates know how important this decision is for the future of our natural world.

NOTE: The EPA's deadline for comments is this Monday, April 6, so please make sure you, your friends and family get your messages in today!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF's Kevin Coyle Previews Climate Education Testimony STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwfs-kevin-coyle-previews-climate-education-testimony CATEGORY: Environmental Education DATE: 04/02/2009 12:44:10 PM ----- BODY: Kevin Coyle, the National Wildlife Federation's vice president for education & training, headed to Capitol Hill this morning. He testified before a U.S. House committee on ways to ensure that our education infrastructure keeps pace with our transition to a clean energy economy.

Our communications intern extraordinaire, Amanda Cooke, got a chance to interview Kevin on the ride to the Capitol:



To learn more, you can read Kevin's public statement or his full testimony! ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Budget Could Bring a Flow of Funding for the Great Lakes STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: budget-could-bring-a-flow-of-funding-for-the-great-lakes DATE: 04/02/2009 10:12:53 AM ----- BODY:

Support Great Lakes Conservation!

As some of you already know, Congress is busy this week working on a budget resolution for the coming year. Fortunately, the resolution they're discussing includes important investments in conserving our natural resources and reducing global warming.

And among these great opportunities, I'd also like to highlight one reason in particular to pass this resolution: important new investments in conserving the Great Lakes.

In a draft outline of his budget, President Obama specifically allocated $475 million for the Environmental Protection Agency to conserve these bodies of water -- the largest amount of money ever requested by a President for the Great Lakes.

It's no wonder why. This American treasure faces among other minor threats, a “triple threat” of contaminated sediment, invasive species and sewage contamination.

I always assumed the Lakes were large enough to withstand numerous pressures, but through reading about the Great Lakes for NWF, I’ve learned that many scientists believe that a combination of pressures are rapidly moving the Lakes towards a condition of irreversible harm.

The Lakes are not only the primary source of drinking water for more than one in ten Americans, but they are also the largest freshwater ecosystem on the planet, making them an invaluable natural resource.

Conservation efforts in the budget resolution can tackle these problems:

Contaminated Sediment—polluting water and endangering wildlife for decades: The Great Lakes suffer from an industrial legacy that has left behind 31 EPA-identified contaminated sediment areas. Toxins in these sediments wreak havoc on the lakes--poisoning wildlife, polluting water and destroying habitat.

Aquatic invasive species—causing trouble and costing millions: Invasive species might seem like a small threat, but Great Lakes residents annually spend more than $200 million to repair damages and control these pests. Invasives overwhelm native wildlife and wreak havoc on infrastructure; the infamous zebra mussel clogs water intake pipes at an exponential rate as each female produces one million eggs per year.

Sewage Contamination—yuck! Antiquated wastewater systems are a major pollutant source, spilling at least 23 billion gallons of sewage into the lakes every year.

Whether you live in the region or not, it's easy to see why protecting the Great Lakes – and getting this budget passed -- is critical for all Americans. Please take the time to protect this incredible resource!

-- By Caroline Wick, Restoration and Water Resources Intern, National Wildlife Federation.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Meet Mat Paulson - Community Leader and Wildlife Gardener STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: interview-with-backyard-wildlife-hero-mat-paulson CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 04/01/2009 02:50:37 PM ----- BODY:

MatpaulsonHaving a Certified Wildlife Habitat can be a commitment. However-- through NWF's habitat program we have had the opportunity to work with some incredible community leaders and volunteers. Mat Paulson, from Minnesota has done amazing work around creating a space for wildlife in an backyard setting. He was kind enough to answer some questions for me-- So read on and meet one of NWF's great leaders.


Tell us about why you certified your backyard habitat:

I have always believed that wildlife and nature need all the help it can get! We can do so much with so little and I am frustrated with the way landscape companies in my area have no consideration for the benefits that the proper landscaping can provide. Be it shading in the summer, letting the sun in in the winter, conserving water, but most importantly by providing the resources that have been lost by urban development for the beneficial wildlife that we all need.

"How many people know that there is a decrease in the honey bee population and that we need them for our everyday lifestyle? Häagen-Dazs® ice cream depends on it and we all would be lost without that."

I cannot speak for all parts of the country but up here in Minnesota the Mosquito population is out of  control and the beneficial insects are on the decline. Why is that I wonder? Bats, dragonflies and other beneficial wildlife could help us out and maybe we could cut down on pesticide use and start enjoying the outdoors more.

Migratory bird populations are fluctuating and taking different paths. I hear from many people that they just don’t see the birds that they used to, like the meadowlark or cardinals up in this area just to name a couple.

If we all took part and took pride in our communities by improving the way we landscaped we would benefit in so many ways. As a landscaper I do not have the best yard, kind of like a plumber not wanting to fix his own leaks at home :) but I do have a small butterfly garden and will be working on a rain garden this summer. My kids really enjoy being outside and finding squirrels, butterflies, hummingbirds, toads etc… in our yard.

Have you always been inspired by gardening?

My Dad was always a gardener but I didn’t get into it until I went to college at NDSU in Fargo. I got a summer job with a local Nursery selling and installing. Out of High School I worked at the Dakota Zoo in Bismarck and worked there for a couple years and that was what I was going to do for the rest of my life unless Wild Kingdom called and wanted me to work along side of Jim Fowler. Once I started doing landscaping I enjoyed it a lot in the summers but always wanted to get back to the Zoo and working with animals. I was offered a job by the zoo, but after only 6 months had to move. 

I went back to landscaping,  moving from job to job trying to find an employer that would start landscaping for wildlife. With no luck after 14 years in the business I went ahead and started 3 Little Birds Landscaping a business that specializes in attracting wildlife and 'Green' improvements.

I am now ready to start my 3rd year in business, became an Ambassador for the Wildlife Habitat Program through the National Wildlife Federation and am trying to inspire the Communities of Fargo and Moorhead to become Community Habitats.


Have you ever helped a friend make environmentally friendly choices?

I have become involved with the local Valley Earth Week Committee and try to inspire everyone to become more ‘Green’. Last year I was also selected to attend the Advocate Training for the Audubon Society in Washington DC and it was the most life changing week I’ve had, aside from my 3 kids being born. Since learning to be an active advocate for the environment I have become involved with many organizations and have tried to inspire many to speak up for wildlife and our environment. Being from North Dakota and now living right across the river in Minnesota I contact legislators from both states on issues regarding these subjects.

It is so easy to advocate for what you believe in but many do not know how easy it is to help make changes by being an active advocate and contacting your representatives.

Matpaulson

When did you feel like your investment was really making a difference?

I feel it all the time and nothing is more rewarding than when a customer, friend or anyone tells me of the joy they had seeing a new bird, butterfly or any other wildlife we are trying to attract finds their yard. But the most rewarding part of the last few years was when my 2 oldest children Ashlyn 8 and Tanner 7 at this time last year entered a project entitled ‘Birds For Brains’ into the Nim’s Island Environmental Challenge. This program that brings children together with seniors and both closer to nature won 4th place and I have implemented it in the Fargo area!

Birds For Brains is a program that has kids groups like daycares, 4H and Scout groups build bird feeders and houses out of discarded wood from old cedar fence panels or anything we can get our hands on. We then set them up at Nursing and Assisted Living Homes and the kids visit them every week and keep the feeders filled. A local feed store ‘Critters Feed and Seed’ supplies all the seed for our projects. I am hoping that Birds For Brains can be taken over by a non-profit group to give it some legitimacy and implement in other parts of the country!

It has been great to see how my love for wildlife and nature has inspired my kids. To see their faces when I told them that an Audubon Group in New York is now doing the same thing and that a 4H group is going to start this project in a small town south of Moorhead which will also include bat houses is priceless.

 
What's your favorite type of wildlife?

This is a tough question…I have always loved the feline family and I’d have to say that the Mt. Lion is my favorite but all wildlife is near and dear to my heart with the exception of spiders! I’ve helped raise many animals in my zoo days, been a TA for the Herpetology department at NDSU, even studied prairie dogs in Arizona for four months and slept under the stars in Medora while a herd of Bison came rolling through the camp. I’ve seen a lot, would love to see more and can only hope that everything is still around when my kids grow up.


When did you first feel connected to the environment?

I can remember watching the Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom at a very early age and always wanted to be Merlin Perkins’ right hand man. I got the chance to meet and hang out with Jim Fowler many years ago when he visited the Dakota Zoo and spent hours listening to his stories about the show and got to hear the story behind the Anaconda episode when he was wrestling with it while Merlin was watching :)

 

Can you name one person who has inspired you? Why?

I can’t name one person, there are so many. My Dad for his love of gardening, the Wild Kingdom boys, Jeff Corwin with his sense of humor and love of wildlife, my high school Biology teacher Mr. Forester who gave me the chance to do a farm out at the Zoo, Stan Hoogland whom I did the P’ dog research for and it goes without saying David Mizejewski with the National Wildlife Federation and their Habitat Program.

I am now a facebook junkie and my motto is that I’m here to Advocate, Educate, Learn and Inspire. I have met hundreds of wonderful people networking through my 3 Little Birds Landscaping, Birds For Brains and Community Habitat groups there and always seem to see threads get started when I start advocating about something. If you are on facebook I always love meeting new people and discussing many topics so befriend me at anytime or join my groups and we’ll talk about many subjects there. I will also point anyone in the right direction to become an active advocate for what we all love.

ACT on what you believe in and you CAN help make a difference!

 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nathan Winters EMAIL: nathan@follownathan.org IP: 68.57.24.13 URL: http://www.follownathan.org DATE: 04/01/2009 10:55:11 PM I loved this! We really need to get more folks inspired and gardening in their own homes. There are so many benefits and it can really turn into a hobby or passion. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Maddow: "Saber-Toothed Tigers Never, Ever Flossed" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: maddow-sabertoothed-tigers-never-ever-flossed CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/01/2009 08:26:55 AM ----- BODY: Remember Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL)? At last week's House Energy & Commerce Committee hearing on climate change adaptation, Rep. Shimkus drew some odd conclusions about global warming.

Last night, Rep. Shimkus' remarks drew the attention of MSNBC's Rachel Maddow:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: 5 Facts on Big Oil's Campaign Against a Clean Energy Recovery STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 5-facts-on-big-oils-campaign-against-a-clean-energy-recovery CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/31/2009 04:11:39 PM ----- BODY: President Obama has asked Congress to deliver comprehensive energy legislation that invests in clean energy, creates millions of green jobs, cuts our dependence on dirty fossil fuels, and holds energy companies accountable for reducing global warming pollution.

Reserve_Pit2_Atlantic_Rim_Daly_small We can’t afford to wait to invest in better ways to power our future and to protect the planet. But oil companies are fighting back with an all-out advertising campaign to stall progress and keep America’s energy policy stuck in the status quo.

Here are five things you should know about the campaign:
  1. The scare campaign is bankrolled by Big Oil. The oil industry has launched a desperate media blitz attacking President Obama’s energy plan – the same oil companies that made $155 billion in profits in 2007 (far more than the President’s plan to spur clean energy investments would cost).

  2. Our dependency on fossil fuels is stalling America’s economy. We’re already spending more than $400 million every day on foreign oil. If we don’t act now, the Energy Dept. says America’s energy bill will increase by $420 billion annually within the next five years. That amounts to $3,500 every year for every family in the nation.

  3. Clean energy creates jobs. Clean energy solutions are economic solutions. The clean energy and energy efficiency industries in America already employ 3.7 million people, and we’ve only scratched the surface of its potential.

  4. Clean energy delivers better energy choices. The more we invest in technologies that harness renewable energy and use energy more efficiently, the cheaper these technologies become. Renewable technologies are following a “learning curve” similar to computers and other modern technologies that get cheaper and more powerful as manufacturers innovate. For example, the cost of solar technologies has been reduced by 90% in the last two decades.

  5. Investing in a clean energy future is the only affordable path for America. According to a detailed technology analysis by McKinsey & Company, the United States can reduce global warming pollution by 30% through investments that, in their entirety, save as much money through lower energy bills as they cost. And let’s not ignore the rising cost of inaction. Electric power companies right now are trying to raise electricity rates across the country because of the high cost of coal – for example, as much as a 50% increase over the next three years for parts of Ohio, West Virginia and the Midwest.
We need new energy policies to spur investment at the scale needed to break our dependency on fossil fuels. At the heart of any energy plan, we must hold energy companies accountable to limit and reduce their global warming pollution. Most global warming pollution comes from oil and coal. Placing enforceable limits on global warming pollution will immediately drive private investment in renewable energy technologies as well as efficient technologies that use energy smarter.

Please take a moment right now to tell Congress to pass strong climate & energy legislation in 2009!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Fossil Fuels EMAIL: tarunkjuyal@gmail.com IP: 220.227.154.11 URL: http://lifeofearth.org/fossil-fuels DATE: 04/01/2009 07:12:56 AM nice article. I'm regular reader of you blog. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: Help Pass a Wildlife-Friendly Budget! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: this-week-congress-is-discussing-the-budget-resolution-which-if-passed-will-provide-resources-to-support-programs-that-prot DATE: 03/31/2009 09:56:15 AM ----- BODY:

This week, Congress is discussing the budget resolution, which if passed will provide resources to support programs that protect our air, water, oceans, land and wildlife.

In addition to providing resources that support these programs important for the public health of our communities and the natural heritage of our nation, the budget resolution also includes the tools to make critical new investments in clean energy andsets the stage for the strong climate and energy legislation needed this year to cap the carbon pollution that causes global warming.

Clean energy investments will help to jumpstart America's economy and safeguard our natural resources, which is why it's important for Congress to make resources to support these new investments a priority.

With Congress scheduled to cast their final vote on the federal budget this week, please take a moment today to let your senators and representatives know that you're counting on them to pass a budget that stands strong for people and wildlife.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: cheapcarsauctions EMAIL: extextjikella@gmail.com IP: 207.61.241.100 URL: http://jurekm55.50gigs.net/ DATE: 04/05/2009 07:12:03 AM Hello to all ! Great site. I am new here greetings to all from Poland. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: scoucheme EMAIL: aron@reopf.co.cc IP: 194.8.74.155 URL: http://frieo.eu.interia.pl/wncoun.html DATE: 04/06/2009 01:52:37 PM http://bvwkf.fm.interia.pl/ome.html critical thinking educational materal for nurses ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: A 'Land'mark Victory for Conservation! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: a-landmark-victory-for-conservation DATE: 03/30/2009 11:51:42 AM ----- BODY:

Thanks to the tens of thousands of messages many of you helped get to our legislators over the past few weeks, last week Congress passed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, which the President will sign into law this afternoon.

This historic plan to protect America's public lands provides the largest expansion of wilderness in fifteen years!

Public Lands victory!

 

The Omnibus Public Lands Management Act will conserve critical public lands and waters, which provide important wildlife habitats and innumerable recreational opportunities for America's outdoor enthusiasts.

Specifically, the Act will secure wilderness designation for more than two million acres of public lands, protect thousands of miles of rushing rivers and establish a 26 million acre conservation system -- the first new system of conservation lands in the United States in more than 50 years.

Congratulations everyone and thanks so much for all you've done to help achieve this historic victory for your public lands!

To learn more about the National Wildlife Federation's efforts to protect and restore public lands, check out ourpubliclands.org

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Regina LaCaruba EMAIL: regina_lacaruba@yahoo.com IP: 71.172.62.59 URL: http://www.rebelreggie.wordpress.com DATE: 03/31/2009 10:05:10 PM These 26 million acres consist of ecologically valuable lands that serve as vital habitat for wild species, maintain a vast genetic library, provide scenery and contribute to the health and quality of life. Losses in ecosystem services are hidden costs to society. In the face of a tremendous rise in both population and land consumption for human purposes, it is nice to see that have realized these ecosystems must be afforded greater consideration! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Rep. Shimkus: Too LITTLE Global Warming Pollution? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: rep-shimkus-too-little-global-warming-pollution CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/27/2009 01:09:21 PM ----- BODY: Here's another clip from Wednesday's House Energy & Commerce Committee hearing on climate change adaptation. Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) had an odd exchange with British aristocrat and famed global warming denier Lord Christopher Monckton, 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley:



Their basic argument was this: Plants need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis ... so if we limit our man-made carbon dioxide emissions, won't we kill all the plants?

Do Shimkus and Monckton think plants only came along after humans learned how to start burning fossil fuels? In reality, it's quite the opposite -- since we started getting really good at burning carbon-based fossil fuels, forests have started getting really good at catching fire.

And to back up all this nonsense about global warming pollution being great for plants, they cite the Cambrian period? A time when there were no land plants? That's your shining example? Come on. Lord Monckton may be the darling of the denier crowd, but he wouldn't stand a chance on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?"

One other note about the Cambrian -- sea levels were 30 to 90 meters higher than they are today. Not exactly a comforting reference at a hearing about the possible impacts of climate change.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: georgesdelatour EMAIL: the_visitor@mac.com IP: 83.10.64.63 URL: DATE: 03/30/2009 04:02:35 AM It's true that land plants had not yet evolved during the Cambrian era. They first evolved during the Silurian era, when CO2 levels were, as in the Cambrian era, 16 times higher than today. Such a high level of CO2 in the atmosphere was almost certainly a precondition for their evolution. In Ward & Brownlee's "The Life and Death of Planet Earth: How the New Science of Astrobiology Charts the Ultimate Fate of Our World", it is stated that the long term trend is for Earth to lose its CO2. Whatever humans do, within half a billion years, CO2 levels will drop below the level at which plant photosynthesis can take place, and all plant life will die. The role CO2 plays in the climate is a very important question. However, it is wrong to describe CO2 as a pollutant, in the same sense that, say radioactive waste, lead in petrol or raw sewage is. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: The Biologista EMAIL: thebiologista@gmail.com IP: 79.97.87.236 URL: http://thebiologista.blogspot.com DATE: 03/30/2009 06:27:00 AM Wow. Someone needs to explain to Shimkus that we're not plants. A world in which there are loads of plants and our all our coastal cities are flooded doesn't sound that great to me. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Preston L. Bannister EMAIL: preston@bannister.us IP: 68.4.242.162 URL: http://profile.typepad.com/dreadedhill DATE: 04/27/2009 03:55:25 PM I am not sure that Shimkus is especially clueful, but ... First, stick to the science. Plants are made up mainly of carbon compounds. Most of that carbon comes from CO2 extracted from the air. Not surprisingly, there are very well known experiments that show plants grow better with higher levels of CO2 in the air. In a very real sense, CO2 is indeed plant food! Also, I did not hear anyone in the video clip say that limiting man-made CO2 emissions would kill plants (as Miles suggests). Strictly speaking, everything said in the video clip is correct. Which makes the article on this site by "Miles" slightly less clueful than the exchange in the video. :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: http://profile.typepad.com/thegreenmiles DATE: 05/20/2009 09:07:12 AM I love that you put my name in scare quotes! Let me tell you something, "Miles" ... if that is your real name! Good times. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: lydia poe EMAIL: www.brvhottie69@yahoo.com IP: 207.191.187.21 URL: DATE: 09/10/2009 09:45:09 AM well people are stupid we get mad for animals being on roads and in our yards but we keep gettin in their way so they can ours ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Countdown Names Rep. Barton Tonight's "Worst Person" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: countdown-names-rep-barton-tonights-worst-person CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 03/26/2009 10:22:17 PM ----- BODY:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Rep. Barton on Global Warming: Find Some Shade STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: rep-barton-on-global-warming-find-some-shade CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/26/2009 07:16:18 AM ----- BODY: To listen to Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), you'd think adapting to global warming is as easy as taking off your jacket on an unexpectedly pleasant spring day.

"Adaptation to shifts in temperatures is not that difficult," declared Rep. Barton at yesterday's hearing on climate change adaptation before the House Energy & Commerce Committee:



"Adapting is a common, natural way for people to ... to adapt to their environment," Barton continued, briefly channeling Austin Powers.

"When it rains, we find shelter. When it's hot, we get in the shade. When it's cold, we find a warm place to stay." What does Miami (6 feet above sea level) do if sea levels rise 6.5 feet as new models suggest is possible? Rep. Barton doesn't say.

My favorite part of Barton's ramble: His wondrous musings about how people in England grew grapes! Way back when in the Middle Ages during a dubious "warm period" global warming deniers like to trot out. Ah, those were the days. I like to sit back and think about what it must've been like while drinking a nice glass of English Seyval Blanc.

But where Rep. Barton crosses from comical to forehead-slappingly wrong is when he calls adaptation "affordable." A top economist and climate change expert recently estimated the transition to a low-carbon, efficient economy will cost only one percent of gross world product (GWP). By comparison, Lord Nicholas Stern said inaction could ultimately cost us as much as 30 percent of GWP. (In 2007, GWP was estimated at $54.62 trillion.)

Rep. Barton's final head-scratcher comes when he claims, "Nature doesn't seem to adjust to people as much as people adjust to nature." Tell that to the dodo.

To learn more about why it's so critical that we seriously consider how to adapt to the impacts of climate change we're already seeing, read this post on NWF President & CEO Larry Schweiger's testimony at the same hearing. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: CTF EMAIL: scrockett@climatetaskforce.org IP: 68.50.151.141 URL: http://www.climatetaskforce.org DATE: 03/27/2009 11:12:14 AM It is disheartening to see a sitting member of Congress so ill-informed on the issue. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: 9 Reasons Social Media and the Web Can Save Wildlife STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 10-reasons-social-media-may-save-wildlife- CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 03/25/2009 04:29:00 PM ----- BODY:

It is my personal belief that social media can play a huge role in helping protect wildlife. Being a part of the information age is incredible and overwhelming at times, but I can't help but be optimistic that we are in a better place than ever before to save wildlife.Why?

1. There are countless educational resources at your finger tips.
The flow of information is phenomenal on the web. While it is always good to get your news from a number of sources, I think more now than ever it's important to be authentic or your false message will be exposed. That being said, organizations like the National Wildlife Federation can spread important wildlife information and offer up fantastic resources for people interested in making less of an impact on the earth. Through social media sites that focus on news like Mixx, Digg and Reddit, we can share upcoming news and help push out correct information.

National Wildlife Week - Educational Resources
45+ ways to help wildlife in your backyard
eNature's Wildlife Resource
NRDC's Saving Biogems


Socialmedia2. Taking action has never been easier.
Wildlife conservation depends greatly on policy changes. Luckily, the ways for people to take action have increased and communicating with your representative has never been easier. Whether you're writing a handwritten letter or writing an email, the internet is helping to spread the word about all kinds of wildlife issues like never before. NWF also sees great engagement coming from sites like Change.org and Care2.com. Social media is a great way to help organize movements, enact change for wildlife and influence decision makers.

Take Action for Wildlife
Join NWF's community for Action Takers


3. Nature photography and art can be shared with a simple click.
I wrote a recent article on Green Upgrader that talked about the importance of art in the environmental movement. It helps keep the importance and beauty of our earth in the hearts and minds of people. There is so much potential with sites like Flickr to share the beauty and wonder of nature!

Irreplaceable: Wildlife In a Warming World
NWF's Flickr Group for Wildlife Watch


4. New ideas and concepts have a place to be discussed and critiqued.
When it comes to ideas, concepts, designs and other such things, the conservation movement is benefiting greatly from social media because the communication easily crosses continents and borders. Through social media, creative minds are coming together, ideas are being shared and people .

Inhabitat's Blog on Green Design
Max Gladwell's Blog on Sustainability
Mark Lovett's Global Patriot
Adam Shake's Twilight Earth

Ottersbymikebaird
(photo by Mike Baird on Flickr)

5. Nature can be found easier- therefore protected and enjoyed. 
When people socialize it's not all just fun and games. But sometimes it is. NWF's Green Hour program works hard to connect people to nature and encourages them to Be Out There. Well, with social media and online resources, spreading information such as NatureFind is much easier and more efficient.

NatureFind: Find Nature Nearby
Find Playspaces and Join the Challenge

NWF's Green Hour
Be Out There Campaign


6. You can donate to (and fundraise for) causes more efficiently.
While emails and web ads asking for donations can get slightly irritating, the more we can decrease our sending donation asks through the mail the better. It is much easier to donate/fundraise for causes you care about on the web and it cuts back on resources and leaves the water and trees for wildlife. In some cases, like the toolbar that Freecause offers or search engine by Good Search can also offer unique ways for people to "donate".
Donate to NWF
NWF's FreeCause Toolbar
Goodsearch
Click to Donate to the Rainforest Site

7. Data Collection:
The data we collect on wildlife specimens is incredibly important and needs to be accurate. Using the social web and communication tools we can efficiently update databases through online databases and cut back on the time that passes before information is collected. Also--it's useful to house the data with online tools so that it is accessible to other scientists in the field.

Here are some great citizen science programs:
Birdpost.com
FrogwatchUSA
Christmas Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count
Journey North
The Daily Green's 20+ Citizen Science Projects

8.  Quick Response:
With social sites such as Twitter, we can know more about our surroundings quicker with more time to react. We've seen people using Twitter update others on bushfires, earthquakes and other natural disasters. Well with tools like this we can really make efforts to correct and help save wildlife by being able to respond quickly.

Bush Fires
NWF's wildlife watch on Twitter
Humane Society's Seal Hunt



9. It has really helped identify community leaders and volunteers.
With the help of social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Myspace, I have had the pleasure of getting to know some of our most impressive activists. Social sites are a great place to collaborate and it especially helps organizations get to know some incredible organizers.

North Carolina Wildlife Federation's Ning Site
Moorehead Community Habitat Team
...to name just a few!

Now, I know there are many other ways to help-- so I'm ready to hear your ideas! At the very least these are a few broad ways that social media is helping. And I think when used responsibly -- the online world can really help us reach out and connect-- all while making a difference for wildlife!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: It is my personal belief that social media can play a huge role in helping protect wildlife. Being a part of the information age is incredible and overwhelming at times, but I can't help but be optimistic that we are in a better place than ever before to save wildlife ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Travis Livieri EMAIL: tlivieri@prairiewildlife.org IP: 71.218.225.21 URL: http://www.prairiewildlife.org DATE: 03/25/2009 01:17:46 PM As someone who is working to save the endangered black-footed ferret I completely agree with this article. It's wonderfully written and is helping to open up new avenues for wildlife conservation. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: paula Kahumbu EMAIL: paula@wildlifedirect.org IP: 196.201.218.74 URL: http://wildlifedirect.org DATE: 03/26/2009 02:13:09 AM We have developed a wildlife blogging platform to give a voice to those at the conservation frontline, so that we can raise awareness about conservation in the most dangerous, wild and remote areas of the world in Africa, Asia and South America. We now have over 80 projects, 77 of these were actively blogging from the field and raised funds last year ($500,000 in total) on wildlifedirect.org. While Raising funds for projects is not that hard, raising funds to support our core costs....that's tough. Any ideas where we can get support for core costs of maintaining the site, team and social networking? We are based in Nairobi Kenya but our impact is global - It was Richard Leakeys idea, an answer to sustainable funding for conservation especially when tourism collapses ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: PlanetThoughts EMAIL: IP: 71.167.187.99 URL: http://profile.typepad.com/6p01156f5aeed0970b/ DATE: 03/26/2009 03:51:35 AM I think it does help. It is still a big, unanswered question whether the gigantic ocean liner or world culture can turn quickly enough to avert a number of disasters. When I am feeling optimistic, it seems that we can reduce the size of the disaster, but it will still occur. But online information will one of the main agents to reduce the size of the disaster. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: JOhnny Wright EMAIL: Rollaire3@yahoo.com IP: 71.0.66.114 URL: DATE: 03/26/2009 11:24:40 AM Wow, wildlife is VERY important! We need to do something NOW to save it. RT www.privacy-tools.us.tc ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: FilthyRichmond.com EMAIL: jakes@aol.com IP: 67.62.218.80 URL: http://www.filthyrichmond.com DATE: 03/26/2009 11:37:58 AM It's teh taint! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: sam EMAIL: samthewill@gmail.com IP: 97.76.139.53 URL: DATE: 03/26/2009 12:28:10 PM there are other websites that help save wildlife in a more indirect way. www.affluence.org has a huge charitable group devoted to saving the environment ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barbara, Conservation Northwest EMAIL: barbara@conservationnw.org IP: 66.114.43.82 URL: http://www.conservationnw.org DATE: 03/26/2009 02:42:22 PM As a small org working to protect and connect wild areas in the Pacific NW, Conservation Northwest is giving it their all on the social networking front. Our biggest challenge is staff time to create the infrastructure and finding truly engaging things or action items to post regularly. Advocacy work is sometimes not all that glitzy, and tweeting "in another meeting" just doesn't sing. Even if that meeting is creating a ground-breaking plan for sustainable forestry, wilderness protection, and rural economies in the Columbia Highlands of NE WA, it is still just a lot of policy wonks talking at one another :) Great article!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: http://www.wildlifepromise.org DATE: 03/28/2009 05:38:08 PM Thank you so much for the feedback! I also wanted to mention that sites like http://www.wiserearth.org, http://www.justmeans.com and Causes on Facebook do some amazing things for wildlife. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nathan Ketsdever EMAIL: nathan_debate@yahoo.com IP: 68.19.241.171 URL: http://compassioninpolitics.wordpress.com DATE: 03/30/2009 03:21:29 PM Meetup and Tweetups and Twistivals that benefit wildlife and environmentally focused non-profits. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sharon Drechsler EMAIL: sdrechsler@vacationdevelopment.com IP: 65.34.23.174 URL: http://www.examiner.com/x-2424-Yachting-Examiner~topic65598-Environment?selstate=topcat DATE: 04/02/2009 03:23:57 PM Social media and networking may be our "last gasp." The age demographic of on-line social media buffs are the very ones who are going to begin suffering the fallout of our decades of irresponsibility. So let's hope we can all wake up and get moving! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ruth EMAIL: tessa.richard@gmail.com IP: 69.10.33.210 URL: http://besttoddler.com DATE: 04/06/2009 01:33:43 AM I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often. Ruth http://besttoddler.com ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Inflatable Boats EMAIL: compmgmt@163.com IP: 125.70.104.138 URL: http://www.2008tj.cn DATE: 04/19/2009 09:11:46 PM I think it does help. It is still a big, unanswered question whether the gigantic ocean liner or world culture can turn quickly enough to avert a number of disasters. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rebecca Orris EMAIL: rorris@defenders.org IP: 74.11.215.35 URL: http://www.defenders.org DATE: 05/14/2009 11:01:15 AM Danielle, Great post! It is amazing how all this technology is finally starting to make us more connected with people. Long live the web of life and the world wide web. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Expert Marketing Tips EMAIL: IP: 76.174.44.128 URL: DATE: 08/23/2009 04:00:47 PM WOW Top Internet Marketing, Social Media and Online Business Books you should have read but haven’t yet: http://htxt.it/87m0 ----- PING: TITLE: 9 Reasons Social Media and the Web Can SaveWildlife URL: http://greenlens.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/9-reasons-social-media-and-the-web-can-save-wildlife/ IP: 74.200.245.190 BLOG NAME: Green Lens DATE: 07/24/2009 02:47:38 PM A popular article on Typepad explaining why environmentalists are using social media ... ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF Climate Scientist on Latest Sea Level Rise Models STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-climate-scientist-on-latest-sea-level-rise-models CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/25/2009 03:11:08 PM ----- BODY: Dr. Amanda Staudt, National Wildlife Federation climate scientist, discusses some alarming new data on global warming's impact on sea levels:



Learn more at NWF's page on Global Warming!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF President: Carbon Cap Must Be "Clean, Green and Fair" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-president-carbon-cap-must-be-clean-green-and-fair CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/25/2009 12:25:00 PM ----- BODY:

National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger testified today before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Environment on the urgent need for climate and energy legislation that includes large-scale dedicated funding to protect and restore wildlife and natural resources threatened by global warming.

Chairman Edward Markey (D-MA) kicked off the hearing with some remarks of his own, saying, "If the United States and the world are going to successfully combat climate change, mitigation - the act of reducing greenhouse gas emissions - will not be enough. Our country and other nations must also implement adaptation policies to respond to changes in our climate, in our ecosystems and in our infrastructure."

Larry drove the message home in his testimony, pointing out that "Congress must use the revenue from a carbon cap program to carry out a program that is 'clean, green and fair.' Clean, because we must invest in clean energy technologies. Green, because we must provide large-scale dedicated funding to protect our nation's wildlife and other natural resources from climate change. Fair, because we must protect consumers and help those who are most vulnerable around the world."

Tom Karl of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, John Stephenson of the Government Accountability Office, and Bishop Callon Holloway of the National Council of Churches joined Larry as witnesses before the subcommittee, testifying on what is being done, and what else needs to be done to help safeguard the people, wildlife and natural resources threatened by global warming.

You can read the full text of Larry's testimony here!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Anne Keisman TITLE: Finally -- An Excuse To Visit The Playground! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: finally-an-excuse-to-visit-the-playground CATEGORY: Environmental Education DATE: 03/24/2009 05:42:18 PM ----- BODY:

Boy_swinging_tree Spring is finally here – and the Be Out There campaign has teamed up with the non-profit KaBOOM! to find 100,000 Playspaces in 100 Days – and you can earn money for National Wildlife Federation by helping out!

KaBOOM already has thousands of playgrounds, parks and other “playspaces” mapped on their online Playspace Finder, but they are looking for 100,000 more to be added during the next 100 days.

Here's the kicker: For every valid playspace you enter on the KaBOOM! website, $1 will be donated to NWF. And if NWF generates the most playspaces, we win an additional $20,000!

You can easily turn this challenge into a Green Hour -- grab your camera, head outside and snap some photos of parks, playgrounds, trails and other "playspaces" in your neighborhood. Afterward, go home, turn on your computer and visit kaboom.org/nwf. Join our team and start entering the information and uploading the photos into the KaBOOM! Playspace Finder.

You might be asking, how does this help wildlife? Each dollar you raise supports NWF's programs -- but, in addition, the Playspace Finder is yet another tool to make it easy for parents and caregivers to go outside with their kids.

Anything that fights the reign of an indoor childhood (where video games, TV, cell phones rule the day) is ultimately good for our mission of connecting people with nature. Also, research shows that early outdoor experiences foster a strong conservation ethic and concern for the natural world.

The more playspaces you enter, the more money goes to NWF!

 FAQs:

2473_image_mom_girl_piggybackQ: How can I earn $1 per playspace entry for my team or teams?
A: A listing that contains the following: a valid playspace (see below), an address or cross streets, a description, 1 photo and 1 rating. If you are completing an existing listing, then you must add at least 1 photo even if the listing already has a photo. We will not award credit for any duplicate listings.

Q: What is the definition of a playspace?
A: A playspace can be a field, skatepark, horseshoe pit, roller hockey rink, disc-golf course, playground, lake, dog park, community center, basketball court or ice rink -- any public place where anyone can engage in unstructured play either for free or for a nominal fee.

Q: What might be rejected by KaBOOM! as not a valid playspace for the 100,000 in 100 days challenge?
A: An amusement park, a golf course, a gated childcare center, or a backyard play set would not qualify. If there is more than a nominal fee for usage of the playspace, or the playspace is located on private property, it will likely be rejected.

Click here for more FAQs

Thanks everyone -- now go outside and play!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Elaina EMAIL: dzone_db@yahoo.com IP: 61.17.177.48 URL: DATE: 04/11/2009 10:33:00 AM I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often. Elaina ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Exclusive Footage: Canada Coup at NWF HQ? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: exclusive-footage-canada-coup-at-nwf-hq CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 03/19/2009 04:05:36 PM ----- BODY: I can only describe what I witnessed today as an attempted coup.

In what appeared to be a coordinated assault, two Canada geese tried to take over National Wildlife Federation headquarters in Reston, VA. One took control of the roof while the other attempted to block access to the front door:



Certain chaos was only averted when a brave facilities staffer shooed the goose away from the front door. Otherwise, an NWF employee could surely have had their pant cuffs nipped at.

What was their nefarious goal? Were they sent here by the Canadian Wildlife Federation? We may never know.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lauren EMAIL: laurenuranga@yahoo.com IP: 199.125.245.195 URL: DATE: 03/19/2009 04:12:33 PM Maybe you have it all wrong and the geese were actually attempting to defect? Canada is pretty cold. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: soapboxDave EMAIL: dave@telematique.com IP: 68.33.33.239 URL: DATE: 03/19/2009 04:14:51 PM I think the Canadians have finally perfected the newest spy from their Mountie Division ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: anonymous EMAIL: marc@iwcreations.com IP: 96.255.236.154 URL: DATE: 03/19/2009 04:27:24 PM I believe you have an employee on the web team who is Canadian... perhaps she was behind the plot? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jennifer Jones TITLE: Coastal Louisiana's Loss: 32 Football Fields a Day STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: coastal-louisianas-loss-32-football-fields-a-day CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/19/2009 02:39:27 PM ----- BODY:

CoastalLousianaI went to the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference today to hear a talk on coastal Louisiana. Mind boggling! My National Wildlife Federation colleague Susan Kaderka told us that every day, Louisiana loses an area of coastal wetlands equivalent to the size of 32 football fields. Per year, that accounts for 90% of all the coastal loss in the United States.

This dramatic degradation and decline should concern all of us. Care about protecting communities from hurricanes? Wetlands are a vital buffer. Eat fish? Shrimp? It probably came from Louisiana -- 30% of the nation's seafood comes from the state.

Care about waterfowl and migratory birds? More than four million waterfowl rely on these wetlands. That includes more than 100 species of migratory birds -- among those, 17 are endangered species. It's an ecosystem in big trouble.

And yet Susan will tell you, "Don't lose hope! We can restore these critical wetlands."

The National Wildlife Federation is working with partners to restore the Bayou Bienvenue cypress swamp -- a 31,000 acre area in St. Bernard Parish and eastern New Orleans. This cypress forest used to protect the community and natural resources from storms, and it can again. With global warming increasing sea level, restoration programs like these are more important than ever. 

Learn more at our Coastal Lousiana page!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF President: "We’re All in This Struggle Together" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-president-were-all-in-this-struggle-together CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/18/2009 01:13:40 PM ----- BODY: There's a new post on the General Motors blog from a surprising guest blogger -- National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger. So why why is the head of a wildlife group posting on an automotive blog?
[B]oth the auto industry and our environment face unprecedented and interconnected challenges. We’re asking companies like General Motors to make transformational changes to their vehicles so that we can break our dependence on dirty fossil fuels and protect our planet’s climate for our children’s future. While the crises that face America - economic, energy and climate - are interconnected, so are the bold, innovative steps that can help solve them.

That’s why I joined GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner at a meeting with journalists in Washington, DC today to show the National Wildlife Federation’s support for the auto industry’s ongoing effort to repower itself. If we’re going to fix our America’s problems, we can’t define ourselves only by industry or interest - we’re all in this struggle together.

Our top priority must be a cap on carbon pollution to give both the auto industry and consumers a clear signal that America’s move to clean energy is coming and will be permanent.
You can read Larry's full post here.

To learn more about GM's commitment to the environment, visit their corporate responsibility page or the U.S. Climate Action Partnership. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kalommaspouro EMAIL: mellor5678@gmail.com IP: 87.106.176.184 URL: http://1st-class-reviews.info DATE: 04/03/2009 07:39:00 PM Great site this blogs.nwf.org and I am really pleased to see you have what I am actually looking for here and this this post is exactly what I am interested in. I shall be pleased to become a regular visitor :) ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Help NWF Win $200,000 To Change Climate Change! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: help-nwf-win-200000-to-change-climate-change DATE: 03/18/2009 11:47:32 AM ----- BODY:

Cast your vote to help the National Wildlife Federation bring YOUR voice to the table.

It doesn't really need saying that America is home to many diverse communities.  We're a KitchenAid mixer, or a salad bowl, or a fondue pot, or [insert your favorite cooking metaphor here]. As we gear up this year to help pass one of the most important policies of our time, it's important that every leader of America's many diverse communities can get a seat at the table.

Green Energy Townhall Meeting in Annapolis, MD. Photo Credit Pacifica Sommers

You might have seen the videos and photos we've collected from groups of conservation supporters and wildlife advocates who've traveled to Washington DC this year. These groups have been advocating for Congress to pass strong climate legislation in 2009 that caps global warming pollution, safeguards wildlife and restores our natural world.

With 46 state affiliates and eight regional offices, NWF is in a great position to bring even more citizens to DC from every area of the country and every walk of life. We're all in this together, and each and every one of us has something important to contribute to the plan to cap global warming pollution.

Currently, NWF is in the running to win a grant that would help expand our efforts to enable members of diverse communities to enact strong legislation that curbs global warming and improves the quality of life for people and wildlife across America .

So please tell your friends and family to join you in casting your vote for NWF at justmeans.com.  And if you're feeling doubly inspired, please support NWF's efforts to cut carbon emissions in schools around the country.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Anne Keisman TITLE: Relieve Your Cabin Fever STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: relieve-your-cabin-fever CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 03/17/2009 03:57:38 PM ----- BODY:

Ashleigh Poff Spring and summer are my favorite seasons. I love the smells and warm weather they bring. And although winter is not cold and dreary all over the country (some people enjoy warm weather year round!), the coming of spring still brings a renewed sense of excitement for most people -- including me.

The first thing I do when it gets nice is head outside to relieve my cabin fever. No time like the present, especially during National Wildlife Week (March 16-20, 2009).

You may be wondering how you can dedicate an entire week to celebrate. Here are some ideas:

Three easy ways to celebrate National Wildlife Week:

Catch tips about how to watch for wildlife (see the video) before heading out on your adventure.

And remember, your participation in National Wildlife Week is no small contribution. You’re helping to raise awareness about nature, wildlife, playing outdoors, and more!

-- Ashleigh Poff, Education Department, National Wildlife Federation

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Rachel Faulkner TITLE: Wildlife Watch and the Year of Astronomy STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wildlife-watch-and-the-year-of-astronomy CATEGORY: Environmental Education DATE: 03/17/2009 03:35:36 PM ----- BODY:

Reflecting dust around Orion - NASA Did you know that 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy?

This year was chosen because 2009 is the 400th anniversary of two major astronomical milestones. In 1609, Galileo first used a telescope to observe stars and Johannes Kepler published his paper, Astronomia nova, on the movement of planets. Both of these men and events changed the way we see the universe around us and set the groundwork for all astronomers to come after. 

The International Year of Astronomy is hosting events in over 130 countries throughout the year. To show our support, Wildlife Watch is working to promote the International Year of Astronomy by putting astronomical events on the Wildlife Watch List for each season in 2009. This spring, be on the lookout for the lyrids and eta aquarids meteor showers, the opposition of Saturn, the elongation of Mercury and the vernal equinox.

You can also start participating in the GLOBE at Night study (March 16-28, 2009). GLOBE at Night is a two week citizen science program where volunteers map the night sky around the constellation Orion in order to assess the impacts of light pollution. 

During 2009, the International Year of Astronomy, take your family outside at night or to a local observatory to study the nighttime sky, planets, comets, meteor showers and eclipses. You might just be inspiring the next generation of explorers and astronauts.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: A Second Chance for Millions of Acres of Public Lands STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: a-second-chance-for-millions-of-acres-of-public-lands DATE: 03/17/2009 02:04:07 PM ----- BODY:

Last week, I visited Piney Point Park in Maryland. It was cold and a little rainy, but it was also truly memorable to see bald cypress trees whose roots grew above ground and tiny little Carolina chickadees.

Wilderness areas like these bring back memories for many people – and they are critical to protecting wildlife.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives had an important opportunity to conserve and expand some of America's most cherished landscapes and wild places when they voted on the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act.



The Omnibus Public Lands Management Act is designed to secure millions of acres of wilderness and thousands of miles of rivers. It would also protect wildlife habitats in many parts of the country, including gems such as the Rocky Mountain National Park and the Mt. Hood Wilderness.

And that's not all…

For all you hikers, birders, or just plain nature-lovers out there: It also permanently establishes a 26-million acre National Landscape Conservation System and adds trails around the country, ensuring that future generations will be able to see and enjoy our country's majestic wild places.

The unfortunate news is that even though the bill had strong bipartisan support, it ended up falling just two votes shy from passing last week.

But there's good news!


In the coming days, the U.S. House will have another opportunity to pass the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act.

So, find out how your representative voted on the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, and then encourage him/her to take this next opportunity to ensure this landmark legislation for our public lands and wildlife can finally become law!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: HotWomen EMAIL: shucklkenyon@gmail.com IP: 94.154.192.152 URL: http://hotrussianwomen.blogspot.com DATE: 03/26/2009 10:45:48 AM I just want to let you know that I have benefited from the information here. Thanks a lot. ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: We Promise Wildlife on Martha Stewart, Tuesday, March 17th STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: burrowing-owl-arctic-fox-canada-lynx-and-a-baby-spider-monkay-on-martha-stewart-tuesday-march-17th CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 03/16/2009 04:32:02 PM ----- BODY:

National Wildlife Federation naturalist David Mizejewski will be on The Martha Stewart Show tomorrow to celebrate National Wildlife Week March 16-20.

Dave will be corralling some cute animals onstage, including a burrowing owl, Arctic fox, Canada lynx and a two-month-old baby spider monkey.

Burrowing OwlBurrowing Owls live in North, Central and South America. They can be found in the desert southwest and western grasslands in the U.S. northward into Canada, as well as a population in Florida. Ground-dwelling owls that use burrows for safety and to lay their eggs. They live in open country with sparse vegetation that allows good view of landscape. The owls are only about 10" tall and only weigh 6 or 7 ounces. They eat large insects such as beetles and grasshoppers, as well as small mammals (mice, rats, gophers, ground squirrels, young rabbits, bats). Other prey includes reptiles and amphibians, scorpions, and smaller birds.

Arctic foxArctic Foxes live in the Arctic tundra. They have a white coat in winter which is shed in spring to a gray-black-brown coat in summer, keeping them camouflaged in all seasons. Their winter coat is extremely insulating and keeps fox warm. They also have tiny ears, a short muzzle and limbs that help them live in the Arctic (less surface area for heat to escape), as well as hairy foot pads for insulation and grip on snow and ice. Foxes only weigh about 10 lbs. (about the weight of house cat). They are monogamous--a fox pair digs a den where the female has 4-10 kits each year. Some dens have been used for hundreds generations over the centuries. They live usually only 4 years, but in captivity live longer (10-12 years).

Canada LynxCanada Lynx are found in the boreal forest in Canada and the northern U.S. (upper New England, upstate NY, upper Great Lakes region, Northern Rockies/Yellowstone, Northern Cascades and Alaska). They weigh between 20-30 lbs. They are similar to the more widespread bobcat, but are taller, have larger feet, grayer fur and tufts of fur on its ears. The other way to tell them apart is that bobcats have striped tails but lynx just have a black tip. These cats are adapted for living in snow. They have large feet act as snowshoes and pads are covered in fur for insulation. Their primary prey is the snowshoe hare, but they also feed on other small mammals like red squirrels and birds such as grouse and even sometimes deer. They are a threatened species in the U.S. due to habitat loss and fragmentation (logging of boreal forest), hunting and trapping and getting hit by cars.

Spider monkeyBlack-Handed Spider Monkeys live in tropical forests from southern Mexico and throughout Central America. They are highly arboreal and spend most of their time high up in tree canopy, rarely coming to the ground. Spider monkeys move through the trees by jumping and swinging from braches using their long arms and prehensile tails (which act as a fifth limb and for balance). Their fingers are almost like hooks to catch the branches. They live in loose social groups of 20-30 individuals, but forage in smaller groups groups of 5-6 individuals. The groups are led by dominant females who decide where to forage. They eat primarily fruits, but will also eat nuts, young leaves, bark, honey, insects and bird eggs if fruit isn't available. These monkeys "bark" when threatened and often throw branches, jump up and down and shake tree limbs when approached by humans. Spider monkeys are endangered species, threatened by the destruction of tropical forests and hunting.

Find out what you can do to celebrate getting outside with your family and enjoying nature and wildlife. National Wildlife Week is your chance to Be Out There™! ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: Clean Cars for California=A Cleaner Future for All STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: clean-cars-for-californiaa-cleaner-future-for-all DATE: 03/12/2009 01:48:54 PM ----- BODY:

It's hard to make that trip to the gas station nowadays. Not only do we all need to pinch a few pennies in these tough economic times, but there's the "carbon guilt" too.

To reduce cars' effects on rising levels of global warming pollution (not to mention our wallets), California legislators have been working to improve life on the road through state legislation.

If implemented, this legislation would require automakers to reduce the emissions their vehicles produce, encouraging more fuel-efficient vehicles on America's roads.

Unfortunately, the EPA under the previous administration overruled the state's decision to enact higher emissions standards than the federal government's, preventing California -- and 13 other states -- from working to get cleaner cars and trucks on our roads..

But the story's not over yet . President Obama recently issued an order demanding the EPA reconsider this decision.

So please take a moment today to urge the EPA to reverse their decision and grant states the rights to implement stronger vehicle emissions standards.

Granting California the right to set stronger auto emissions standards is a critical step to reduce global warming. With 13 other states following California's lead, this is a great opportunity to get Americans driving cleaner cars, spending less money on gas, and to safeguard the future of our natural world!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Crist Accepts NWF Award, Asks GOP to Step Up on Clean Energy STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: crist-accepts-nwf-award-asks-gop-to-step-up-on-clean-energy CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/11/2009 01:57:50 PM ----- BODY: National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger presented Gov. Charlie Crist yesterday with NWF's Conservation Achievement Award for Government. Gov. Crist has helped position Florida as a leader in addressing climate change and protecting the environment:
“We must take action in our lifetime to protect Florida’s treasures – from the Everglades and the white-sand beaches to the crystal clear springs – so that future generations can experience the Florida we love,” said Governor Crist. “I am honored to be an advocate for Florida’s environment, and I am committed to continuing the work we have done over the past two years to keep the Sunshine State beautiful.”

Larry Schweiger, president and chief executive officer of the National Wildlife Federation, presented Governor Crist with the award during a luncheon today. The award recognizes Governor Crist for his leadership in environmental conservation, including his role in encouraging the South Florida Water Management District’s recent approval of the historic land purchase deal, in which the district will buy 180,000 acres of land to clean, store and move water going into Everglades National Park. NWF leaders also lauded Governor Crist’s commitment to reducing Florida’s greenhouse gases and increasing energy efficiency.

“With political courage and unmatched resolve, Governor Crist has single-handedly positioned Florida as a leader in the fight against global warming,” said Schweiger. “It is an honor to recognize him with NWF’s Conservation Achievement Award for Government.”
Gov. Crist drew some attention for comments he made as he accepted the award, saying of the push for a new clean energy economy that "There are many in my party that haven't come to this dance."

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Morocrasp EMAIL: slubbolenes@gmail.com IP: 209.239.112.48 URL: DATE: 04/08/2009 09:23:18 AM I'm new to this blog. Apologize for asking this though, but to OP... Do you know if this can be true; http://www.bluestickers.info/ringtones.php ? it came off http://ringtonecarrier.com Thanks :) ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Melting Ice in Alaska STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: melting-ice-in-alaska DATE: 03/11/2009 10:24:57 AM ----- BODY:

Last week a number of tribal leaders from across the United States came to Washington to lobby for strong climate change legislation. 

Olga Malutin is a Tribal Council Member, from Kodiak, Alaska. She took some time to talk to us about why she's so passionate about stopping global warming. But I'm going to stop here and let her do the talking:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Be Heard! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: be-heard CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/10/2009 01:48:20 PM ----- BODY:

First it was the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition. They came to DC to make sure Congress passed climate change legislation that protected wildlife from the worst effects of global warming.

Then the Great Lakes Coalition arrived. They asked Congress to clean up America's water supplies, and pass comprehensive climate change legislation.

Then Power Shift 2009. Twelve thousand students in town, lobbying for a clean energy future.

Last week, a coalition of tribal leaders came to ask Congress to restore our natural world, and respect our natural resources. They too asked for comprehensive climate legislation.

It's everyone really. Americans from all walks of life are agreed on one thing. We need to cap global warming pollution this year, and we need to invest in restoring our natural world.

So take heart in knowing that thousands of Americans are travelling to Washington to speak up for wildlife and for our children's future.  You can join them too.

If you want to lobby your officials in person, let us know you're coming to town!

Otherwise, send a message to Congress today. Let them know that you're just another American for a clean energy future.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Anne Keisman TITLE: 50+ Nature Words Taken Out Of Dictionary STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: endangered-words-nature-terms-taken-out-of-dictionary CATEGORY: Environmental Education CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 03/05/2009 01:45:36 PM ----- BODY:

Boy_puffs_dandelion Picture this: A father and son are walking home from school. The boy bends down to blow on a dandelion. A classic image of childhood, wouldn't you say?

Once home, the father reaches for a children's dictionary -- the one with the big colorful pictures and 18-point font. The father says, “Let's look up dandelion, son!"

If you are rolling your eyes from the sickly-sweet unreality of this scenario, stay with me for a moment. It all goes horribly wrong.

They flip to the D section and … dandelion isn't there. And near to where the word should be? Database.

That's right -- the Oxford Junior Dictionary has been slowly removing many nature words, and adding more technological ones.

For the record:

In: Blog, MP3 player, broadband, Blackberry (the electronic kind)

Out: Acorn, beaver, otter, blackberry (the purple berry you can eat)

Sure, there are plenty of other things beside lexicography for parents to worry about. But I ask you – is it absolutely necessary that kids understand broadband technology at age 7? What about stone-skipping or grass-whistling?

It's not fair to pile on the dictionary's editors. Junior dictionaries are not meant to hold every word -- just the ones commonly used by children. And next to MP3 players, I guess dandelions and acorns don't stand a chance of making the cut.

The dictionary is simply reflecting the world our children live in, where the virtual world increasingly crowds out the natural one.

But there's hope: You might assume it was an environmentalist group that raised a fuss about the missing words.

Nope. It was an even more powerful force: a mother.

According to the original story -- Lisa Saunders, a mother of four in Northern Ireland, was helping her son with his homework when she realized words like moss and fern weren't in the dictionary. Missing too were certain Christian terms, like bishop, chapel and saint.

Incensed, she spoke to a reporter late last year, who wrote an article. At the bottom of the online version of the article are 351 comments from readers. The world's bloggers took it from there.

So. There's a button at the top of this post. It says "Share." You know what to do.

And check out NWF's Green Hour program for great ideas for getting your own kids outside again.

-- Anne Keisman, Online Media Coordinator, Green Hour.

Technorati Profile ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Darryl EMAIL: dbishop@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 03/05/2009 04:09:51 PM While I agree that it's a bit ridiculous to remove these words from a children's dictionary, they are not gone for good. Most of the normal dictionaries you find in stores are abridged versions. I doubt you'll find simple terms like 'dandelion' and 'moss' in a college dictionary, either, due to it being assumed that a college student should know these already. When all else fails, go for the unabridged dictionary, no editing there. ;) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Julie EMAIL: calinazaret@yahoo.com IP: 67.188.72.6 URL: http://calinazaret.net DATE: 03/06/2009 11:25:15 AM This is so sad. Most people I know under 30 (I'm 22) seem to have a real lack of appreciation for nature. Changing the words in a dictionary is a rather salient example of this phenomenon. Exchanging nature terms for terms like "broadband" reminds me of the pink floyd lyric- "trading hot ashes for trees, hot air for a cool breeze". The conspiracy theorist in me wants to say it was probably part of some lobbying effort by technology companies. Either way, nature needs more lobbyists!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sharon EMAIL: thinktower@hotmail.com IP: 132.174.139.36 URL: DATE: 03/12/2009 11:55:00 AM A product name has no business (ooh, bad pun) being in a dictionary, especially one for children who are already drowning in marketese. The fact that Blackberry the product took over blackberry the fruit makes me want to take to my bed. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jessica Jones TITLE: Wildlife Watch Gets a Makeover STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wildlife-watch-gets-a-makeover CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 03/05/2009 01:43:27 PM ----- BODY:

Monarch-morguefileThe National Wildlife Federation is proud to announce the launch of the newly redesigned Wildlife Watch   website. The Wildlife Watch website still has all the great features from the past plus an expanded species list and summaries, Twitter and a colorful new look! Check us out at www.nwf.org/wildlifewatch.

Wildlife Watch is an education program where amateur scientists report on their wildlife sightings and experiences in nature. The website can be used by anyone, anywhere in the United States and has features for both children and adults. The main goal of Wildlife Watch is to get families looking for natural wonders right in their own community.

At the beginning of each season, visit Wildlife Watch and print out the species list for your state. These are the target plants, animals and natural phenomena that we want you to be on the lookout for. Once you have the list, take it with you on hikes, weekend camping trips or simply keep it in your backpack.  When you see a bird or plant on the list, come back to the Wildlife Watch website and send us your findings. It’s that easy! 


If you see a cool animal or plant not on the Wildlife Watch list, NWF offers other opportunities to participate.

Wildlifewatchstory copy



















*A brand new feature of the Wildlife Watch website is our Twitter feed. Twitter users can contribute to Wildlife Watch by sharing their nature stories right in their tweets. Just by putting #nwf in your tweet, your short wildlife story will be linked to our website. Follow us at www.twitter.com/wildlife_watch for the latest stories and links on wildlife and citizen science. 

So now that you know all about Wildlife Watch. Visit the website and get yourself outside this spring.  We are waiting to hear all about it!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Beyond Denial: Climate Opponents Resort to Making Stuff Up STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: beyond-denial-climate-opponents-resort-to-making-stuff-up CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/05/2009 10:34:00 AM ----- BODY:

Here's another story from the post-PowerShift rally outside DC's coal-fired power plant. It started as I was getting some video of a handful of "counter-protesters" from the ExxonMobil-funded Competitive Enterprise Institute. But then I started listening to what the woman being interviewed was saying. All of the sudden I thought, "Wait, what did she just say?!"

She was not only denying the scientific consensus around climate change, but claiming that coal-fired power plants emit only steam. For that to be the case, one of two things would have to be true:

Either way, it's far from Reality:



Get more facts on coal-fired power here.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Great News: Endangered Species Act Restored! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: great-news-endangered-species-act-restored- CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 03/03/2009 09:22:40 PM ----- BODY:

Ferret The Endangered Species Act was returned to its old form today, when President Obama directed federal agencies to once again consult with independent scientists at the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to determine if their actions might harm threatened and endangered species.

This action will limit the damage caused by the midnight Endangered Species Act regulations
put in place by the Bush Administration in December 2008.

John Kostyack, Executive Director of Wildlife Conservation and Global Warming at the National Wildlife Federation, said:

“This action demonstrates President Obama’s commitment to protecting America’s endangered species and the habitats that both people and wildlife depend upon. Reinstating independent scientific review of the impacts of federal actions on endangered species is a giant first step in restoring the Endangered Species Act after eight years of attacks from the Bush Administration.

"With just one stroke of the pen, President Obama has done more today to uphold the scientific integrity of the Endangered Species Act than President Bush did during his entire eight years in office," Kostyack said.

“Members of the Senate should follow President Obama’s lead and pass the 2009 Omnibus Spending Bill, which includes language making it clear that President Obama has the authority to immediately and completely reverse President Bush's last-minute Endangered Species Act changes.”

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ForestWander Nature Photography EMAIL: forestwanderer@gmail.com IP: 72.65.139.10 URL: http://www.ForestWander.com DATE: 03/04/2009 09:57:42 PM This is great news. If more is done like this to preserve wildlife then our future generations may folow our example. If not then children of tomorrow will only know about wildlife as a story or legend. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Regina LaCaruba EMAIL: regina_lacaruba@yahoo.com IP: 71.187.202.225 URL: DATE: 03/08/2009 09:48:47 PM Restoring the Endangered Species Act is a step in the right direction. The previous administration has devastated population and species distribution and has had a negative effect at State and Regional levels. Moving forward, environmental managers will find it a prudent measure for their environmental assessments to include a stronger emphasis on the habitat of these endangered species to determine the impact and effects of a proposed project. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Fighting for Clean Water & Green Jobs for All STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: fighting-for-clean-water-green-jobs-for-all CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/03/2009 07:52:01 AM ----- BODY: Chelsea Chee of the Black Mesa Water Coalition tells us why she came to Capitol Hill for PowerShift '09:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Climate Activists Dwarf Exxon Mobil-Funded Counter Protest STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: climate-activists-dwarf-exxon-mobilfunded-counter-protest CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/02/2009 04:28:14 PM ----- BODY:

After the PowerShift '09 rally in front of the Capitol, hundreds of students marched on DC's coal-fired power plant in support of clean energy, green jobs and climate action. It was an amazing show of strength that followed a remarkable weekend of support for global warming legislation.

Across the street, the Competitive Enterprise Institute organized a counter protest in support of "clean" coal. As the Reality Campaign has been pointing out, there is no such thing as "clean" coal right now. And the CEI has good reason to keep us hooked on fossil fuels -- in the last decade alone, CEI has received more than $2 million from Exxon Mobil.

But I guess all that money doesn't go as far as it used to. Only 19 people showed up. In fact, there were almost as many police officers (14) protecting them as there were "protesters." Despite their talking points professing to support jobs, their signs told a different story. They personally attacked Al Gore as a "hypocrite" and denied the scientific consensus on climate change.

To see where the momentum lies in 2009, all you have to do is look at the two groups side-by-side. The small Exxon Mobil-sponsored group (pictured first) could only stand by silently and watch as a clean energy future marched past:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: clean coal plant EMAIL: cleancoalplant256@gmail.com IP: 122.169.179.49 URL: http://www.lincenergy.us/ DATE: 03/04/2009 06:50:41 AM While he may prefer the environmentally friendly alternatives, most of those replacements are far from fully developed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: IP: 208.89.201.2 URL: http://profile.typepad.com/thegreenmiles DATE: 03/10/2009 12:48:28 PM So an Australian coal company thinks our only option is to stay hooked on coal? I'm shocked ;) ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF's Larry Schweiger Visits PowerShift '09 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwfs-larry-schweiger-visits-powershift-09 CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/02/2009 03:51:17 PM ----- BODY: National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger visited to Capitol Hill today to show his support for the thousands of students rallying at PowerShift '09. As Larry waited for the students to march past DC's coal-fired power plant, he talked to two of the power plant's neighbors. They shared their excitement about plans announced by Congressional leaders to convert the plant to lower-emissions natural gas:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: FinancialServicesRenoNV EMAIL: financialservicesrenonv@gmail.com IP: 24.253.100.97 URL: http://www.aged-corporation.com/ DATE: 03/28/2009 07:30:44 PM Greetings all members, I would just like to say hello and let you know that I'm happy to be a member - been a lurker long enough :) Hope to contribute some and gain some knowledge along the way.... ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Young People Speak up for Wildlife and a Clean Energy Future STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: young-people-speak-up-for-wildlife-and-a-clean-energy-future CATEGORY: Current Affairs DATE: 03/02/2009 01:43:34 PM ----- BODY:

It's estimated that over 13,000 young people are in Washington today for Power Shift 2009, and despite the snowstorm, thousands are on the Hill today, lobbying for strong climate legislation.  It's expected to be the largest citizen lobby for the environment in history, and possibly the largest citizen lobby ever. 

Nia Robinson, director of the Environmental Justice & Climate Change Initiative
at the Power Shift '09 Rally

Everyone is very high energy as we get ready to meet with our representatives, and ask them to commit to a clean energy future.

At the Power Shift '09 conference this weekend, NWF's Campus Ecology program met with students from Washington State to Palm Beach, Florida. Some students were already working to reduce their school's carbon footprint, while others were just getting started. Campus Ecology exists to provide students with resources and technical support to help them succeed.

100_0590

 Tamara Johnson talks with students about Campus Ecology

It's clear that climate legislation won't happen without a concerted group of people demand action from every region of the country. Today, Congress is going to see that 13,000 students, already working to effect change at their colleges and universities, are committed to capping global warming pollution in 2009.

Want to join them?  Send a message to Congress today, asking for climate legislation that caps global warming pollution and invests in our natural world.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sherry EMAIL: maraschinosherry@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.144 URL: DATE: 03/02/2009 05:47:21 PM There could be no better investment in America than to invest in America becoming energy independent! We need to utilize everything in out power to reduce our dependence on foreign oil including using our own natural resources.Create cheap clean energy, new badly needed green jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.The high cost of fuel this past year seriously damaged our economy and society. The cost of fuel effects every facet of consumer goods from production to shipping costs. After a brief reprieve gas is inching back up.OPEC will continue to cut production until they achieve their desired 80-100. per barrel.If all gasoline cars, trucks, and SUV's instead had plug-in electric drive trainsthe amount of electricity needed to replace gasoline is about equal to the estimated wind energy potential of the state of North Dakota.There is a really good new book out by Jeff Wilson called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence Now. http://www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Narges.T. EMAIL: starheart101@gmail.com IP: 71.62.179.190 URL: DATE: 03/07/2009 04:26:51 PM I think people need to stop wasting energy I mean I went to a friends house and all the lights are on and we were having a sleepover and when people were brushing there teeth they left there water running I was telling them to stop wasting energy but there like we have enough and all that but what people don't understand is that if we use so much energy our world will get hotter and eventually we we will all die i wish people would understand to stop using so much energy. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Van Jones Addresses PowerShift '09 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: van-jones-addresses-powershift-09 CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/02/2009 08:38:16 AM ----- BODY: Have you ever heard Van Jones speak? If you haven't, take 10 minutes to watch this video from this weekend's PowerShift '09 conference:



Meanwhile, DC is getting a reminder that global warming doesn't mean the end of winter. We're waking up to about five inches of snow! It'll be great to see the PowerShift kids from all over the country rallying on the National Mall today to keep winter cold. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ForestWander Nature Photography EMAIL: forestwanderer@gmail.com IP: 72.65.139.10 URL: http://www.ForestWander.com DATE: 03/04/2009 09:52:13 PM We need more people to hear this. It is great to promote conservation through things like this. If we work together then we will see more done. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: kevin Lockett EMAIL: hirejam@gmail.com IP: 156.63.54.148 URL: http://www.hirejam.com DATE: 03/09/2009 02:50:33 PM I saw Van Jones about a year ago on Tavis Smiley. He was the first person that broke down the whole green movement down in such a common sense that I decided top get involved and try to help people find green jobs. Kevin Lockett www.hirejam.com www.hirejamus.blogspot.com ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Help NWF Decide On A New Website Design STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: help-nwf-decide-on-a-new-website-design DATE: 02/28/2009 01:03:04 PM ----- BODY:

While the NWF has been VERY busy protecting wildlife, saving habitat and connecting people with nature-- some of us have also been working hard to make our website, www.nwf.org more user friendly and engaging.


We would love your input and are looking for web-using volunteers!
(Plus you get to see sneak peek designs for the new homepage)


Please if you have a few minutes today- take this survey and be honest!

Help us pick a design!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jessica Jones TITLE: Science Fair Project Ideas: Wildlife Watch STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wildlife-watch-at-the-science-fair CATEGORY: Environmental Education CATEGORY: Getting Involved CATEGORY: Science CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 02/27/2009 01:31:57 PM ----- BODY:

In springtime, countless parents, teachers and home school instructors look for fun, educational science projects to perform with their kids. Whether it is a one-time only exercise or a large-scale seasonal project, why not use National Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Watch to help?
 

Wildlife Watch is a perfect launching point for science projects, because the program is built around teaching basic observation and inquiry skills. Wildlife Watch simply wants to know what wildlife can be found in your community. Volunteers look for plant, animal and natural phenomena in their neighborhood and then report back on their findings. The same data that students submit to Wildlife Watch can be used to study wildlife population density, seasonal change and animal tracking.
 

Wildlife Watch Website


Here are some potential Wildlife Watch inspired science projects:
 

1. Compare the number of trees, wildflowers, birds and/or mammals found in a cement schoolyard versus a park. Why do they think there is more wildlife in one area over the other?

2. Choose a pond where frogs have been known to call in the spring. Compare the number of frogs heard on warm days versus cold days.

3. During one of the spring meteor showers, compare the number of meteors seen in an area with light pollution against one without ambient light.
 

The opportunities are endless.

Take a look at the Wildlife Watch website, www.nwf.org/wildlifewatch, for more science project inspiration. The website has resources for different types of learners, including a webpage for uploading photos taken by students and a Tell My Story page. Tell My Story is perfect for students who prefer to write a short story or journal entry about their experiences in nature.

 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: quba EMAIL: quba.merlin01@gmail.com IP: 204.15.226.208 URL: http://www.scienz.info DATE: 05/30/2009 06:52:03 AM Hi, We have just added your latest post "Wildlife Promise: Science Fair Project Ideas" to our Directory of Science . You can check the inclusion of the post here . We are delighted to invite you to submit all your future posts to the directory and get a huge base of visitors to your website. Warm Regards Scienz.info Team http://www.scienz.info ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tennissc93 EMAIL: tennisscc93@aim.com IP: 166.109.0.125 URL: DATE: 06/04/2009 10:46:13 AM Im going to china this summer to study abrod with a program and one thing we need to do before we leave is a project about china and I want to do something on their wildlife but i dont want to do a boreing old poster but something more exciting and intresting. Any ideas? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Video: How Cap-and-Trade Works STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-how-capandtrade-works CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 02/26/2009 01:33:23 PM ----- BODY:

Ever since President Obama called on Congress to pass a carbon cap, we've been getting questions about how a cap-and-trade system would work. Here's a short video explaining it, take a look:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: President Obama: “It begins with energy.” STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: president-obama-it-begins-with-energy CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 02/25/2009 12:40:29 PM ----- BODY:

ObamaCongressThat was how President Obama introduced his roadmap for economic recovery last night in his first address to Congress (read the text or watch the video).

The President knows we can’t silo our economic, energy, and climate crises –- and luckily for America, the same solutions that protect our climate for future generations will also repower our economy. That’s why President Obama made a clarion call to Congress: “send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America.”

Carbon is a greenhouse gas and one of the main drivers of global warming. Legislation that caps carbon will also drive renewable energy in America, turning investment away from dirty fossil fuels and towards clean energy like wind and solar power.

By making renewable energy profitable, a cap on carbon pollution will transform our energy future. It will create new jobs and new industries in a new, clean energy economy today while building long-term solutions to the threats of climate change.

President Obama cited the example of Greensburg, Kansas rising from the rubble of a tornado and rebuilding a cleaner energy future. In the same manner, America can rebound from our economic crisis by investing in renewable energy and energy efficient technologies. Our new reliance on clean energy will revitalize our economy, our security, and the future of our planet.

“The agenda is set," National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger said late last night. "In 2009, we’ll turn vision into action and enact a cap on carbon pollution that repowers America with clean energy and meets our responsibility to protect America's natural resources."

Visit the National Wildlife Federation's Climate Action Center to learn more about how you can support President Obama's call for a carbon cap. Repower America's economy, protect our natural resources, and preserve our planet for our children and grandchildren? Yes, we can!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kim Letke EMAIL: kletke33@aol.com IP: 68.55.197.254 URL: DATE: 02/26/2009 10:06:18 AM Martins Airport in Essex maryland destroyed a Eagles nest with DNR approval the mother looked sad ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: That's Right, It's Our Year! STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: thats-right-its-our-year DATE: 02/25/2009 10:42:34 AM ----- BODY:

If you didn't catch President Obama's Not-State of the Union last night, wow, was it great for wildlife activists!

Here's my favorite part:

"So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America."

Did you get that? 

This is our year.  This is the year that we're going to pass climate legislation to safeguards wildlife, and protects our children's future. 

Already, people across the country are coming to Washington to speak up for global warming legislation.


This week, the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition is in town. This weekend, 10,000 students will be at the Capitol as part of Power Shift '09. And you can help too.

Send a message to your elected officials, and let them know that you're ready to cap global warming pollution and invest in our clean energy future.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Previewing President Obama's First Congressional Address STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: previewing-president-obamas-first-congressional-address CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 02/24/2009 10:49:50 AM ----- BODY:

PresidentobamaPresident Obama will be on national television tonight at 9pm eastern. He'll deliver his first presidential  address to Congress, laying out his plans for the year ahead.

It's a remarkable moment. In the economic recovery package, President Obama and his allies in Congress have just delivered the largest investment in clean energy in America’s history. Contrary to Washington’s conventional wisdom, the public has rewarded them with approval ratings as high as ever.

A November poll from Zogby International showed three in five voters say elected officials should make combating global warming “a high priority.” Additionally, three in four voters agreed that investing in clean energy is important to revitalizing America’s economy.

As President Obama prepares a new push for comprehensive climate and energy legislation with a cap on global warming pollution, he has broad support from Americans behind him. Delay is not an option. It's time for Congress to get on board.

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Speak Up for The Great Lakes!

How are the Great Lakes, raw sewage, new jobs and you related? Well, this week, National Wildlife Federation supporters like you are in our Capitol asking our leaders to restore the Great Lakes.

That means saving them from every lake's worst nightmare:

Raw Sewage. That's right. Every year billions of gallons of raw sewage flow into the Great Lakes. Why do these magnificent lakes, the second largest source of surface freshwater in the world, receive a such degrading treatment?

Well, America's infrastructure is failing, and raw sewage is one of the grosser things we have to show for it. The American Society of Engineers recently gave the United States a "D-" on our wastewater systems, because of the huge quantity of untreated waste water -- 850 billion gallons -- that are spewed into lakes, rivers and streams every year.

The good news?

New jobs to fix the problem. We have a lot of building and fixing to do if the Great Lakes are going to be free of raw sewage onslaughts. Fixing wastewater systems in the Great Lakes region is expected to require at least 50 thousand new jobs, and is the foundation of our strategy to restore the Lakes.

Luckily, the Stimulus bill will provide 1.45 billion for fixing wastewater infrastructure in the Great Lakes basin through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. That means less raw sewage.

But, "less raw sewage" is still too much. The Great Lakes give us drinking water and important habitat for wildlife. We can do more to protect such important water.

That's where you come in. You can boost the efforts of the volunteers who are in D.C. this week by sending messages to our legislators and President Obama letting them know how important it is to commit to funding Great Lakes restoration priorities in the months and years ahead.

Take Action!

- By Jennifer Janssen, Regional Outreach Coordinator
Great Lakes Regional Center

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ruben EMAIL: webersacora@yahoo.com IP: 206.15.252.222 URL: DATE: 05/07/2009 05:15:30 PM that is very sad!!!!!!LOL ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: Just A Few More Days 'Til Power Shift! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: just-a-few-more-days-til-power-shift DATE: 02/23/2009 12:03:24 PM ----- BODY:

In a little over a week, I will become a Congresswoman. Actually, I'll just be pretending for a day in a mock lobbying session to help train the thousands of college students descending onto Washington for Power Shift 2009.

After learning the lingo of the Hill, students from around the country will deliver a big awakening to Congress, lobbying their decision makers to confront global warming and invest in the clean energies that will work for their future and that of our natural world.

For many of today's youth, shifting from "dirty" to clean fuels is no abstract concept. As one example, just take a moment to hear from Marisol--who lives near a power plant and sees the impacts on the health of her neighbors and community everyday:



The message is becoming clearer and clearer to a broader audience of Americans: greening our economy helps everyone. And that's the essential message students will deliver to Congress next week for Power Shift 2009. They'll also get to do a lot more – attending workshops on wildlife habitats and green jobs or hearing from luminaries such as Nancy Pelosi and Van Jones.

All this excitement in Washington is only a few more days away. And the best news is--it's not too late to register!

Even if you can't make it, you can help us reach our goal of bringing 10,000 students to Washington on this historic day by spreading the word to all the students and young people you know!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Wildlife on the Red Carpet STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wildlife-on-the-red-carpet CATEGORY: Television DATE: 02/22/2009 04:25:59 PM ----- BODY:
Penguin
This penguin may not be at the Oscars tonight, but director Werner Herzog will be there for his film: Encounters at the End of the World


If you're watching the Academy Awards tonight, be sure to look out for the filmmakers who have directed their cameras towards wildlife and nature.  These Oscar-nominated documentaries each take on different subjects-- from Antarctic wildlife, to urban vegetable gardens-- but all draw some focus to the power of our natural world, and the need for us to protect it.

Encounters at the End of the World:

Werner Herzog's film isn't so much about Antarctica's natural beauty as it is about the people who make their home at the bottom of the world. But Herzog, on assignment from the National Science Foundation, does collect some absolutely stunning footage from underneath the Antarctic ice shelf.  Seriously, go out and rent this one: the underwater shots of Antarctica's underwater ecosystems are incredible. And there are plenty of penguins too. Herzog pretends that he's not interested in penguins-- he doesn't sound like he's a fan of March of the Penguins-- but he can't resist comparing a penguin who doesn't follow the crowd as a metaphor for the scientists who study the Antarctic wilderness.

The Garden:

LA might be known for it's smog and traffic jams, but it's also known for a 14-acre community garden. The Garden tells the story of a group of Los Angeles residents who fight to save their garden from developers.  For most of us, it's still a bit too cold to be thinking about our own gardens yet, but The Garden is just the kind of film to inspire some early spring planting, and getting a bit more involved in your own neighborhood community.

Trouble the Water:

It's been three years since Hurricane Katrina (can you believe it's already been more three years?) and we have yet to halt the global warming pollution that is causing disastrous weather patterns around the world. Trouble the Water takes us back to the Ninth Ward in August 2005, as aspiring hip hop artist Kimberly River Roberts and her husband videotape their neighborhood going underwater. Three years later, this film reminds us that it's time to stop global warming for good, and restore our balance with nature.

So when you're watching stars walk down the red carpet tonight, keep an eye out for these films that celebrate and promote respect for our natural world. 

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USFWS- Wolf

At first glance, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act might not appear to have much to do with our natural world. It includes money to get Americans back to work, to help homeowners manage their mortgages and many other great provisions to fix our floundering economy.

But what the economic stimulus package does-- beyond the immediate emergency response-- is invest almost $80 billion in clean technologies for the first time in our history. We're talking more than just a nod to the thousands of National Wildlife Federation supporters who sent messages and made phone calls to Congress over the past couple of months to speak up for a wildlife-friendly stimulus package. Congress heard you loud and clear, and this time they're acting. We're talking serious investment in a future that promotes economic prosperity and preserves our natural world for generations to come!

Several years ago, when The West Wing was still on TV, Aaron Sorkin poked fun at a fictional group of wildlife advocates who were asking White House staffers to protect wolves from the loss of their natural habitat. They asked for a program to spend $900 million on a wolves-only roadway-- and everyone laughed at the waste of money. "How would wolves know to follow roadsigns?" one character joked.

In the past, the attitude was that if you were speaking up for wildlife, you were doing so at the expense of America's wellbeing. Saving a wolf meant taking a dollar away from schools, defense, infrastructure. But every elected official who voted for the green stimulus package, became a wildlife advocate this week regardless of their intentions. The stimulus package showed a commitment to rebuilding the economy by restoring our natural world-- showing that what's good for wildlife can be good for people too.

So, what's next? Now that our leadership has taken the first steps, we need to come together to ensure strong and comprehensive climate legislation gets passed in 2009 . Now's the time to speak up for a bill that caps global warming pollution and sparks investment in clean energy technologies that continue to rebuild our economy and restore our natural world.

2009 is the year we make it happen. For wolves and humans alike, stay tuned to the Climate Action Center for ways you can stay involved.

P.S. For those of you who were wondering, the West Wing episode is called "The Crackpots and These Women." And despite being written off as 'crackpots,' the wildlife advocates did convince one White House staffer to speak up for wolves.

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Robins in Winter?Robin

American robins are found throughout North America and are a symbol of winter’s end. The first appearance of a robin is a sure sign that spring has sprung. But did you know that in most of the lower 48 states you can find robins throughout the winter? Some are migrants from further north but some are resident birds that stay year-round. These winter-resident robins usually flock up and spend their time in wooded areas rather than lawns, so people don't tend to notice them until they start pairing off and singing their courtship songs in spring. 

Attract Robins

Robins rely on the fruits of trees and shrubs as their primary food source during the winter when worms and insects aren’t available. That’s one reason why they tend to hang out in the woods rather than on your lawn in the winter. You can attract robins to your yard in winter by providing them with fruiting plants. Some of the best berry-providers for robins include bayberry, winterberry, crabapple, cranberrybush viburnum, hawthorn, mountain ash, toyon, sumac, chokeberry and American holly.


Robin Trivia

Robins Impacted by Climate Change

Analysis of 40 years of data shows many common North American birds, including robins, are already being impacted by climate change.
 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: Birds Push Northward to Cope with Climate Change STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: img-srchttpssecure2convionetnwfimagescontentpagebuilder18280jpg-alignrighta-new-national-audubon-society-study-f CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 02/17/2009 04:24:40 PM ----- BODY:

For quite some time we've discussed how birds are affected by climate change. Here is a new National Audubon Society study finds that global warming is forcing migratory birds to push their habitats northward. 

Researchers tracked the migration habits of 305 species of North American birds and found that half of them now spend the winter at least 35 miles north of where they were 4 decades ago.

According to the report, some--like the purple finch--are now hundreds of miles north of their historic range, while the Carolina wren -- the state bird of South Carolina -- is now regularly seen in New England.  Think of that: hundreds of miles.  As in, the distance from Washington, DC to Lake Ontario.

Researchers confirm that global warming is the main culprit.

"This is as close as science at this scale gets to proof," said Greg Butcher, Audubon's lead scientist on the paper. "It is not what each of these individual birds did.  It is the wide diversity of birds that suggests it has something to do with temperature, rather than ecology."

Fortunately, by investing in clean energies to reduce global warming, we can slow down these rapid habitat changes.

This is why we need to pass meaningful climate legislation ASAP. As Congress scrambles to sort out the state of our economy, please remind them to protect wildlife as well!

- By Peter LaFontaine.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: George Will Still Doesn't Get the '70s STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: george-will-still-doesnt-get-the-70s CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 02/16/2009 10:11:04 AM ----- BODY:

No, not the cultural side of the '70s (though judging by that haircut and those glasses, I doubt he was loving the disco era). I'm talking about the decade's temperatures.

You see, George Will has been a relentless pusher of the myth that the '70s were the heyday not of hotpants but of global cooling.

There was never anything close to a scientific consensus around a cooling trend. But when you look at the temperature charts of the time, you can see why a few news articles popped up referencing a temporary halt to the temperature spike of the first half of the century:

MisleadingTempEdit


It's clear that brief cooling trend was a combination of natural fluctuations (including higher volcanic activity) and manmade activity (more aerosol pollution). In the time since, our carbon emissions have shot up, volcanic activity has decreased, and aerosol pollution has been brought under control.

And look what's happened to global temperatures:

GlobalTemps


In Sunday's column, Will repeats his favorite myth. He also adds a new global warming denier talking point, saying temperatures have declined since 1998.

This attempt to mislead is the equivalent of a backflip with a 180 twist. It combines gerrymandering the time frame with cherry-picking the data. First, Will picks the El Nino-fueled 1998 as the starting point of his time frame. Then he carefully selects his data from the Climactic Research Unit in Britain, which has 1998 as warmer than 2005 (NASA puts 2005 slightly ahead). And of course, he ignores the inconvenient truth that annual temperatures are already up a full degree in just three decades.

Even if you bought all of Will's above misinformation, George is still hoping you'll ignore page A3 of the same Washington Post that ran his column. The headline there read "Scientists: Pace of Climate Change Exceeds Estimates."

To learn how to spot and refute global warming denial, visit Grist's How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Valentine's Day: Weird Wildlife Mating Rituals STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: love-on-the-wild-side DATE: 02/13/2009 10:48:33 AM ----- BODY:

Boxturtles mating NWF HQ52307sm While they might not be giving roses and writing love poems, wildlife have some pretty fascinating – and sometimes downright bizarre – courtship and mating rituals of their own.You won’t find singles bars or online dating sites for our furry and feathered friends but they have some inventive ways of saying I love you.


Perfume and Love Songs
Wild animals have a bit of a different spin on these traditional ways of attracting and wooing a lover.

 

 

Ladies’ Choice
For many species the females hold all the power and ultimately decide when to seal the deal when it comes to mating.  And the males have to work hard to earn their prospective lady’s attention!

 

Gender Benders
Boys will be boys and girls will be girls.  But for animals, it’s doesn’t always work that way.


Singles Only
If these sexual strategies were options for humans, the Valentine’s Day industry would go out of business!


National Wildlife Federation naturalist David Mizejewski  is available for press interviews on this and other wildlife subjects.

 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David / wildlife and nature lover EMAIL: myemail2@planetthoughts.org IP: 71.167.187.99 URL: http://www.PlanetThoughts.org DATE: 02/13/2009 04:00:41 PM Well, just before seeing this page I heard a Bob Marley tribute on the radio (64th birthday)... the main song was "One Love". In the animal and human world, it seems love rules supreme... One Love. ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Dancing for education? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: dancing-for-education CATEGORY: Environmental Education DATE: 02/11/2009 03:41:00 PM ----- BODY:

Ed. note: This is a cross-post from the Campus Ecology blog

Does a teacher have to dance to teach good science? Richard Alley of Penn State does (you can see the original post at DotEarth here), twisting around and waving his arms to show how the earth's orbit influences global temperature and climate, and how these interact with the atmosphere to create the daily weather conditions that we eventually discuss at cocktail parties. The hope is that such clowning will help students and the odd YouTube viewer understand the science and significance of climate change. Does it work? Hard to say for sure.

Finding new ways to discuss science, particularly such complicated topics as the climate, is an ongoing challenge for teachers. Between the different learning needs of their pupils and the often-difficult task of distilling ideas that take years to master into a few hour-long classes, very little exists in the way of "best practice."

But to say it doesn't happen might be misleading. There are a few recent stories on sustainability-focused education at colleges and universities, both inside and outside environmental science departments.

Some focus on faculty training, like the Curriculum for the Biosphere at Washington State, and others immerse students in the outdoors, like Janice Crede at UW-Superior. St. Olaf College, in Northfield, Minnesota, uses a themed academic year to involve the whole campus in environmental and sustainability issues. Thomas Pfaff at Ithaca gets his math students to do calculus assignments using real-world data, such as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels or world grain production.

Often, these techniques are shared among faculty through disciplinary networks rather than publicized, so it's likely that there is a lot more going on under the surface than us humble bloggers know. What's your experience? Seen any especially interesting or innovative teaching strategies, particularly when it comes to science and sustainability? Did you have a teacher that inspired you to understand a difficult subject?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Finding new ways to discuss science, particularly such complicated topics as the climate, is an ongoing challenge for teachers. Between the different learning needs of their pupils and the often-difficult task of distilling ideas that take years to master into a few hour-long classes, very little exists in the way of "best practice." But to say it doesn't happen might be misleading: several colleges and universities are experimenting with new ways to teach about the environment. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Stimulus Bill a Unique Chance to Repower America's Economy STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: stimulus-bill-a-unique-chance-to-repower-americas-economy CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 02/11/2009 12:51:08 PM ----- BODY:

MoneyAs a Congressional conference committee considers final changes to the economic recovery package,  the National Wildlife Federation has joined a coalition of conservation organizations to send a joint letter to conferees today.

The groups are urging Congressional negotiators maintain the House bill's strong investments in education, clean energy and America's natural resources - all proven ways to stimulate shovel-ready projects and rapidly create jobs.

Specifically, we hope the conference bill:

Both houses of Congress have clearly shown they recognize the urgent need to repower America’s economy with bold investments in clean energy and efficient technologies. We can put millions of Americans back to work installing solar panels and windmills, greening our schools and modernizing our power grid. This bill is a unique opportunity to take our first step down that cleaner, greener road.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Important Vote this Week--Help Secure 2 Million Acres of Public Lands STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: getting-public-lands-on-the-presidents-desk CATEGORY: Public Lands DATE: 02/09/2009 08:15:44 PM ----- BODY:

Take Action!The past month has been huge for our public lands!

In early January, the U.S. Senate passed sweeping legislation to provide historic protections for millions of acres of America's cherished public lands. Last week, new Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, canceled 77 leases that would have allowed oil and gas companies to disturb red rock areas in Utah. 

We've won some great victories.

Now the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act-- the same one passed by the Senate-- is up for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. And our sources say the vote could be tight. Furthermore, if the House makes ANY amendments to the bill, it must return to the Senate, where it will be stalled indefinitely.

This bill has already come such a long way. Help make sure it gets to the President's desk. 

And the next time you take a family vacation to Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon, you'll know that those lands are going to be protected for generations to come.

 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Ranger Rick Goes to Washington STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: ranger-rick-goes-to-washington CATEGORY: News DATE: 02/06/2009 11:48:44 AM ----- BODY:

***Breaking News************************

A Washington Post article reports that raccoons have invaded White House grounds, and are causing the National Park Service no small amount of trouble.

********************************************

We at NWF would like to posit that perhaps the raccoon population is a little irked themselves. Just this week, U.S. Senators Collins and Nelson (with support from President Obama) proposed close to $80 billion worth of programs to be cut from the economic recovery package. If those cuts go through, raccoons and other wildlife will lose:

Ranger Rick and his friends are doing their part to be heard. But being nocturnal creatures, they don't have a lot of experience in getting Congress to do the right thing.

You can help. Send a message to your Senators and make sure they know how important it is to keep the economic stimulus package green and wildlife friendly. 

Once you've done that-- give them a call too. 

If raccoons can stir up trouble at the White House, we can definitely stir up some trouble on Capitol Hill!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: savanna EMAIL: 113213@usd230.org IP: 12.105.151.254 URL: DATE: 04/20/2009 11:01:17 AM Aww ----- -------- AUTHOR: Anne Keisman TITLE: Happy 100th Birthday, Green Hour! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: -happy-100th-birthday-green-hour- DATE: 02/04/2009 03:20:40 PM ----- BODY:

I hope somebody baked us a cake! 100 weeks ago, the National Wildlife Federation launched Green Hour, a weekly online publication for parents to help families get outside again. Chock full of activities, inspiration, and ideas, Green Hour is a one-stop shop for backyard adventures, nature discovery, and unstructured play.

Girl_monarch Think about your favorite childhood memories: Playing outdoors, catching fireflies, wading in a creek, climbing a tree, or camping out under the stars. Or, how about your first fishing trip, planting a garden, sledding, or spotting your first birds nest? What would your childhood have been like without those experiences? Who would you be today without them?

Those are questions we ask ourselves every week at GREENHOUR.ORG. The answers inspire and guide our work, and inspire the actions of our readers.

Join us. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle. A teacher, a friend, or a community leader. Each of us has a part to play in helping America’s kids go outside and discover the wonders of nature. It’s time to unplug, connect, and get a little dirty! Come on -- there are holes to be dug, leaves to be collected, and birds to be watched. Not to mention, stones to be skipped, trails to be hiked, and campfire songs to be sung!

Now, step away from the computer and go outside and play. Oh, and next time you see somebody who looks a little stressed out or is in a bad mood, ask them, “Have you had your Green Hour today?!”

Bethe Almeras, Green Hour Campaign Manager

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marc Lieberman EMAIL: IP: 98.169.97.52 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/nwf/ DATE: 02/05/2009 10:49:48 PM Happy Birthday Green Hour :) 100 weeks old and still never looked better! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Help is On the Way STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: help-is-on-the-way CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 02/03/2009 05:55:11 PM ----- BODY:

Alright friends of wildlife, here's the update:

A green recovery package has passed the U.S. House of Representatives-- with great provisions to create clean energy jobs while protecting wildlife and natural resources.

Great work from the thousands of you that demanded the House's economic recovery legislation work for the future of people and wildlife. Now a similar bill is up for a vote in the U.S. Senate.

There can be no doubt, we will soon have our economic recovery plan.

The Senate bill has some great provisions, including investments in green education, public land management and clean water restoration projects. But, it also includes support for coal-to-liquid programs, and as we all know: there's no such thing as clean coal.

Today we're sending some positive encouragement to the Senate, and letting our leaders know that we support a truly green economic recovery plan. News reports are saying that there are more jobs in the wind industry these days than in coal mining. So obviously, the time for a clean energy future is now.

Got a minute?  Send a message to your Senators today, asking them to pass a green stimulus package. Let them know you care about environmental education, green technology jobs and tax incentives for homeowners to make their homes energy-efficient. Let them know they should leave out the coal-to-liquid provision, because that's not going to help our economy or our wildlife.

If not for your own job future (and you might do well to consider one of the millions of jobs that are opening up in the green sector), do it for the polar bears!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: JOhn Davis EMAIL: Rollaire@yahoo.com IP: 69.68.140.7 URL: DATE: 02/04/2009 10:11:36 AM OMGosh those POlar Bears are so cute! we MUST help them! RT www.online-anonymity.at.tc ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Sen. Boxer Unveils Principles for Global Warming Legislation STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: sen-boxer-unveils-principles-for-global-warming-legislation CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 02/03/2009 12:01:41 PM ----- BODY:

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, held a press conference this morning to release her principles for global warming legislation. Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, previewed the event for us:



Sen. Boxer's "Principles for Global Warming Legislation" are:

1. Reduce emissions to levels guided by science to avoid dangerous global warming.

2. Set short and long term emissions targets that are certain and enforceable, with periodic review of the climate science and adjustments to targets and policies as necessary to meet emissions reduction targets.

3. Ensure that state and local entities continue pioneering efforts to address global warming.

4. Establish a transparent and accountable market-based system that efficiently reduces carbon emissions.

5. Use revenues from the carbon market to:
- Keep consumers whole as our nation transitions to clean energy;
- Invest in clean energy technologies and energy efficiency measures;
- Assist states, localities and tribes in addressing and adapting to global warming impacts;
- Assist workers, businesses and communities, including manufacturing states, in the transition to a clean energy economy;
- Support efforts to conserve wildlife and natural systems threatened by global warming; and
-Work with the international community, including faith leaders, to provide support to developing nations in responding and adapting to global warming. In addition to other benefits, these actions will help avoid the threats to international stability and national security posed by global warming.

6. Ensure a level global playing field, by providing incentives for emission reductions and effective deterrents so that countries contribute their fair share to the international effort to combat global warming.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: grf67 EMAIL: rfischer2@verizon.net IP: 70.108.164.29 URL: DATE: 02/03/2009 01:49:59 PM It could be even better if it were cast in terms of global climate change rather than global warming. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Woody Pfister EMAIL: woodypfister@gmail.com IP: 134.67.6.14 URL: DATE: 02/03/2009 02:47:34 PM Yes, it is Global Climate Change since we are freezing our butts off this winter! When we are convinced it's really Global Cooling, what will tax then? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: StopGlobaWarmingByBeingVegan EMAIL: Donsta40@yahoo.com IP: 69.237.146.179 URL: DATE: 02/03/2009 04:52:46 PM Meat is the main reason of global warming. Until we address that problem, global warming will still be a crisis. Green energy will not solve global warming. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: rob bregoff EMAIL: robert_bregoff@dot.ca.gov IP: 149.136.25.254 URL: DATE: 02/05/2009 02:44:22 PM Nice concepts, but where are the real solutions? Where is the language about funding shift from autos to transit, the loft "alternative" (appropriate) energy goals, ways of reducing foreign oil dependency, clean incentives for countries with whom we trade? Come on, Babs, grow a spine! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: D KING EMAIL: abqjek@gmail.com IP: 65.27.85.242 URL: DATE: 02/06/2009 11:58:26 PM What about the Kyoto Protocol? Why doesn't the U.S. take a leadership role in really becoming seriously involved. It is time to make specific and lasting changes even if it makes some people uncomfortable. We need to start looking at the problems we are generating at this time for our children and grandchildren. Platitudes and denial are really very inappropriate by any rational person at this point in time. ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: The Real Reasons for Groundhog Day STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-real-reasons-for-groundhog-day DATE: 02/02/2009 09:58:56 AM ----- BODY:

Groundhog: Source- Wikipedia

Punxsutawney Phil, America’s most famous weather forecaster, will have love, not weather, on his mind when he emerges from his hole on February 2.  Researchers tracked 32 groundhogs for more than four years and concluded that the real reason for the early February appearance is a version of the dating game, groundhog style.

Male groundhogs wake up after three months of hibernation to check out the available pool of ladies within their territory. They select a female with whom they spend the night, and this sleepover acts as a first date, allowing the groundhogs time to get to know each other before the official start of mating season the following month. During these meet and greet sessions, contact is confined to rubbing noses - there's no going "all the way."

After scoping out two or three females, the male groundhog returns to his burrow to sleep again until March, dreaming of the hotties he has just met. When he awakes and revisits each of the females, the earlier slumber parties allow the woodchucks to skip the small talk and get right down to the business of breeding.

Climate Change

Here’s a round-up of recent news on how climate change is affecting wildlife:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Christine R. EMAIL: matermax@hotmail.com IP: 24.109.107.239 URL: http://www.helium.com/user/show/352161 DATE: 02/02/2009 10:37:01 AM That puts a whole new spin on things. So, if a groundhog sees his shadow, that means six weeks without sex? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marc Lieberman EMAIL: IP: 98.169.97.52 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/nwf/ DATE: 02/03/2009 01:12:12 AM I wish every day was Groundhog Day! -- we need more wildlife holidays ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: The Green Inaugural Ball: A Video Recap STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-green-inaugural-ball-a-video-recap DATE: 01/30/2009 10:58:36 AM ----- BODY: Here's a recap of the Green Inaugural Ball from the California League of Conservation Voters:
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Anne Keisman TITLE: Upload photos of kids outside! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: news-from-green-hour-we-are-now-trying-to-compile-the-worlds-largest-library-of-photos-of-kids-playing-outsideweve-already CATEGORY: News DATE: 01/28/2009 12:25:01 PM ----- BODY:

News from Green Hour: We are now trying to compile the world's largest library of photos of kids playing outside!

Girl_in_field We've already got pictures of kids splashing in streams, running in playgrounds, dancing in the surf, climbing trees -- from all over the world!

The smiles tell the tale: Playing outside makes kids happier and healthier. But really, folks, it's just plain FUN!

For instant happiness, look at the shots parents have uploaded already: http://www.flickr.com/groups/greenhour/ So cute!!

Have any photos you want to add? Feel free! You have to sign up with Flickr, but if you click the link above, you can find out how -- it's pretty easy.

Thanks, everyone!

Anne Keisman
greenhour.org

PS: Lots of kids have a snow day today in the U.S. Nice opportunity for a Kodak moment! ;-)

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Gore Tells Senate Committee We Need New Global Climate Treaty STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: gore-tells-senate-committee-we-need-new-global-climate-treaty CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 01/28/2009 11:07:34 AM ----- BODY:

And we're live from Union Station in Washington, DC! I just came from Dirksen Senate Office Building, where I was one of about 75 people who didn't get into today's Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing featuring Al Gore. Fortunately, Catherine Bowes, NWF program director for global warming, and several intrepid interns got to Dirksen at the crack of dawn and were able to get into the hearing.

Gore told the committee that America must retake its leadership role on climate action:

"In order to repower our economy, restore American economic and moral leadership in the world and regain control of our destiny, we must take bold action now," he said in testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Nobel laureate, who won an Oscar for his global-warming book turned documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," said Washington had to lead the world heading into global climate talks in Copenhagen in December.

If Congress "acts right away" to pass Obama's stimulus plan and "takes decisive action this year" to cap carbon emissions, the US delegation to the Danish capital will enjoy "renewed authority to lead the world in shaping a fair and effective treaty," said the former vice president.

"And this treaty must be negotiated this year. Not next year. This year," he warned in the written remarks.

National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger said today, "Other countries have begun to act – and they have waited long enough for the United States to step up and do our part. We have a moral obligation to lead on this crucial issue and an economic imperative to ensure that the world’s next generation of energy solutions carry a Made-in-America label."

Finally, there was one benefit to getting shut out of the hearing room. I was able to join the scrum of photojournalists camped outside Sen. Kerry's office waiting for Vice President Gore to emerge. Note that the hearing room is already full -- all those people waiting outside were doing so on the off chance they might get in. Talk about a hot ticket (no pun intended)!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kate EMAIL: kgeller@fenton.com IP: 216.140.110.134 URL: DATE: 01/28/2009 12:44:04 PM Great quote by Schweiger, and so true. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kip EMAIL: kipmalinosky@gmail.com IP: 98.204.183.183 URL: DATE: 01/28/2009 12:58:31 PM I don't know if it will come to pass, but as I understand a carbon tax would be much more effective way to go than cap & trade program. Obama favors the cap & trade approach, but it seems that a carbon tax would work well and now it even has the backing of Exxon-Mobile. But is this idea even on the agenda to be included in part of a new global climate treaty? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: IP: 69.143.164.187 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/thegreenmiles/ DATE: 01/28/2009 01:34:56 PM Kip, David Roberts just had a good analysis of the cap-and-invest vs. carbon tax debate over at Gristmill ... http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/1/24/18333/1702 ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Egan Oconnor EMAIL: eganoc@hotmail.com IP: 67.116.240.165 URL: DATE: 01/28/2009 07:17:29 PM Please do not let the climate protection legislation get hijacked by the advocates of new nuclear plants. While operation of such plants is "carbon-free," any investment in new nuclear plants will actually RETARD climate protection. How? It has been demonstrated (by Amory Lovins and others) that the SAME investment in already-proven low-carbon energy-efficiency technologies would purchase far greater carbon-dioxide reduction, per delivered unit of useful energy -- and do it much faster, reliably, and safely too. Moreover, energy efficiency is a relatively low-tech strategy that the world could readily and gratefully copy. Everyone needs to recognize new nuclear investment as an OBSTACLE, not a genuine aid, to climate protection. For details, read the Lovins-Sheikh paper, "The Nuclear Illusion," at www.rmi.org --- preprint of the paper soon to be published in the Royal Academy of Science journal, AMBIO. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Having a (Green) Ball STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: having-a-green-ball DATE: 01/27/2009 04:53:03 PM ----- BODY:

Larry Schweiger

If you weren’t one of the lucky thousands packed into the National Portrait Gallery last week for the Green Inaugural Ball, you missed the best and greenest party of the year!

Musical acts included Will.i.am. (of the Black Eyed Peas), Melissa Etheridge, Maroon 5, John Legend, and Michael Franti. Speakers included former Vice President Al Gore, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, National Wildlife Federation President & CEO Larry Schweiger, and … comedian Paul Reiser. Yeah, I didn’t know the former Mad About You star was into the environment either. You can see Jason Kempin’s photos here

It was a fantastic setting for a great event. The Gallery’s courtyard was lit up beautifully for the event and guests were free to roam the halls (I made sure to get a picture with conservation legend Teddy Roosevelt).

Organizers made sure every detail was as green as possible. Some features:

Washingtonian’s Capital Comment blog reviewed the event and gave it an impressive average of 4.25 stars! Hopefully we’ll get to do it all again in four years.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Serving Others by Digging Dirt STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-affiliate-hosts-anacostia-river-service-event-hundreds-volunteer DATE: 01/27/2009 02:21:15 PM ----- BODY:

This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I--together with some of my fellow National Wildlife Federation staffers--took up the call to a day of national service by joining some big names and little kids to clean up and revitalize a partially frozen Anacostia River in Washington, D.C.

It was such an inspiring day! Not only did we protect a vital natural resource for Washington residents, but kids got outside, learning that strong, healthy trees help create a strong, healthy river.

We started with picking up trash, which was such a big task that Earth Conservation Corps—the sponsoring organization and NWF’s local affiliate—had to dispatch pickup trucks to gather all the garbage found. (I can only imagine what one would find in the water!)

In the afternoon, more than a hundred school children gathered to plant 44 tree saplings in honor of the new president who was to soon be inaugurated just one subway ride away.

Throughout the day, I talked to students painting dead fish with neon paint and helped print them onto big white display banners, while a few of the little ones passed out goodie bags with baby pine saplings inside.

It was clear to me on this day that kids have the potential to grow up and become good stewards when they're given the proper guidance now.

That's why I wanted to let you know that in the weeks ahead, we'll have a great opportunity to help make more days like this possible for kids across the country.

If you haven't already, take a quick moment to learn about the No Child Left Inside Act — one of the most important pieces of legislation to get environmental education back in America's classrooms—and then let your Members of Congress know you support this bill.

After all, hands-on environmental education isn't just about preparing our kids to take on the environmental challenges of the 21st century, but you never know when getting outdoors might result in meeting a wildlife celebrity like National Wildlife Federation's own Ranger Rick! 

By Amanda Cooke, Communciations Intern, National Wildlife Federation

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Lisa Eadens TITLE: Finally! A victory for public lands! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: finally-a-victory-for-public-lands DATE: 01/23/2009 12:37:07 PM ----- BODY:

We've waited a long time for a significant victory for our public lands…

Over the last five years, it's been one thing after another threatening to take the character and beauty from our public lands. From fossil fuel development occurring at an unprecedented rate and conducted rashly and irresponsibly to dirty mining and threats to sell-off public lands for short term gains, public lands have been abused and all but forgotten as the national treasure they truly are.

Almost 1/3 of the United States is public lands -- lands held in trust by all Americans that provide vital habitat for our wildlife, clean water and open space for recreation. They are also lands we will pass on to our children, and our children's children to experience.

NLCS Last week the senate passed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, which contains more than 160 separate public lands bills, most of which will expand the protection of our public lands. The Act will provide the largest expansion of the National Wilderness Preservation System in 15 years, designating 2.1 million acres of permanent wilderness in nine states -- California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Michigan, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Another one of the bills in the package -- the National Landscape Conservation System Act -- will provide permanent protection for the first new system of conservation lands in the United States in more than 50 years. Under the National Landscape Conservation System Act, over 850 federally recognized areas covering 27 million acres of the Bureau of Land Management's most spectacular land and waters will be protected permanently.

The Act now moves to House of Representatives, which is expected to consider it in the coming weeks. Visit www.OurPublicLands.org for more information.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: DJ Chandler EMAIL: profchandler@gmail.com IP: 71.31.104.179 URL: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/urgent-ask-florida39s-governor-to-save-florida39s-land DATE: 01/23/2009 11:08:33 PM As a result of recent Legislative action, Florida Forever lost 90% of its funding for the current fiscal year and some from 2007. This was a last-minute cut, with very little time to object. The Governor is finalizing his budget recommendations for next fiscal year (starts July 2009), and the Legislature is also working on the budget. On Wednesday, January 28th, (or possibly Tuesday) Governor Charlie Crist will make a decision to veto this horrendous legislative action or not. If you sign this petition, the Governor may listen and use his executive power to save the conservation land funding for Florida. Florida has the potential to establish and maintain a widespread wildlife corridor with Black Bear, Panthers and many other species, including flora and fauna. Please act today, Florida's land and wildlife are running out of time! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: DJ Chandler EMAIL: profchandler@gmail.com IP: 71.31.104.179 URL: DATE: 01/23/2009 11:09:56 PM http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/urgent-ask-florida39s-governor-to-save-florida39s-land Please sign! It is urgent! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: Rails and Trails for Wildlife STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: lets-face-it---our-cars-threaten-wildlife-in-more-ways-than-one-road-development-threaten-habitats-to-the-point-where-wildl DATE: 01/23/2009 10:52:45 AM ----- BODY:

Let's face it - our cars threaten wildlife in more ways than one. Road development threatens habitats, to the point where wildlife corridors are needed for animals to migrate. Not only that, but auto emissions are one of the biggest contributors to global warming. Driving a hybrid is a great start - but it just won't be enough.

Though his statement on Wednesday was short,  Transportation Secretary nominee Rep. Ray LaHood had a lot to say on the big picture of the way we move, declaring that transportation development "must be sustainable" and that we must invest in railroads and mass transit if we want to confront climate change.

With the urgent need to reverse global warming, it's high time we have infrastructure that works for us and for wildlife. If you haven't done so, please urge new leaders in Congress to  make rails and trails investments, which both stimulate our economy and conserve natural resources.

And how about taking it one step further? Let's not forget about walking and biking – the best way to reduce our carbon footprint and experience nature at the same time!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: The First Hundred Days Start With You STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-first-hundred-days-starts-with-you CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 01/21/2009 02:54:32 PM ----- BODY:

Tell your friends to sign on for a clean energy future!I'm excited to report that since mid-November, over 160,000 people have signed the petition urging President Obama to usher in America's clean energy economy during his first 100 days.

The first 100 days start today, which means it's time for action.

If you were watching the Inauguration yesterday, you might've heard the new President say:

"We'll work tirelessly to… roll back the specter of a warming planet."

And if you were like me, you did a little happy dance in front of the TV. It's not everyday that a politician commits to protect the planet for future generations in a national address.

But that was followed by the sobering reminder:

"For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies."

It's clear that the new administration is open to taking our country towards a clean energy economy, but now it's time for us to start making sure they follow through with action.

Now that we're just days away from delivering the petition to Congress and the new administration, you can help make sure that the petition for wildlife-friendly energy solutions makes a solid thump when it lands on our new leadership's desk.

If you haven't already signed the petition, there's still a few days left to add your name, OR if you've already signed the petition, you can reach out to your family, friends and neighbors with this quick ecard.

The time you take to speak up for clean energy solutions today will put us that much closer to restoring our natural world and giving us all safer energy choices, lower family fuel costs and millions of new jobs.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Craig Wood EMAIL: craig.wood@gmail.com IP: 71.167.30.18 URL: http://www.supereco.com DATE: 01/22/2009 10:17:04 AM Thanks, there is definitely a feeling in the air that 'yes we can' make a difference. Growing up in the 70s reading Organic Gardening, it's hard to believe that it took this long, lets make sure that our politician don't drop the ball. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: Help Create Jobs and Protect Wildlife STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: we-all-know-that-these-are-some-tough-times-for-our-countrys-economy-and-as-a-conservationist-i-find-myself-not-only DATE: 01/13/2009 12:21:13 PM ----- BODY:

We all know that these are some tough times for our country's economy. —and as a conservationist, I find myself not only concerned about the impact of our economy on my family, friends and neighbors, but also on the wildlife and natural resources I cherish.

And yet--I take hope in being certain that we do not need to sacrifice our natural resources to help revive our economy -- or vice versa. And, I take even more hope in knowing that our newly elected officials are increasingly realizing this as well.

President-elect Obama, as well as numerous Members of Congress, have already acknowledged that enacting legislation to confront the country's immediate economic needs can serve as a groundbreaking step in creating a bold new direction for our economy—one that makes investments that would not only spur employment growth, but guide us to a clean energy economy while also protecting wildlife and restoring our natural resources..

This bold new direction for our economy can create millions of made-in-America jobs. It calls for restoration programs that need workers to remove invasive species and plant native wildlife. It helps expand conservation corps programs and bring sustainability education in high schools and universities so that our students thrive in a clean energy economy. Furthermore, the clean energy economy creates "shovel ready" jobs such as installing solar panels, building wind turbines and retrofitting homes.

It's important that we let this incoming administration and new Congress see the widespread support for this new beginning for our country's economy, so that it doesn't get drowned out among the voices calling for more of the same.

Please consider taking just a quick moment today to send this message to our country's new decision makers, asking them to support a bold new economic policy that works for people and wildlife!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Anne Keisman TITLE: 5 Tips to Get Off The Couch -- And Get Outside! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-holidays-are-over-the-prospect-of-three-more-months-of-winter-seems-well-horrible-everyday-i-have-more-reasons-to---s DATE: 01/09/2009 09:35:19 AM ----- BODY:

The holidays are over. The prospect of three more months of winter seems, well, HORRIBLE. Everyday I seem to find more reasons to

  1. Tether myself to my couch

  2. Surf Twitter, Flickr and Facebook

  3. Catch up on my Netflix

This is especially sad, because I coordinate www.greenhour.org – NWF's website that encourages kids and their parents to go outside. Shouldn't I be able to resist the lure of the many screens in my home?

Yes – and, in fact, I WILL RESIST!

While working here, I've discovered amazing tools to get me off the couch and into the great outdoors -- and I thought I'd share.

5 tips to make outdoor adventures part of your family's winter routine:

  1. By Charlie Archambault Layer it up: Wear several layers of clothing. What keeps you warm is the heat you capture in between the layers! (Hint: Mittens are warmer than gloves, because fingers retain more heat when they touch each other.)


  2. Stay dry: Nothing chills you like wet skin. For optimal warmth, your base layer should be made of a material that wicks away sweat from your body. Popular fabrics include polypropylene and silk. Your outermost layer should be water- and wind-proof.


  3. Geocaching and Letterboxing: Now that you're warm, look for hidden treasure (and get some fresh air at the same time.) There are about 20,000 letterboxes hidden in North America and 707,904 geocaches around the world. Go find one!


  4. Find nature nearby: Find a park or nature center near you, then head out for a walk. First, download a Wildlife Observation Checklist or a Nature Scavenger Hunt list to make it interesting.


  5. Watch the neighbors: Fill your birdfeeders and see what visitors come. Learn how to make a nesting box for your feathered friends.

HAVE FUN!

Anne Keisman
Online Media Coordinator
Green Hour

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Caroline EMAIL: nephesh46@aol.com IP: 24.186.174.165 URL: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=420352653 DATE: 01/13/2009 06:37:49 PM How can you say you "care" about wildlife yet you support the pain and suffering that comes from hunting! HYPOCRITE I shall make sure to let as many people know the reality of recreational killing and what you supports. Its not a pretty picture! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 01/14/2009 12:05:58 PM Caroline, I'm not sure of your knowledge of the history of conservation-- but hunters have played a very important role in saving species and creating reserves that allow many animals to live. NWF does not "support" hunting, we support people who also hunt-- or anyone for that matter who sets their goal to protect wildlife. We don't tell people how to live their life, we just work with them to protect wildlife. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: NWF's Staff on Twitter STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwfs-staff-on-twitter DATE: 01/06/2009 11:54:17 AM ----- BODY:

If you haven't heard of the microblogging site called Twitter, then this post really isn't for you. But if you have and you are interested in following some of the voices of NWF, I've compiled this list and I welcome you to follow us!

National Wildlife Federation NWF
I had to start with this one! I created National Wildlife Federation's account a few years ago (not really understanding what Twitter was!) and it has grown tremendously since then. I was hoping to disperse fun wildlife facts and important information as it happened. To this day it offers up tips, actions and other helpful information and is updated by Kristin Johnson and myself.

 So who is behind NWF's Twitter?

Danielle Brigida

Danielle Brigida
(Yes this is me.) Here's a line from my bio: I'm using social media to protect wildlife and the environment, learn, and explore. I am the first to admit I'm a bit addicted to Twitter, so feel free to follow me and I'll gladly follow you back!

 
 

Kristin Johnson

Kristin Johnson
Kristin's bio: I'm in the online communications biz, working to save wildlife and the environment. When Kristin isn't helping me tweet for NWF, she's working on our awesome web team. If you want on her good side, tweet her something about puppies, she's obsessed.


 

Green Hour

Green Hour
Green Hour(r) is NWF's campaign to encourage parents and caregivers to get their kids outside a hour a day for unstructured play time. You'll find fresh activities, ideas, and inspiration each week at Greenhour.org to help you and your family explore nature and trade some screen time for green time!  

 

 

Anne Keisman

Anne Keisman
Anne's Bio: I'm a writer and a budding web geek and environmentalist! Anne is a recovering ex-reporter and she's rocking the twitter world. She tweets for Green Hour and she's also the content manager and writer for the Greenhour.org website!



 

Campusecology

Campus Ecology
This awesome program's twitter feed is run by Xarissa Holdaway. She is in charge of our bi-monthly campus e-newsletter, ClimateEdu and is a great contact for college and university faculty and staff, students and more!
 



AYEA

Alaska Youth for Environmental Action
AYEA is an important NWF program that tweets about their efforts. They work to inspire and train diverse youth leaders to impact environmental issues!
 






Climate ClassroomClimate Classroom
Climate Classroom is a great resource for teachers or parents who want to teach younger audiences the difficult subject that is global warming.This twitter feed is lucky enough to have Jan Nelsen tweeting updates.

 


Wildlife_watch

Wildlife Watch
Jessica Jones manages our Wildlife Watch program and offers up great and interesting information on this twitter feed. The best part is...you can wildlife watch using twitter and it will show up on the Twitter page! Just type #nwf after you see wildlife and be sure to include your State initials if you can.It's a little too much fun!


NWF's Action Team

Wildlifeaction Wildlife Action
Wildlife Action is a great place to get updates on NWF's Legislation updates and other policy news. This feed is run by Julia Marden who regularly updates this blog. Check out NWF's Action Headquarters to see what wildlife-friendly policies you can help speak up for.

 
 

Drewtappan Drew Tappan
Drew is a veteran online organizer, political nerd, web geek, and wilderness enthusiast with a lifelong passion for wildlife and wild places. A misplaced Midwesterner, he's lived in Ohio, Indiana, Northern California, North Carolina, and Washington D.C. He tweets as NWF's director of online advocacy.

 

Dominique Burgunder-Johnson Dominique Burgunder-Johnson
Dominique leads our online advocacy efforts--helping wildlife activists keep those guys and gals on Capitol Hill accountable to supporting policy solutions that work for people and the planet!

 


 

Jennifer Janssen Jennifer Janssen
Jennifer heads up the Great Lakes themed online outreach in our Ann Arbor, Michigan office. She is an aquatic ecologist turned online activist who is still learning the ways of Twitter, but loves to see all of the global warming solutions and great wildlife stories being twittered out there.


 

Kelly-wagner Kelly Wagner
Kelly does online outreach for our office in Austin, Texas. I like to call her twitter addict extraordinaire for the South Central Region because she's awesome and gets Twitter like no other!




   

Rachel

Rachel Faulkner
Rachel's bio says "Wildlife biologist with a techno geek streak and aspirations to someday be a writer. I love science, animals, nature, and sarcastic humor." Follow her and you won't regret it!


 

Shreema Mehta

Shreema Mehta

Shreema is a "former journo, now Grassroots Outreach Intern at National Wildlife Federation," who has written for The New Standard and The Nation. She also helps write quality entries for this blog!

   



Amazing, All-Star Staff

JaimeMatyas

Jaime Matyas
Jaime describes herself as a "soccer playing, eco-conscious working mom" but she's also a marketing expert and is passionate about getting kids outside!  Part of the reason NWF runs so efficiently is because Jaime serves as our Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President. 

 


KevinCoyleKevin Coyle
Kevin Coyle is NWF's VP of Education and has a wealth of knowledge to offer up the Twitterverse as its Climate Guru. His wit is most excellent and his tweets are always informative.



 

Michaelsola Michael Sola
Michael is the IT Director here and truly lives up to the name. He's an environmentalist who loves to share stories and connect. He has been a leader in the social media arena for non-profits and his passion for technology and helping people use it is inspiring.





Libby Elizabeth "Libby" Schleichert
Did everyone read Ranger Rick as a kid? I know I did! Libby is one of our amazing editors for Ranger Rick Magazine. Tweet her and you'll find out she's one of the sweetest people on earth! Plus you get an inside scoop into an awesome magazine.


 

 

Dave Mizejewski

David Mizejewski
David is a spokesperson for the National Wildlife Federation and a national media personality. David appeared in a mini-series on Animal Planet in April of 2007 called Springwatch U.S.A. that looked at the effect of seasonal change has on wildlife from salamanders and flying squirrels to great horned owls and black bears. His Facebook and MySpace pages are great ways to contact him!

 



Jlalo Julie Lalo
Julie is the regional representative for NWF's Mid-Atlantic region, and is exploring the best of nature in the region's six states and DC. She doesn't carry pen and paper in her backpack anymore, but does promise to drop tweets along the trail.fun.  



 

Robin.jpg copyRobin Broitman
Robin has recently joined us as our Web Publisher for National Wildlife Magazine and has really great tweets about using social media. Visit her blog and check out how she'll be making NWF's content more suitable for the web.





AshleighAshleigh Poff
Ashleigh supports our education programs and as she claims on her profile " I help people love wildlife and nature." Follow her for fun updates on a number of our education programs and be sure to share marketing tips with her!






Christine Dorsey Christine Dorsey
Christine is NWF's media director who started up her Twitter account to stay in touch while in Poznan for the climate talks recently. She describes herself as "political junkie and wildlife lover" in her bio.

 



Don't just stop following there! Here are a couple of blogs that share with you some of the best green Twitter feeds to follow:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marc Lieberman EMAIL: IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/nwf/ DATE: 01/07/2009 01:57:48 PM Feel free to post your twitter names as a comment! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Winning Mark EMAIL: info@winningmark.com IP: 76.115.42.222 URL: http://www.winningmark.com DATE: 02/06/2009 01:04:39 PM Thanks for putting this post together. We are progressive campaign media firm in Portland Oregon doing work for many of these organizations and we are excited about twitter as a tool for communications and organizing. Keep up the good work. Follow us at http://www.twitter.com/winning_mark ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Don Lafferty EMAIL: dlafferty1@comcast.net IP: 69.253.223.208 URL: http://profile.typepad.com/donlafferty DATE: 06/23/2009 12:51:54 PM http://twitter.com/donlafferty ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jacqueline StJohn EMAIL: jrs118@centurytel.net IP: 207.118.212.73 URL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40001806@N03/ DATE: 07/02/2009 04:38:36 AM We will be posting breaking video of baby bear, deer, raccoons, wolves and coyotes, etc. We are forest dwellers in The N. Highland Forest in WI.We have been here a while and already have lots of photos. Just got a cadillac of a cam corder and can stream great stuff. Today is our first day on twitter. Glad we found you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeo adam EMAIL: peoplesworld@rediff.com IP: 203.76.183.118 URL: http://www.peoplesNewWorld.blogspot.com DATE: 08/20/2009 08:18:14 AM Hi I am working with 15 people in INDIA for non-profit organization, to make people happy and smiling. We collect photos or Pix from people which is taken by them by Mobile phone or camera. By collecting them We help people if you have photos or pix Please send it to Peoplesworld@rediff.com Thank you Jeo ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Annika Hipple EMAIL: annika@annikahipple.com IP: 216.160.101.60 URL: http://www.annikahipple.com DATE: 09/11/2009 12:30:42 PM Thanks for putting together this great list. I was already following a few of them, but now I've started following most of the rest also. I tweet about environment, travel, and global issues at http://twitter.com/annikahipple ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: Warming World Threatens Penguins, Too STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: warming-world-threatens-penguins-too DATE: 01/06/2009 11:24:00 AM ----- BODY:

Remember March of the Penguins? It was truly impressive to me to watch the incredible strength and patience these birds have to make that long, hard journey through the Antarctic winter each year.

But here’s some sad news for anyone else moved by that movie: The federal government proposes Seven species of penguins be designated as threatened or endangered as a result of climate change.

Penguins from around the world, from Chile to New Zealand, have received this unfortunate distinction. While the Emperor Penguin (featured in the movie) is still considered safe, given the rapidly warming Antarctic, it might not be too long before they get added too.

In case you were having doubts, this is more proof that climate change is the single biggest threat wildlife face today. Fortunately, we have a President-elect who has stated his administration will work to institute the clean energy policies we need to fight global warming – and shrink the Endangered Species list.

If you haven’t gotten a chance to sign our petition to the President-elect yet, please speak up for the yellow-eyed, the erect-crested, the Emperor and the rest today! Tell him we need a new direction for our energy economy if we want to protect and preserve wildlife, in our backyard and around the world.

Correction: Earlier I stated that the penguins have already been added to the Endangered Species List. In fact, there will be a 60-day public comment period before they get added.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jessica Jones TITLE: Wildlife Watch for Bald Eagles this Winter STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wildlife-watch-for-bald-eagles-this-winter CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 12/31/2008 10:36:41 AM ----- BODY:

Winter can seem like a difficult time to watch for wildlife.  Trees have dropped their leaves, a good number of birds have migrated south and many mammals have gone into hibernation.  However, a good naturalist knows that as the seasons change, so does the wildlife you look for.  Winter may not be a great time to look for insects or nesting birds, but it is the best season to look for wildlife tracks, evergreen trees, deer and raptors. 

Copyright Corbis Raptors are birds of prey that hunt while in flight and use their feet to capture prey.  The most famous raptor is the bald eagle, and for the continental United States, winter is the best season for viewing this majestic creature.  During the summer, bald eagles live and breed in Alaska and Canada.  As the temperatures drop, bald eagles migrate south to hunt over large lakes and river for their primary prey, fish.  They can be seen in every state except Hawaii, and are most commonly spotted over lakes in the Mississippi Valley, Pacific Northwest, Hudson River Valley and the Mid-Atlantic.

If you spot bald eagles or any other winter wildlife, visit the National Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Watch website to report your sightings.  Wildlife Watch is a free educational program where participants can upload photos of wildlife, share stories and map the locations of their wildlife watching.  Visit to learn more about citizen wildlife monitoring with NWF.

 

To learn more about watching for bald eagles, read Where the Eagles Are from National Wildlife magazine. 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: cloey EMAIL: cloeyo@yahoo.com IP: 98.122.53.136 URL: DATE: 01/11/2009 12:03:38 PM GO EAGLES ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: Meet Green New Year's Resolutions With These Sites STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: sites-to-help-you-meet-green-new-years-resolutions DATE: 12/30/2008 04:40:35 PM ----- BODY:

I know some of you out there have not only made New Year’s resolutions, but have even drawn up action plans to carry them out. The rest of us might need a little help though!

We all want to do better, both for ourselves and the world around us. Lucky for us, no matter what your goal is, there are tons of online resources out there to make your resolution a reality. Here’s a few:


If you know of any other websites to help people start 2009 right, please share in the comments section! And Happy New Year!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: Catchphrases won't solve climate change STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: catchphrases-wont-solve-climate-change DATE: 12/29/2008 11:25:24 AM ----- BODY:

You’ve probably been hearing a lot about “clean coal” as one of the paths we can take to a new energy future., but while it sounds nice, the truth is: “clean coal” does not exist.

”Clean coal” is used to describe coal plants that capture and store the carbon emissions they produce, so they are never released into the atmosphere, but currently, there are no coal power plants that are actually able to do this. So as it stands, the clean coal path is dirty and leads to nowhere.

The National Wildlife Federation has been working together with some of the nation’s top conservation groups on the This is Reality Campaign to debunk the myth of clean coal:



Carbon-capture and sequestration may happen in the future, but fortunately we don’t need to wait around indefinitely for an expensive technology to reduce global warming. We can take quicker and more affordable steps now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For example, RePower America has a plan to get us 100% clean electricity within 10 years. It involves investments in energy efficiency, and solar, wind and renewable energies – technologies that not only exist but are already being used!

To quote Blan Holman, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, “Clean coal is like a healthy cigarette.” So get the details here and please be sure to spread the word!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Gretchen Gary TITLE: The Wildlife Faces of Global Warming: Alaska STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-wildlife-faces-of-global-warming-alaska DATE: 12/22/2008 11:22:13 AM ----- BODY:

When I moved to Alaska in October of 2008 everyone back in upstate New York, where I grew up, thought I was crazy - going to one of the coldest places in the country when it is also the darkest place in the country. I was so happy to be going, though! I was moving to work as an intern for the National Wildlife Federation, an organization I had admired since I was a child (my family even had our yard and property certified as a National Wildlife Federation “backyard habitat” when I was young). Equally as important as the job is the fact that while I am here I may be lucky enough to see some far north wildlife that I have only seen in pictures!


Coincidentally, my first assignment when I came to the NWF office in Anchorage was to put the final finishing touches on this beautiful slideshow that the Global Warming Team here put together. It was a great welcome to Alaska, seeing and working with these pictures of the wildlife that I am already so excited about! The consequences of global warming are already hitting Alaska hard. Those who have worked in the Anchorage office for more than a decade, such as Jim Adams and Tony Turrini who has here for 20 years, have seen the impacts of global warming on Alaska first hand. For me, living here is really strengthening my resolve to continue the fight against global warming and the consequences to our natural resources.

Click on the link below to check out The Wildlife Faces of Global Warming: Alaska on YouTube::

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-8TbSxF7k8

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Judy Tabrosky EMAIL: judithatskw@verizon.net IP: 96.236.159.214 URL: DATE: 12/25/2008 08:18:34 AM I am glad to have been able to view this & hear the music on Christmas morning. Although none of us want to have this reason to have to view something like this, it is time something is done. Thank you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dreaming Badger EMAIL: thebadgerarises@yahoo.com IP: 96.233.4.90 URL: http://www.myspace.com/dreamingbadger DATE: 12/25/2008 09:44:58 AM What happens to Alaska's wildlife will eventually happen to wildlife the world over. It will also happen to humans everywhere. We are all connected. What wll YOU do to save Alaska and the rest of Mother Earth? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: marilyn EMAIL: marilynmatesich@hotmail.com IP: 75.145.1.178 URL: DATE: 12/25/2008 09:49:56 AM beautiful photography-show this to people like r limbaugh and s hannity...no such thing as global warming they say...wishful thinking on their part=so pathetic..the rest of us know it's a reality=and we'll fight it with the new admin. bush wasted our resources...and the consequences are being felt...because he had no desire to fight it...Obama hopefully will do what bush failed to do! also, tried to e-mail video and not able to???? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jessie emerson EMAIL: osoherbalsjessie@yahoo.com IP: 166.164.172.220 URL: DATE: 12/25/2008 10:22:57 AM We on our planet earth are all connected by the web of life. Take heed, what is happening to our four footed relatives in Alaska will soon happen to the rest of the world. We all want peace in our world, but no Peace without Justice. Bear Medicine woman ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Conservation Groups File Suit To Restore Endangered Species Act Protections STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: conservation-groups-file-suit-to-restore-endangered-species-act-protections CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 12/18/2008 11:10:19 AM ----- BODY:

Polar BearThe National Wildlife Federation, 13 of its affiliates, and Golden Gate Audubon filed suit today challenging the Bush administration's regulations weakening the consultation requirements of the Endangered Species Act.

According to the lawsuit, the Bush administration's regulations drastically reduce protections for America's imperiled plants, fish and wildlife and are in direct violation of the administration's duties under the Endangered Species Act.

See "Bush Administration Eviscerates Endangered Species Act"

"The Bush administration rushed these regulations through in record time," said John Kostyack, Executive Director of Wildlife Conservation and Global Warming at the National Wildlife Federation. "Top political appointees were intent on cutting a gaping hole in the Endangered Species Act, and opening up sensitive habitats for development activities, before leaving office."

The new regulations virtually eliminate independent scientific review under the Endangered Species Act. Until now, federal agencies have been required to consult with expert biologists at the Fish and Wildlife Service or National Marine Fisheries Service to determine whether projects pose any harm to imperiled wildlife.

Under the new rule, federal agencies will be able to unilaterally determine if actions, such as building a highway or filling in a wetland, will adversely affect endangered species. Most federal agencies have neither the expertise nor the incentive to thoroughly scrutinize their own projects' impact on wildlife.

The new regulations also prohibit scientists from addressing the impacts of global warming on imperiled wildlife. "Global warming is a leading threat to the survival of many wildlife species and to the ecosystems on which both people and wildlife depend," said Kostyack. "Federal agencies should be protecting wildlife from global warming--telling them to ignore the impacts of global warming on wildlife is exactly the wrong message."

Joining the National Wildlife Federation on the suit are Golden Gate Audubon, Planning and Conservation League, Minnesota Conservation Federation, Association of Northwest Steelheaders, Idaho Wildlife Federation, Arizona Wildlife Federation, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, Nebraska Wildlife Federation, Wyoming Wildlife Federation, Nevada Wildlife Federation, Kansas Wildlife Federation, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Indiana Wildlife Federation, and the Florida Wildlife Federation.

TAKE ACTION!

Current leaders of the U.S. House and Senate can include a provision in upcoming appropriation's bills that prohibit any federal agency from spending money for one year to implement the Act's new regulations. Please send a message to leaders of the U.S. House and Senate urging them to set foundations today that will help the incoming administration to restore the Endangered Species Act.
 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: Help Open up America’s Classrooms to Nature! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: help-open-up-americas-classrooms-to-nature DATE: 12/15/2008 12:43:38 PM ----- BODY:

Chances are, as you’re reading this, the kids in your life are sitting in school, daydreaming about the summer and the chance to run around. And even if they're not, perhaps you're the one trapped inside today, daydreaming about your childhood freedom from desks and desktops.

Earlier this year, the U.S. House made a strong commitment to children by passing the No Child Left Inside Act, legislation that provides funding for our kids to learn about shellfish on the beach, not just on the blackboard.

Getting strong bipartisan support from the House, the support this bill raised now needs to be passed on to both chambers of the incoming Congress to ensure that the No Child Left Inside Act can finally become law.

Enacting the No Child Left Inside Act will help make outdoor activity routine for children by bringing more hands-on environmental education to our schools. The legislation also provides programs to create an environmentally literate citizenry who will be better able to understand and lead tomorrow’s conservation movement!

As the new Congress and administration begin settling into their desks in Washington, let's deliver them a unified welcoming message in support of environmental education: "Let's Break Down the Walls of America's Classrooms."

Please keep up the momentum by urging your member of Congress to pass No Child Left Inside!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Bush Administration Eviscerates Endangered Species Act STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bush-administration-eviscerates-endangered-species-act CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 12/11/2008 04:32:33 PM ----- BODY:

The Bush administration today issued a final rule eliminating the Endangered Species Act requirement that federal agencies consult with independent scientists.

"This action eviscerates key protections that have helped safeguard and recover endangered fish, wildlife and plants for the past 35 years," said John Kostyack, Executive Director of Wildlife and Global Warming for the National Wildlife Federation.

"Our government is founded in a system of checks, balances and accountability," he said. "President Bush has violated each of these principles by finalizing this rule in his waning days of power."

The rule comes after eight years of overt hostility toward the Endangered Species Act, saving the worst attack for last.

"Wildlife and marine biologists form the pillars of scientific integrity that support the Endangered Species Act," Kostyack said. "Knocking them out of the decision-making process will erode the foundation of this bedrock law and make it significantly harder to protect endangered species.

"More than 200,000 citizens voiced their opposition to these rollbacks. Not only has the Administration chosen to move forward, they have made matters worse by barring federal agencies from addressing the reality of global warming and its impacts on imperiled wildlife. The Bush administration has demonstrated complete disregard for public opinion with this action."

The National Wildlife Federation will work through the courts and with Congress and the Obama administration to undo the damage done today.

Sign the Endangered Species Act Legacy Pledge today and show your support for protecting America's wildlife!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: stacy EMAIL: stacy_d_brewer@yahoo.com IP: 66.208.50.130 URL: DATE: 12/11/2008 05:14:16 PM well, this seems rather inconsistant with Bush's principals. I know he is an avid outdoors-man and has passed several laws to protect the environment. This is a very one-sided article. If it's such an outrageous and insulting bill to pass... WHY is it being pushed forward. All I see in this article is someone whining about not getting what they want. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Johhn Meyers EMAIL: AbleAbner@yahoo.com IP: 76.4.134.28 URL: DATE: 12/11/2008 10:20:32 PM Wow, now THAT is some pretty cool stuff! jes www.online-privacy.se.tc ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: George EMAIL: nospam@someisp.com IP: 72.179.172.201 URL: DATE: 12/11/2008 10:24:03 PM @stacy:: I don't know where you got the idea that destroying the environment was against Bush's principles. The reality is that Bush has been a cancer on the environment from his first day in office and he certainly won't be missed when his corrupt butt is out to pasture in January. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: MillionthMonkey EMAIL: MillionthMonkey@geeeeeeemail.com IP: 24.130.23.218 URL: DATE: 12/11/2008 10:27:36 PM Yes stacy, the fact that Bush is pushing it is all the proof you need that the bill must be good for the environment. Because he's an outdoors-man. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Steve EMAIL: triplefx@hotmail.com IP: 64.114.31.11 URL: DATE: 12/11/2008 10:48:53 PM Inconsistent with Bush's principals? HAH! Doesn't surprise me that he would use the last weeks of his presidency to cripple protective laws.. Let the Alaskan national reserve drilling begin.. after all the necessary environmental checks are done from manufactured (ie. non-independent) data, of course ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: brittany EMAIL: britta444@gmail.com IP: 130.71.249.156 URL: DATE: 12/11/2008 10:50:07 PM Yeah, Stacy... how do you define "outdoors-man" even? Riding snowmobiles around "enjoying" nature? Driving around in an enclosed, safe vehicle to look at the scenery surrounding highways? Sitting around outside at a highly furnished cabin? Going hunting and shooting things? If he were actually an outdoors-man he wouldn't want to destroy what he loves. For what? For insta-money? He's taking away some protection from ENDANGERED (i.e. almost GONE) species with this. Why shouldn't this be more than one-sided? Science is not balanced and should never be treated as such. That is why we haven't progressed more with fixing/slowing down global warming. All Bush is interested in is the business and short-term profit. Except he sent the economy to the shitter too... So... There you go. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Eugene Hayman EMAIL: ehayman@aol.com IP: 64.12.117.143 URL: DATE: 12/11/2008 10:51:25 PM I'm sorry Stacy, but Bush and all his allies are nothing but a bunch of anti-environmental fascists. The fact that they have finally been kicked out gives me hope for this nation. The fact that there are still people out there who do not recognize them for what they are-- even after all the harm they have done to everything they have touched-- is chilling. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patrick EMAIL: webmaster@weedbay.net IP: 69.226.249.98 URL: http://weedbay.net DATE: 12/11/2008 10:53:03 PM Being a Bush supporter makes Stacey an endangered species. This president has done nothing but stuff his cronies pockets for 8 years now during the last 3 months there is this blur of activity. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Naumadd EMAIL: rickybarnes1960@gmail.com IP: 24.22.213.227 URL: http://rickybarnes1960.gaia.com/ DATE: 12/11/2008 11:07:38 PM One thing is certain, scientific conclusions ought not ultimately rest on the direction of popular opinion. There is no "majority rule" in fact and consistent logic. Those are standards not dependent on what one "feels" is true or on what is most popularly held to be true. In science, at least ideally, a thing is either true or it is not quite independent of one's wishes. Scientific conclusions also ought not be dependent on policy or political winds. As so many have observed, the style of thinking characteristic of the U.S. presidential administration of the last eight years has been one that doesn't seem to value authentic fact and consistent logic - science, but rather what is the most politically expedient. All in all, the Bush administration's abysmal disrespect for rational science - a symptom of cultural trends we are hopefully escaping - presents an opportunity for the next administration to build quite a reputation by showing its respect for what is true over what is not, its deep regard for consistent reason opposed to irrationality, and a competence for cleaning up the messes of others while still making profound progress in the development of U.S. culture and of the species in general. We ought to thank the previous administration for the opportunity to illustrate the "right stuff" of better thinking and better action. Of course, it will be an awful disaster if the new administration perpetuates the cultural disregard for authentic truth and good reasoning. We shall see. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: bob EMAIL: bob@maxham.net IP: 66.69.74.99 URL: DATE: 12/12/2008 12:59:24 AM "If it's such an outrageous and insulting bill to pass... WHY is it being pushed forward." You don't get it. There was no bill. That's the point. It's done by executive order to circumvent congress. As legislation it could never have passed. Bush is doing this as a dictator. Unfortunately, it may be very difficult to undo. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: hhuui EMAIL: hhui89@gmail.com IP: 193.137.32.7 URL: DATE: 12/12/2008 04:55:52 AM http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=763vmCrRBDg ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Good EMAIL: good@choice.com IP: 125.24.180.121 URL: DATE: 12/12/2008 05:38:58 AM Good. Environmentalist are in the way all the time and have come up with reasons to halt progress over false accusations. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: khan EMAIL: fuckamerica@hotmail.com IP: 220.253.180.108 URL: DATE: 12/12/2008 07:37:03 AM Jeepers Creepers! America is absolutely fuct! What is Bush' deal, im beginning to think he's missing a chromosome. God help us all! Please, someone, shoot bush and put him on the endangered species list! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Chetan EMAIL: chetan.mishra115@gmail.com IP: 76.120.241.197 URL: DATE: 12/12/2008 08:05:18 AM Its stuff like this that makes me dislike george bush. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: B EMAIL: bremckee@gmail.com IP: 76.237.226.23 URL: DATE: 12/12/2008 11:17:20 AM I say DOWN with ANY politician who would sell the American people's representation to industry or corporations. I hope all of you who are anti-Bush are willing to get in the mix and hold our new president to our expectations, otherwise he'll run amuck too. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bobby EMAIL: bob.bob@gmail.com IP: 98.100.100.3 URL: DATE: 12/12/2008 02:08:15 PM You think Obama's gonna help with this? If he doesn't care about people killing babies, he's not gonna care about them killing animals... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Martin EMAIL: NoFearRoxo@gmail.com IP: 85.235.19.174 URL: DATE: 12/12/2008 06:27:31 PM Yeah Bobby, because destroying the life of a young girl who got pregnant on accident, was raped or was just foolish is much better than making sure a non-aware pre-fetus baby isn't "killed". I tell you Bobby, all those damn big-city people live a God-forsaken life with all their cellphones and that iffernet thing. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: r EMAIL: tom2000abc@hotmail.com IP: 213.202.151.115 URL: DATE: 12/12/2008 06:44:31 PM http://wildlifesightingsanddiscoveries.blogspot.com/ ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: r EMAIL: tom2000abc@hotmail.com IP: 213.202.151.115 URL: DATE: 12/12/2008 06:45:57 PM Check out this reaaly interesting website(blog): http://wildlifesightingsanddiscoveries.blogspot.com/ ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Chuck D EMAIL: cyrusc22@hotmail.com IP: 24.44.100.234 URL: DATE: 12/13/2008 12:45:16 PM Sorry Stacey, but that bill along with the war somehow got pushed through. Maybe think a bit about Bush's alterior motives? He's going down as the worst president in history for the US, and it's sad that not only the american people have had to suffer but also our beautiful country. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Alice EMAIL: alice@gmail.com IP: 95.37.18.22 URL: http://apps.jooopa.net DATE: 12/15/2008 05:19:50 AM Its stuff like this that makes me dislike george bush... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: lokki EMAIL: lokki@gmail.com IP: 95.37.18.22 URL: http://2.madbe.net DATE: 12/17/2008 08:42:29 AM Good. Environmentalist are in the way all the time and have come up with reasons to halt progress over false accusations... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Teddy EMAIL: teddy@gmail.com IP: 95.37.18.22 URL: http://0dax.com DATE: 12/17/2008 11:02:46 AM I hope all of you who are anti-Bush are willing to get in the mix and hold our new president to our expectations, otherwise he'll run amuck too... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Erik EMAIL: erik@gmail.com IP: 212.67.10.64 URL: http://homedigest.org DATE: 12/20/2008 12:57:16 PM Jeepers Creepers! America is absolutely fuct! What is Bush' deal, im beginning to think he's missing a chromosome. God help us all! Please, someone, shoot bush and put him on the endangered species list!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Steave EMAIL: steave@gmail.com IP: 88.214.201.108 URL: http://bemobility.com DATE: 12/22/2008 08:00:22 AM You think Obama's gonna help with this? If he doesn't care about people killing babies, he's not gonna care about them killing animals.... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Hornetsquad EMAIL: hornetsquad@gmail.com IP: 70.88.37.157 URL: http://www.fredjsmilek.com DATE: 01/27/2009 11:58:28 AM Thank goodness this guy is finally gone! ------ Fred Smilek is the acting president of the Society to Save Endangered Species. It was founded two years ago by Fred Smilek along with his two best friends Charles and Jonathan. The Society to Save Endangered Species has blossomed from a minute organization with three members to one with more than ten members. Since its inception the organization has been able to raise nearly $25,000 in funds. It was Fred Smilek’s love and passion for rare and nearly extinct species that caused him to form this wonderful organization in 2006. Additional content about the history of wildlife conservation can be found here. If you have any questions regarding the Society to Save Endangered Species, Fred Smilek, or how you can help insure that these rare species are around for a long time to come have a look at Fred Smilek’s home page which can be found here. http://www.fredjsmilek.com ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: anna EMAIL: winterblue06@yahoo.com IP: 164.116.253.7 URL: DATE: 05/07/2009 05:25:42 PM why are u killing animals there are good for the eviment ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Justina EMAIL: mornagranger1963@gmail.com IP: 80.245.122.242 URL: http://soft-catalog.net DATE: 09/14/2009 03:17:25 PM Its stuff like this that makes me dislike george bush. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: Earth to Congress: Don't Forget the Wildlife! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: first-the-good-news-we-spoke-up-in-droves-about-the-need-to-confront-global-warming-and-congress-heard-recently-the-u DATE: 12/08/2008 04:09:55 PM ----- BODY:

First, the good news: We spoke up in droves about the need to confront global warming and Congress heard! Recently, the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce released draft legislation to get America on the right track to reduce global warming pollution.

BUT, even though there are great parts in this draft legislation, what’s still up in the air is whether this legislation will include strong safeguards to specifically protect our wildlife and natural resources against global warming.

Severe droughts and rising temperatures brought upon by global warming have been devastating for America's wildlife and wild places. Melting ice and snow continue to threaten animals such as polar bears and caribou, while changing temperatures disrupt birds’ migration patterns.

It goes without saying that our natural resources are vital to our economy and country, yet they run the risk of being shortchanged unless we enact strong climate legislation.

As the new Congress prepares to take over the reigns in Washington, please make sure they start knowing now, America's conservationists want any new global warming legislation to include the strong safeguards needed to protect our cherished wildlife and natural resources!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Global Gifting Systems EMAIL: santo962@gmail.com IP: 124.253.219.57 URL: http://www.SecretCashFast.com DATE: 12/09/2008 07:56:36 PM yeah absolutely dont forget the wildlife. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Wildlife Watch with Twitter and Plurk STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: using-twitter-a CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 12/05/2008 04:50:20 PM ----- BODY:




No matter where you are, you can participate in Wildlife Watch and let us know about the wildlife and plants you observe. Wildlife Watch is a national, nature watching program created for people of all ages . Through Wildlife Watch, you’ll gain first hand experience with plants and animals in their natural  environments.

When you record your observations, National Wildlife Federation and our Wildlife Watch partners collect and review your findings so that we may track the health and behavior of wildlife and plant species nationwide.

Twitter

Plurk-logo




If you dabble in social media and see an animal or plant that interests you
please share it by
tagging #NWF or #wildlife.
                                 

                                              

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Share the Road and the Love for Wildlife with Subaru STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: subarus-sharing-the-love-this-season DATE: 12/04/2008 12:09:00 AM ----- BODY: Subaru is lending a helping hand to wildlife, by including NWF in their "Share the Love" Campaign. We are very excited to work with them and I'll be interested to see them continue to share the road with wildlife! If you guys want to support this cause, and are looking for a car-- buy a Subaru and you'll be able to donate $250 to National Wildlife Federation.

Subaru.com 


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: 5 Things You Should Know About the Wild Turkey STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: in-honor-of-tha DATE: 11/26/2008 08:32:04 PM ----- BODY:

5 Things to Know About the Wild Turkey

        True AmericansWild Turkey

These videos show just how intimidating turkeys can be!

Watch them Bully!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIZisVCXNCI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLdaRlWf2GU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErqIxEor6n4

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: The Importance of U.S. Leadership in Confronting the Global Climate Challenge STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: recently-our-co CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 11/25/2008 02:35:00 PM ----- BODY:

Recently, our country began to break through on US leadership in confronting global warming. In a surprise address delivered to the Global Climate Summit last Thursday, President-elect Obama pledged to usher a "new chapter in America’s leadership on climate change."

Delivered ahead of next week's international UN-Climate negotiations in Poland, the address marked a stated commitment from the incoming Obama administration to tackle climate change. This is great news for those of us who are concerned about the state of natural world, and have wondered how action on global warming could accelerate without US leadership!

During his first few months in office—and throughout his presidency—we'll be working to show the new administration that many Americans stand behind Obama and hope he commits to to his promise to bring change and work "with all nations to meet [the climate] challenge in the coming years."

The challenges brought by global warming definitely requires a "global" solution. That's why we need to quickly lay the groundwork for a fair and comprehensive international treaty to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and protect those who are most vulnerable. To do that, the first step is to pass legislation here in the US that calls for domestic action while also allowing us to better work with other nations.

Please join us now, and in the months to come, as we call on the next President of the United States to not only recharge our energy economy, but also to reengage America on the international solutions to confronting the climate challenge.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Brian Lee EMAIL: brianl364@yahoo.com IP: 74.166.206.186 URL: DATE: 12/01/2008 07:55:30 AM Whats more important than keeping the planet suitable for life?? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF's Groundhog Family Beds Down for Winter STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwfs-groundhog CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 11/21/2008 04:35:42 PM ----- BODY:

Just a little look at life at National Wildlife Federation headquarters in Reston, VA. We have a family of groundhogs that lives out back, just one of the many species that makes its home near our wildlife-friendly property (the American Institute of Architects named NWF headquarters as one of its top ten green projects of 2002).

I spotted this chubby little guy gathering dead grass, then waddling off with a bunch of it. I'm assuming it was planning to use the grass to line its winter den. Nothing cuter than when the groundhog pups emerge in the spring!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Rachel Faulkner TITLE: A Big Decision Based On a Simple Question STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: a-big-decision DATE: 11/20/2008 04:50:03 PM ----- BODY:

Babylynx_20081120 The EPA has dodged the responsibility of addressing the regulation of greenhouse gases that cause global warming for years. In 2007, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act, which gives the EPA regulation authority. But before they can take action, the EPA must reach an answer to this question:

“Do greenhouse gases qualify as air pollutants that could impact public health and welfare?”

Absolutely! Our coastlines, home to an enormous portion of the US population, are shrinking as the sea level rises and are being assailed with increasingly stronger storms. We have to check the morning news for air quality reports before we can decide if smog and ozone levels are low enough to safely walk the dog or ride a bike. Scientists predict that 20 to 30 percent of wildlife species will go extinct under the stress of climate change in our lifetime. Our health and the health of wildlife are threatened by global warming. We don’t have any time left for hesitation or delay.

The EPA is asking for comments to help them reach this decision. Corporate polluters shouldn’t have the only voice. Why should they continue with dirty production practices at the expense of the public and wildlife? This historic and monumental opportunity to take action against global warming won't last for long. The deadline for comments is November 28th.

You can make the difference today -- and it only takes 5 minutes!
1) Urge the EPA to take action to protect our nation and our wildlife.  When you're done, don’t forget to tell your friends and family that we need their help, too!

2) Check out our application on Facebook:
a.  Submit your comments
b.  Post the application to your profile
c.  Share it with your friends!

Thank you for speaking up on behalf of your neighbors and wildlife!

Want to hear more? Check out NWF's video on YouTube!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Getting ‘OUT’ is ‘IN’ STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: getting-out-is CATEGORY: Current Affairs DATE: 11/07/2008 01:40:48 PM ----- BODY:

In the spirit of change that is coming to the land, National Wildlife Federation offers a post-election take on our changing political landscape. The National Wildlife Federation’s What’s Out and What’s In list pasted below provides a new perspective on what is going out and coming in after the sea-change ’08 elections.

GETTING 'OUT' IS 'IN' (download the .pdf)

GETTING 'OUT' IS 'IN'...
National Wildlife Federation
Takes a Look at What's Out and What's
In After the '08 Election
WHAT'S OUT
WHAT'S IN

Me, me, me!

De-regulation

Fishing for graft

Dirty drilling

Red vs. Blue

Homeless polar bears

Futures trading

Oil from rocks

Partisanship

Clean coal fantasies

Ego services

Scientists on the menu

Record oil profits

Endless sprawl

Pillaging public lands

Reaping power

Starbucks-priced gas

Dumping dough in derivatives

Small thinking

Backroom deals

Billions for Big Oil

Global warming deniers

McMansions

Dim bulbs

Bummer Hummer

Screen Time

Fear

We!

Adult supervision

Fishing with grankids

Sunny Solutions

Green

Bear necessities

Carbon trading

Rockin' alternatives

Partnerships

Carbon-free fuel

Ecosystem services

Scientists at the table

Retooling manufacturing

Teleworking

Public lands in public hands

Repowering America

Volt jolt

Investing in natural resources

Bid ideas

Backyard wildlife habitats

Building a clean energy economy

Getting busy on cutting carbon

More with less

Compact flurescents

Too-cool Tesla

Green Time

Hope

Out is In

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Clare Morris EMAIL: notwimps@aol.com IP: 151.213.237.225 URL: DATE: 11/29/2008 09:44:29 AM WOW! So republicans or conservatives were the only ones for partisanship, graft,sprawl,me,me,me,McMansions Hummers,backroom deals,blue vs red, screen time etc. etc. etc.? You sound very"blue vs red"! You are really missing the problem and a big part of the solution if you don't realize that both sides have been at fault by never compromising, never looking past party lines, never looking at the whole picture. Gee don't any Hollywood types and X vice presidents have big mansions private jets,limos etc. No it's just us evil conservatives that don't agree with all the liberal views, that are destroying this world . We conservatives also care about the future for our kids and the world,clean air and water and yes even baby seals and polar bears. We are all addicted to oil and we are all suffering because of it, even if we may not agree with man causing climate change , our planet is being polluted and we all must help to clean it up. But if you (the environmental groups) demonize us conservatives you will lose a lot of support $$$$ ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: john savage EMAIL: jhsav29@msn.com IP: 67.186.199.188 URL: DATE: 11/29/2008 11:45:41 AM Thank you Clare, well stated. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dan Cravotta EMAIL: headkeep@bellsouth.net IP: 74.179.34.106 URL: DATE: 11/29/2008 03:22:58 PM If every SUV or 3,500plus sq ft home was owned by a republican or conservative then "bama wouldn't have won. Seems to me American's selfishness has created much of the mess we are all in. We just love BIG and the heck with everyone else. After all, per the ads, "we deserve it"! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Snerticus EMAIL: Snerticus@juno.com IP: 71.38.108.132 URL: DATE: 11/29/2008 08:49:00 PM Wow. I have respected NWF for a long time, but this particular "out and in" is a bunch of BS with an extra dose of "everything's going to be rosy now that BO will be president" outlook. I see our country getting greedier than ever and Clare you hit the nail on the head - except maybe for the part about man not causing climate change. I believe it is a mixture of nature and man, and we are just compounding something that was already slowly happening - but of course that's just my opinion. I have a feeling the "change" we are going to see will be big all right, but not the change everyone thinks it's going to be. This is one thing I hope I am going to be wrong about - but unfortunately I can't seem to shake this uneasy feeling. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carla Easterling EMAIL: earthmother@hipplanet.com IP: 64.48.129.62 URL: DATE: 12/01/2008 10:50:45 AM You know, the Conservatives are as divisive as anything can be. Bush Co. didn't do the damage done to the environment, our natural resources, and the U.S. reputation by themselves- it took a lot of people - people who look very self-serving and greedy from this point of view- to make the damaging changes we have endured this last eight years. To now say, Claire, that you care about the environment, the welfare of the world your children will inherit, and the fellow earthlings with whom we share this world, is disingenuous. It is always the way of the "Conservatives" to start whining about "discrimination" and being "picked on" when the shoe is on the other foot and they are no longer the ones throwing the stones. But let us finally- and by us I mean TRUE Liberals, not the fair-weather kind who are really just Kinder Gentler Conservatives in disguise- no longer be softened by these kinds of whiny complaints. "Liberal" literally means tolerant, and so we should be, but it doesn't mean naive, so let us not fall for that tactic this time. The "Neo Cons" have self-served themselves from the well of public good-will to the detriment of all for too long. We can't let you get away with acting as though that no longer has any relevance. You don't want to be blamed for the mess we are all sharing, then remember- it's not all yours to do with as you please! And how about considering this- not everyone thinks that your agenda is the most important, best-planned, or most beneficial. In fact, you might have erred on the side of selfishness! After all, isn't that what being a Conservative is about? Wanting to control it all? And you don't need Environmental Groups to demonize you- you've had Bush & Co. to do that with a lot of input from people just like you! Keep your money, Claire. That's what it's all about for you and yours, anyway. Just stop trashing our world for it! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Derek EMAIL: forgottensoulDTZ@gmail.com IP: 209.175.45.152 URL: DATE: 12/01/2008 03:17:48 PM This isn't about conservatives and liberals. Just look at the fifth line. This is about a new president bringing climate awareness and action to the forefront. We need "partnerships", not squabbling or blaming the other side. We should all know that this problem has been caused by both sides and that it is now up to both sides to work together and solve it. It has been established that greed has caused this as it has caused most of our world's problems. It has also been established that de-regulation does no good. If you don't believe me then look at the economy. If you still don't believe me then I must say that you are the problem. But if this poem, or what ever you would call it, seems to be biased it is because it needs to be. We know what has worked and what hasn't. It may just so happen that what doesn't work is part of one side. It is well known that more republicans support coal and disregard the environment, but still both sides agreed in the past. In these times we need to be less conservative. Yes this is biased, but conservativism will not fix problems caused by conservativism. We need to make drastic changes on both sides. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle EMAIL: danielle.brigida@gmail.com IP: 98.169.97.52 URL: DATE: 12/01/2008 07:22:43 PM This post was just a playful way to say that many people, from all walks of life are ready for a change. Whether you're liberal or conservative you have a right to protect the environment and to improve on past methods. Let's work together instead of pointing fingers! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Janet EMAIL: janetdae@verizon.net IP: 71.255.199.119 URL: DATE: 12/29/2008 11:56:37 AM Well said Danielle, time to be an adult. There is plenty of blame to go around. NOW is the time, to clear away and rebuild, with responsibility, and consideration for our planet and the ecosystem. Our future and our childrens future deserve our sincere and prolonged dedication to these commitments !!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Janet EMAIL: IP: 71.255.199.119 URL: http://profile.typepad.com/6p0105369af7db970b/ DATE: 12/29/2008 12:11:28 PM Well said, Danielle, there is plenty of blame to go around. Now is the time to be an adult. Time to clear away our mistakes and learn. Time to move forward, with responsibilty and consideration for the whole Planet and its ecosystem. Our future and the future of our children, deserve our sincere and prolonged commitment to getting done, now!!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Snerticus EMAIL: Snerticus@juno.com IP: 71.223.18.192 URL: DATE: 01/03/2009 06:16:21 PM I'm sorry Janet and Danielle, but I didn't see it as playful at all. Some of the "what's out" statements I don't see going out anywhere in the near future - but I do see them being exacerbated; and some of the "what's in" I've already seen happening for years now. What gets me angry is this "playful" list is pointing fingers itself, I'm surprised you didn't see that. Yes, we all want change, but pointing fingers is NOT the way to do it... at least not the responsible way to, anyway. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: You Really Otter Vote! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: dont-forget-to CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 11/04/2008 04:14:27 PM ----- BODY:

Here's a great photo from Yahoo's You Witness News:

At SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, Opie, an Asian small-clawed otter, takes voting seriously in this Nov. 3, 2008 photo. Casting a ballot for his favorite meal, he encourages everyone to go out and vote this election day.

(Photo and caption submitted by Jason Collier)                     

Otter_3

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Elaine EMAIL: elaine-robinson@live.co.uk IP: 79.76.20.125 URL: DATE: 11/05/2008 05:29:25 PM Big Kiss for Otter X ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol Ann Barrett EMAIL: fallowfields@optonline.net IP: 69.121.247.149 URL: http://www.CarolAnnBarrettFineArt.com DATE: 11/06/2008 01:13:50 PM How Cute is That! www.CarolAnnBarrettFineArt.com ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: kelly EMAIL: shortandsweetck1582@hotmail.com IP: 83.70.182.124 URL: http://www.edun-live.com DATE: 11/07/2008 09:24:26 AM Due to ongoing habitat loss, pollution and hunting in some areas, Oriental Small-clawed Otters like Opie are evaluated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It's not just Opie and his friends who are in danger, there are only around 750 mountain gorillas left in the world and with none of these magnificent animals on captivity there threat of extinction is great. The majority of these gorillas live in the Bwindi National Forest which has fallen prey geo-political turmoil in the region (the park is surrounded by Rwanda, Uganda, and the Republic of Congo)as well as poachers.This alongside Africa’s ever growing population threaten to destroy not just the gorillas' habitat but also the gorillas themselves. With this in mind EDUN LIVE and VBS with camera and curiosity in hand made the journey and shot the story. After all, if we can't save the closest evolutionary ancestor we humans have, what does that say about our own future? Watch VBS.tv trip to Bwindi National Forrest: Gorillas In The Midst See additional stories we shot in Kampala, Uganda at www.edun-live.com. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: 5 Scary Wildlife Videos You Should Watch STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 5-scary-wildlif CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 11/03/2008 05:03:47 PM ----- BODY:

Even though Halloween is over, it's always a good time scare yourself and learn about fascinating species.  I figured I could tell you guys about some of the most fascinating animals to me that also haunt my dreams. I picked these animals because while I will probably never own stuffed animals of any of them, they are in fact important to their ecosystem and the habitat around them. These videos are really fascinating and hopefully will intrigue you enough to do some research and learn about them.

So here we go. Watch the videos and then click the links to learn more. These creatures are amazing.

5.House Centipede: Good to know*: House centipedes feed on silverfish, firebrats, carpet beetle larvae, cockroaches, spiders and other small arthropods. If house centipedes are seen frequently, this indicates that there is a substantial number of these small creatures living in your house.

4. Giant Pacific Octopus:

3. The Vampire Moth: This one's video is on National Geographic's page. Visit Now! - New Discovery!

2. The Goblin Shark:

1. The Aye-Aye:  * This one is my favorite. Absolutely mystifying!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Danielle's Good Neighbor of the Week: Tracy Perkins STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: danielles-good CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 10/27/2008 02:51:22 PM ----- BODY:

This week's neighbor is Tracy Perkins, an awesome blogger and vegan crafter. Tracy is definitely doing  her part to be a good neighbor. She was also kind enough to answer a few questions for me as to how and why she's a good neighbor to wildlife.

Tracyperkins What inspired you to start your blog and "go green"?
Tracy Perkins: I have been making my eco-friendly products and eating a vegan diet for years now.  That in itself is a "green" effort. But beyond that I have a deep love and respect for Mother Earth, being a geology teacher and general lover of life. I decided to begin blogging about it to share with anyone interested just how easy it can be to live a healthier life in better balance with nature without giving up all the perks like great skin care and tasty desserts!

Have you ever helped a friend make environmentally friendly choices?
TP: I have been told by friends that I have saved them loads of time researching just by blogging.  I think by blogging my own efforts I can answer questions before they are asked. For example, I know I have helped a lot of people better understand the contents and potential dangers of conventional bath and body products and how to become more informed consumers by reading labels and looking for key ingredients to avoid that are particularly hard on our bodies and on the environment.

Part of being a good neighbor is being good to everything around you! Please name a time you've felt truly connected to your community.
TP: We live in a society of such isolation and focus on individuality it is important to stress community to balance us out.  I feel most connected to the community when I can meet with friends and have quality conversations or when I am in my classroom watching my students work through environmental problems together.  I think fostering honest, thoughtful conversation is the best thing we can do to build community.

What do you think being a good neighborhood entails?

TP: Besides Mr. Rogers?  :c)  I think a good neighborhood entails respect for people and places that are a part of the community.  To have a good neighborhood we must value the words, actions, and opinions of those around us.  I think a good neighborhood allows for genuine discussion and opinions that may not always fit together but creates a space of safety and trust.  Along with that, respecting the place is important as well by giving back to not just the people around us but to the animals, plants, and all features of the landscape.

Tracy's very busy running Strawberry Hedgehog where she sells vegan bath products, she's also head of the Soap Club. For those of you who want to stay clean and "green" check out her stuff.

If you'd like to check out some other great neighbors visit my neighborhood. If you'd like to join, let me know! Email me at  brigidad @ nwf.org

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeff Gold EMAIL: jg@jeffgoldproductions.com IP: 98.209.254.79 URL: DATE: 11/10/2008 03:01:41 PM I wanted to send an email out to you guys so maybe you can help others. I purchased a Go Green product from a website called power2savings. At first I were skeptical of there product but I was intrigued on a 60 day money back guarantee. I installed the unit in August and in October I seen a 12% reduction in my energy bill from the month before and a 14 % reduction ($73.00 savings) in my bill from October of 2007 (just to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges) I would recommend this product to anyone who has an electric bill. ANYONE. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeff Paul Internet Business EMAIL: blogs@jeffpaulsmoneymakingsecrets.com IP: 116.71.33.150 URL: http://www.jeffpaulshortcutstointernetmillions.com DATE: 03/12/2009 01:35:07 AM I am running a small internet marketing business as my side business. This has helped me cut time when I’m free from my busy schedule. I really get satisfaction when I am my own boss. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jessica Jones TITLE: Join Wildlife Watch and Discover Nature in Your Backyard STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: join-wildlife-w CATEGORY: Getting Involved CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 10/20/2008 03:50:19 PM ----- BODY:

Do you enjoy taking nature walks with your family and watching for local wildlife?  Have you spotted an interesting bird at your backyard feeder?  Are you an amateur nature photographer? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should become a part of the growing Wildlife Watch community. 

Girl_with_birds_nest_zr7l6866_2 National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Watch (a program of Nature Quest) is an online, citizen-led nature monitoring program. Through Wildlife Watch, you can identify plants and animals in your community and share sightings on the Wildlife Watch website. Practice your skills every season with a new “Watch List” of targeted species to observe. 

Share your wildlife experiences with others at the Wildlife Watch website by uploading photos of wildlife, reviewing pictures by other Wildlife Watchers’, and posting a story in the “Share Your Story” journal. How you participate in Wildlife Watch is up to you!

The Fall Watch List is online now.  Print out the list for your state and begin your Wildlife Watch adventure today!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Power Vote: The Fight For A Clean Energy Economy STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: power-vote-pled CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 10/20/2008 01:48:43 PM ----- BODY:

Join The Movement

Photo by Fritz Myer -Powershift

Building on the energy created by the Campus Climate Challenge, Power Shift 2007 and the numerous other state climate summits and networks, National Wildlife Federation is working with the Energy Action Coalition to launch a new campaign to unite youth voters across the country - Power Vote 2008! - is a national, youth-led campaign to demonstrate to candidates up and down the ballot that people demand action on global warming.

Take the Power Vote Pledge!

Over 200,000 people from around the country have signed the Power Vote pledge, and more are joining everyday. Anyone can sign the Power Vote pledge. Help us create a clean just energy future, a million Power Voters strong.

This election will decide more than who will lead our nation for the next four years. Our future depends on action on climate today. We are ready to vote and hold our leaders accountable.

On October 29, Power Vote is kicking off 6 days of hard core Get Out the (Power) Vote events with a live webcast with Nobel Peace Laureate Al Gore!

Plan a Gore-Cast viewing party for the night of the 29th and then strategize how you will help Get Out The Power Vote on Election day.

Already signed the pledge? Tell your friends!


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: shari EMAIL: shr_donaldson@yahoo.com IP: 72.91.237.223 URL: DATE: 11/09/2008 01:54:05 PM HOPE THEY DO NOT KILL WOLF ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Great Video About Creating Wildlife Habitat and Gardening Green With NWF STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 10/17/2008 07:11:30 PM ----- BODY:

Roxanne Paul, the National Wildlife Federation's Habitats Program Coordinator, was caught on tape for a great interview about NWF's Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program. She was on location at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C., which NWF recently marked as its 100,000th Certified Habitat.

"Greening the backyard"
by Carson Lindsey Krislov, Medill Reports, Northwestern University

Watch the Video

WASHINGTON -- A wildlife habitat garden: something Roxanne Paul of the National Wildlife Federation knows a lot about.

At the U.S. Botanical Gardens in Washington, D.C., Paul explained how to build your own habitat garden. "It's a site that provides food, water, cover, and places to raise young for wildlife, and it also employs at least two sustainable or environmentally friendly practices in gardening," said Paul. "It's a wonderful way for people to connect with nature."

Read the entire article...

Gardening for wildlife means you'll get to see beautiful butterflies and birds as well as have a vibrant yard filled with native plants. Start your own wildlife habitat today with NWF's help.

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Fall is here and across the country migration is in full swing. But birds aren't the only creatures to migrate south in the fall. Some species of butterflies and dragonflies do it as well.

Monarch MigrationMonarch butterflies
Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles each fall to a handful of sites in the mountains of Mexico, where millions of them will spend the next several months clustered in trees. There are so many butterflies that their weight sometimes breaks the tree branches. On warm days when the monarchs fly to sip water from puddles, you can actually hear the collective sound of their wings flapping (it sounds kind of like deck of cards being shuffled).

You can help migrating monarchs by planting late-blooming nectar plants where the butterflies can refuel on their long journey.

Green DarnerDragonflies
Green darners are large, common dragonflies found across the Unites States. Some are year-round residents but some are migratory and fly south in the fall. Dragonfly migration usually starts after at least two nights of cooler fall weather, which signals that a cold front is approaching which will push the insects south with its winds. Along the way, green darners are preyed on by kestrels, tiny hawks that time their migration to coincide with that of the dragonflies to ensure a steady food supply. Other migratory dragonfly species include the wandering glider, black saddlebags, and Carolina saddlebags.

Perilous Journeys
Migration is always a dangerous journey but climate change is making it even more difficult for some species.

Edible Fall Fruit
Pass the persimmon. How about the paw-paw? Now is the time to sample some wild fall fruits.

By David Mizejewski

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Danielle's Good Neighbor of the Week: James Towner STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: meet-some-good CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 10/16/2008 01:39:36 PM ----- BODY:

JamestownerSome of you may remember my post asking people "Will You Be My Good Neighbor?" Well, so far we are off to a fantastic start! I've had the pleasure of meeting some amazing neighbors who inspire me and others by doing wonderful things to help the earth (and wildlife!). Over the next few weeks I'll be interviewing my good neighbors and giving you ways people are making a difference. If you have some you'd like to share with me, feel free to email me at brigidad [@] nwf.org.


James Towner, the green blogger who started  AZSustainability, tells us a little bit about why he joined the "good neighborhood" and tells us why he does the incredible stuff he's doing.


What inspired you to start your blog and "go green"?

Growing up in the mountains of Colorado I was exposed to the beauty
and wonders of nature a lot as a kid so I was brought up with an
appreciation for our natural environment.  What kick started my
interest into action as an adult was initially an interest in
biofuels.  After buying a VW TDI and making a couple small batches of
home brewed biodiesel I became a part of the TDI Community and we
started talking about these kinds of things.  We built an online
community specifically to talk about our cars and fuel as well
as
meeting in person periodically. Eventually I wanted an outlet for my
other environmental interests that would inform other local folks,
along came AzSustainability.

Azsustainabilty


   


Have you ever helped a friend make environmentally friendly choices?

I try to encourage friends to make environmentally friendly choices
like maybe suggesting a more fuel efficient car if they are car
shopping or even buying something reusable instead of disposable. I
also hope that I'm helping others make better choices with my blog.

Part of being a good neighbor, is being good to everything around you. Please name a time you've felt truly connected to your community.

I feel better connected when I meet people at our community supported
agriculture
, and at events like the Green Summit, and especially when
I can get together with small groups such as our local TDI car club.

What do you think a good neighbor entails?

Listening to what others in the neighborhood are saying even if you
don't agree, going out and doing good things instead of just thinking
about it, recognizing a need and filling it.

So keep a look out for James Towner -- he's a rock star of the green world. If you talk to him on October 23rd, make sure to wish him a happy birthday! Thank you James for all you have done.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shreema Mehta TITLE: Video: What's Happening To Our Public Lands STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: we-can-read-rep DATE: 10/15/2008 02:21:01 PM ----- BODY:

We can read report after report on how dirty energy development threatens wildlife across the West--but sometimes it helps to see it for ourselves.

That's why I want to encourage you to check out these new short videos from National Wildlife Federation's Our Public Lands website. These videos share personal stories and images of how the current pace and practices of oil and gas extraction threatens the livelihood of people and wildlife across the Rocky Mountain West.

Through these videos, you can learn more about how in states like Colorado and Wyoming, drilling rigs, pipelines and the non-stop activity of extracting oil and gas has transformed once tranquil areas characterized by ranching and open space.

And don’t miss the story of the Pronghorn antelope, which migrate 160 miles between their winter and summer ranges in Wyoming. This too is threatened by the roads and machines that the industry has brought to the area.

Whether you live in the West or not, these videos are a great way to see how important it is to promote responsible energy development that protects both the people and wildlife of the great American West for many years to come.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Historic Great Lakes Protections Become Law! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: historic-great DATE: 10/15/2008 12:33:04 PM ----- BODY:

Less than two weeks ago, President Bush signed the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Compact, ensuring the protection of one of our country's most important natural resources!

The Compact culminates 10 years worth of collaboration between conservation groups, government agencies, businesses and the public to preserve the always mighty but vulnerable Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes basin contains more than 90 percent of the fresh surface water in the United States and 20 percent of the world’s supply. Though they seem abundant, in fact less than 1 percent of the Great Lakes water is renewed each year, leaving the lakes vulnerable to depletion.

The Great Lakes ecosystem is essential to humans and wildlife alike; providing homes, food, recreation and economic sustainability. By stopping diversion of Great Lakes water to other areas and promoting sound management within the Great Lakes basin, the Compact protects this critical natural resource from depletion.

Thanks so much to all of you who helped us achieve this great victory!

You can learn more about the National Wildlife Federation's work in the Great Lakes region at www.nwf.org/greatlakes.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Just One Week Left To Speak Up For The Endangered Species Act! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: just-one-week-l CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 10/09/2008 05:31:25 PM ----- BODY:

TakeRecent news from Hawaii reported that the federal government has identified 48 species on the island of Kauai to add to the endangered species list. According to the U.S. Secretary of Interior, imperiled ecosystems on the island make the future of these plants and animals uncertain.

What makes this sad news even worse? As many of you already know, that same Secretary of Interior – together with other federal agencies – has been considering a proposal that would roll back many important protections of the Endangered Species Act.

If adopted, the proposed changes would seriously weaken the safety net of habitat protections that we have relied upon to protect and recover endangered fish, wildlife and plants for the past 35 years.

As this recent news from Hawaii demonstrates, now more than ever, we need to maintain the strong protections of the Endangered Species Act.

Thanks so much to the thousands of you that have already submitted comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to speak out against the proposed rollbacks.

For those of you that haven't had a chance yet, there's only a few days left to get your comments in before the October 14 deadline.

So, please take just a few minutes today to speak up on behalf of endangered wildlife!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: campanaro EMAIL: campanaro1955@yahoo.com IP: 208.54.28.76 URL: DATE: 10/10/2008 03:10:43 PM We are only here sharing with them this great vast land. If we can't protect them love them respect them.. How can we find it in our hearts to say "we care and do absolutely nothing" ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: campanaro EMAIL: campanaro1955@yahoo.com IP: 208.54.28.76 URL: DATE: 10/10/2008 03:12:06 PM We are only here sharing with them this great vast land. If we can't protect them love them respect them.. How can we find it in our hearts to say "we care and do absolutely nothing" ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: iso 17025 EMAIL: ankara@kaliterehberi.com.tr IP: 78.177.230.218 URL: http://www.kaliterehberi.com.tr DATE: 10/11/2008 05:07:09 PM Nice article.. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tauna EMAIL: taunajean@live.com IP: 24.241.60.45 URL: DATE: 10/11/2008 10:14:22 PM Is it just me, or are there other people who are exhausted by the realization that we are fighting for things that should be idiot proof, things that should be just plain old common sense? Just like too many dogs under the porch, the human race has certainly over-bred themselves into complete evolutionary break down. At this point we've weakened our genetic structure to a point beyond greed and stupidity; we're at the point of pure lunacy. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Eight Classic Camping Recipes Every Cook Should Know STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: eight-classic-c DATE: 10/06/2008 11:53:31 PM ----- BODY:

Camp Cooking I ran across these great recipes that were first published in the pages of National Wildlife magazine in Apr/May of 1965. These eight recipes for fish, steak eggs, bacon, potatoes, bread and coffee remain surefire staples in the camper's meal plan.

Now, more than 40 years later, these recipes do more than give us great eats. They show us the simple, enriching qualities of camping are timeless. Served up here with more than a bit of nostalgia, whether you're cooking on top of a fire, a griddle or a gas grill, these foods are sure to please. (But don't forget the fruits and veggies.) Enjoy!

You can also check out more recipes and camping tips on NWF's Great American Backyard Campout website.


Eight Classic Recipes Every Camp Cook Should Know
By Bradford Angier

"Most of us go camping to have a good time," Colonel Townsend Whelen, for years the dean of the outdoor writers, was telling me just a few months ago. "If the food is poor, unwholesome, or not what we crave, we have a continual grouch. If it is excellent and there is plenty of it, everything is rosy. Good food even makes up for rain and hard beds. Good fellowship is at its best around good meals.

"The best thing about all this," Colonel Whelen went on to say, "is that knowing how to cook eight basic foods well will make anyone a better than passable camp cook." The eight? Fish, steak, eggs, bacon, potatoes, frypan bread, flapjacks, and coffee.

Like the late colonel, I've also made these the mainstays of my outdoor cookery in the silent corners of this continent. It would be difficult to name eight other staples whose mastery could so enhance the friendly flicker of open flames and the added relish of boon companionship under open skies.

About the only cooking odors that even approach the fresh aroma of fish frying outdoors are the sizzling smell of good grilled bacon, coffee bubbling in the heat of a campfire, and frypan bread browning over the evening's apple-red coals. This is a fine thing, for all fish are eminently suitable for frying.

1. FISH


To keep the catch moist and tender, and to bring out its delicate flavor, cook only until the flesh is no longer translucent. Once the fish is easily flaked, it is done. The taste will be further enhanced if the fish is salted, inside and out, an hour in advance of frying. Or sprinkle the inside with pepper and lemon juice just before it goes on the heat. Best final topping? Good fresh butter.

Lightly fried fish is hard to beat when it comes to fillets, steaks and small catches. Open and clean the latter soon after landing. Unless you object, leave on the head and certainly the tail where, in that order, lie the sweetest meats. Keep dry, cool, and well ventilated.

Get the frypan or griddle just hot enough that its enrichment of butter or margarine barely begins to tan. Roll the fish in crumbs, flour, or corn meal if you want, although many of us prefer the rich crispy skin unadorned. Brown on both sides, only until flaky. Then add any desired salt, butter, and perhaps a few drops of lemon juice. When one ridge after another is lifting in front of the water-reflected sun as you eat, and a breeze is starting to trumpet a cool blue note, this is camp food you're never going to forget.

2. STEAK


Steak, for my money, is the best and most traditional outdoor food America has to provide. If you can, cook a one-pound boneless sirloin, two inches thick, for each member of the party. Porter-house and T-bones are tops this way, too, especially if also corn-fed and aged about a month. But almost any steak when most advantageously prepared and cooked tastes delicious out of doors.

Wipe the steaks well with a clean damp cloth. Then rub with a mixture composed of four parts of salt and one-half part of black pepper.

A good trick at the start is to get a glowing bed of coals, then to scatter on a few hardwood chips or shavings. These will flare up enough both to help seal in the juices and to assure that flavorsome char relished by so many.

In any event, if you're using a grill, get this hot and rub it with suet. If you are using a frypan, let this also get hot, but do not add any grease and tip out any sputtering from the meat. Sear the steaks quickly on both sides. Then cook to individual tastes.

Lean meat cooks more quickly than fat meat. Aging also progressively shortens the cooking time. Then there are such factors as size, shape, and the amount of bone. Outdoor fires add another variable. A practical way to test is to prick the steak with a pointed knife. If red juice wells out, the meat is rare; pink, medium rare; colorless, overdone unless that's the way you want it.

Scrambled Eggs 3. EGGS


Too much heat for too long a period is also the most common enemy of eggs. To illustrate, here's a foolproof recipe for fried eggs that are a far cry from the leathery objects that assail digestions from coast to coast. Get one tablespoon of fat just hot enough to sizzle a test drop of water. Break in the eggs. Take the frypan immediately off the fire. Baste the eggs with the hot fat for three or four minutes, and that's that. Salt, pep-per, and serve on a warm plate. In any event, keep the heat low so that the whites won't get tough, and then just baste the yolks until they are well filmed. It's easier to get them up mornings for breakfasts like this.

Scrambled eggs also go particularly well when you are cooking in the ruddy glowing warmth of wild wood back of beyond. There is a simple trick in connection with these that will make all the difference. The usual adding of milk has a tendency to toughen scrambled eggs. Instead, try putting in a tablespoon of cold water for each egg. Mix the eggs and water with salt and pepper to taste. Then heat a tablespoon of fat in a fry-pan just warm enough to sizzle a drop of water. After tipping in the egg mixture, reduce even this heat. Stir the eggs constantly with a fork once they have begun to harden. Remove them while they are still creamy and soft.

In connection with eggs, here is a nourishing and easily digestible dish, with a mild and provocatively elusive flavor, that is unusually good when someone hauls into camp late, especially as its preparation is both simple and swift. Proportions, which are flexible, may be varied in ratio to appetites. For two late arrivals, for example, brown a couple of diced onions with a little grease in a fry-pan. When these have cooked to a dark blandness, add a small can of tomatoes. Let them begin to bubble. Then break in six eggs. Season with salt and pepper.

Keep scrambling over low heat until fairly dry.

4. BACON


Too ardent heat is also the great ruiner of bacon. How often have you seen a frypan become a leaping mass of flames? The commonsense solution? Start bacon in a cold pan. Fry the bacon slowly over a few coals poked to one side of the campfire. Turn the slices occasionally. If you like them crisp, keep tipping the fat into a handy container where it can be kept for future camp use. You can almost hear the laughter of old fur brigade voyageurs when you sit down to grub like this.

5. POTATOES

Camp potatoes? A good way to cook this Native American vegetable is to bake the large ones in their skins in hot ashes, not glowing coals, until they become pretty well blackened on the outside. They're done when a thin, sharp stick will shove easily through their middles. Rake out, break in half, and serve at once with salt and butter.

A more complicated way to go about this on occasion is to cut well scrubbed potatoes lengthwise into three slabs. Lay thin slices of onion, salted and peppered, between these sections. Then reassemble each potato, wrap in a sheet of heavy foil or several thicknesses of lightweight foil, and bake in a nest of ashes among hot coals for about a half hour or until done, turning once.

6. BREAD

Fresh frypan bread is a simple thing to cook on the trail. The handiest method is to mix the dry ingredients before leaving the base of supplies. The following basic mix, given here in one-man proportions which may be expanded to any reasonable amount, will stay fresh six weeks or more in camp if kept sealed, dry, and reasonably cool:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon double action baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons of oleomargarine

If this mix is being readied at home, sift the flour before measuring it. Then sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in the margarine with two knives, with an electric mixer at low speed, or with a pastry blender, until the mixture resembles coarse meal. For increased food value, add two tablespoons of powdered skim milk for every cup of flour.

Place in plastic bags. Seal with a hot iron or with one of the plastic tapes. A large quantity can be made at once, of course, and divided into smaller portions. Before using, it is a good idea to stir the mixture lightly.

If compounding this mix in camp, do it with the ingredients at hand and in the simplest way possible. Any solid shortening may be utilized if the mix is to be used within a short time. Such mix may be carried, if you want, in a glass jar or just folded in wax paper.

When the fire is going and everything else is ready, quickly add enough cold water (about 1/3 cup) to the mix to make a firm dough. Shape this rapidly into a cake about an inch thick. Lay this in a warm frypan. Hold it over moderate heat until a crust forms on the bottom, rotating the pan a bit so that the loaf will move enough not to become stuck. Once the dough has hardened enough to hold together, turn the loaf. Do this several times until the bread has baked to an appetizing brown on both sides. The frypan bread should be done in anything from fifteen minutes to a half-hour, depending on the heat which should continue to be moderate. When a twig shoved into the loaf returns without any dough adhering to it, the moment for eating hot has arrived.

Campflapjacks 7. FLAPJACKS

A lot of campers don't reckon they've begun the day right until they have stoked up with a stack of moist, hot, tender flapjacks. These are so easy to prepare that there is no reason for even the lowliest greenhorn to be dependent on store mixes. They can be so wholesome and tasty, in addition, that many a vacationist will be looking ardently for more when hemmed in again by asphalt and concrete.

All you need to begin with is the same basic mix that made such delicious fry-pan bread. Again speaking in terms of the same one-man proportions, add 1/2 cup of milk, with which a whole or dried egg has been mixed, to the homemade dry mix. This milk can be diluted evaporated milk, reconstituted dry milk, etc. Stir only enough to moisten the flour.

If the flapjack batter seems a trifle too thick to pour easily, thin it with just enough milk. On the other hand, a little extra flour will provide stiffening. But if the batter is on the thin side, the flapjacks will be tenderer.

Let the frypan become hot and then wipe it sparingly with bacon rind. Do not let the metal reach smoking temperatures. Turn each hot cake only once, when it begins showing tiny bubbles. The second side will take only about half as long to cook. Serve steaming hot with your favorite topping.

Camping Coffee 8. COFFEE

What remains most vividly in the memories of many campers are those unforgettable first campfires at dawn. Because of the air currents set into motion by the blending of night and day, it's cooler now than it was during total darkness. The cook maybe deposits an old pine stump, saved for the purpose, in the center of the fading overnight embers.

This gives him a blaze like the light of a pressure lantern, and it also helps him to get some warmth into his extended fingers. Pretty soon he's thawed out enough to shove the coffee pot grumpily into the heat. He then begins banging pans around, a little more expressively than necessary. Further sleep soon becomes impossible. The coffee smells too good, anyway, particularly when joined by the aromas of flapjacks and bacon.

That first cup of coffee can make all the difference. The way I like to make coffee in the woods is to drop a rather coarse blend into cold fresh water. Two level tablespoons for every cup of water is just right for me, although this proportion can be varied for the weaker and stronger brews preferred by some others.

Suspend or set this over the fire. Keep a close eye on it. Once it has boiled up, lift it to a warm place where no one will be apt to stumble over it and let it take on body for five minutes. Then settle the grounds if you want with several tablespoons of cold water and let everyone know it's time to, "Come and get it!"

As I agreed with Colonel Townsend Whelen years ago, none of us is going vacationing to spend our time cooking and eating. On the other hand, the right kind of meals will never taste better than when appetites are sharpened to a wonderful edge by healthful outdoor living. Warm your coffee, anyone?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Dominique Burgunder-Johnson TITLE: U.S. House Votes to Leave No Child Left Inside! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: us-house-votes DATE: 09/30/2008 11:43:24 PM ----- BODY:

Environmental EducationRemember the good old days of field trips and watching your classroom's tadpoles "magically" develop into frogs? Well, some Congressmembers must too, because on September 18th, the U.S. House voted to pass the No Child Left Inside Act!

Passing with bipartisan support, the No Child Left Inside Act is designed to provide the funding and resources necessary to help teachers bring hands-on environmental education back to our nation's schools.

With environmental and energy issues standing as two of the top concerns for our children's generation, it's become more important than ever to educate America's future leaders on conservation issues and help a "plugged-in generation" re-connect with nature.

Numerous studies show--and anyone recalling their childhood for that matter knows--there are so many benefits for kids who spend more time outdoors. While reduced anxiety, improved concentration and better physical health are just a few of the personal benefits, developing a strong sense of connection to nature at a young age will also help to make today's kids tomorrow's leading conservationists.

Following the bill's strong bipartisan support in the House, we'll need your help to keep the momentum going to ensure similar legislation passes in both chambers during next year's Congress.

Please find out how your representative voted on this important bill for environmental education, and hold them accountable for their vote.

And thanks again to the thousands of parents and supporters of this bill for helping reach this huge victory!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Dominique Burgunder-Johnson TITLE: Ask Congress to Help Defend the Endangered Species Act STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: make-sure-congr CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 09/24/2008 11:11:23 AM ----- BODY:

Defend ESAA few weeks ago we alerted you of the current administration's plans to dramatically weaken the Endangered Species Act.

This week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will host a hearing featuring the proposed rollbacks for the Endangered Species Act.

So, please take just a minute this week to contact your Members of Congress to make sure they are aware of the public outcry against the attack on America's most important conservation law.

Thanks so much for speaking up for imperiled wildlife!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Scott Bright EMAIL: sbright8@juno.com IP: 71.155.150.170 URL: http://www.racetosavetheraces.com DATE: 01/10/2009 09:29:45 PM To the congress: This act has worked to save a number of species from extinction for the last 35 years. I appeal to the humanity in you to keep this act in place. 1000,000 people feel the same way. Kind regards, Scott Bright ----- -------- AUTHOR: Dominique Burgunder-Johnson TITLE: Why Developing Oil Shale Gets Us Nowhere STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: post CATEGORY: Energy DATE: 09/24/2008 10:31:59 AM ----- BODY:

New Proposed Fuel Source Increases Threat to
Wildlife, Public Lands and Water

New DirectionDrilling for oil and natural gas, and mining for coal, has already taken a dramatic toll on our country's public lands, wildlife habitat and natural resources.

Now Congress is considering a proposal to develop a new dangerous energy source--oil shale--for millions of acres of America's public lands.

Some technologies for oil shale production can generate up to five times as much CO2 as conventional gasoline, which means it would continue to fuel global warming--the already single greatest threat to wildlife.

As if driving up global warming pollution weren't enough of a calamity for wildlife and the natural resources we all depend on, here's what else is at stake with increased oil shale production:

It's quite disappointing to see Congress considering a move that would be such a backward direction for the real energy solutions we need and deserve.

The current ban on commerical oil shale development expires on September 30. In the lead up to this date, please ask your Members of Congress to extend the ban on developing this dangerous source of fuel.

Whether it's oil shale or offshore drilling, our country's leadership must stop chasing the last barrel of oil and start pursuing our clean energy future.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Zyprexa EMAIL: zicpe@hotmail.com IP: 59.95.11.104 URL: http://alcoholdrughelp.org/wp/docs335 DATE: 03/06/2009 05:46:33 AM wkem ntwl xven ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: NWF Expert: Why Oil Shale's a Bad Deal STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-expert-why CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 09/23/2008 03:31:30 PM ----- BODY:

Please take a moment right now to tell Congress to keep the oil shale moratorium!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rosie EMAIL: rmunger@mac.com IP: 63.206.47.126 URL: DATE: 09/23/2008 03:50:19 PM Thanks for this really informative video! The written pieces have helped me learn about the dangers of oil shale, but hearing people talk about it live really gets the point across to everyone. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Go Car-free and be Care free! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: go-car-free-and DATE: 09/19/2008 02:01:02 PM ----- BODY:

September 22nd marks the celebration of the holiday known as World CarFree Day!

Carfree_day_logoAlong with encouraging NWF staff participation, I wanted to spread the word that Carfree Day is the perfect day to ditch the car and find alternative transportation. And being “carfree” doesn't have to stop after Sept. 22nd. Hopefully, it will make us realize there are many options for getting to work.

On World Carfree Day "people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighborhood blocks to remind the world that we don't have to accept our car-dominated society."  -WCFD site

Carfree Day hopes to take the heat off the planet as we work together to curb our commuter pollution. We can do this if we work together, so grab a friend and travel "car-light" (*carpool) or carfree that day and see what it's like to ditch the vehicle for other options.

Also, feel free to let us know if you have plans to celebrate Carfree Day! Any tips to cut back on commuting pollution? Share them with us!
 

Here's a special announcement for those of you in the DC AREA:
In the DC area, you can sign up to pledge to be "carfree" or "car-light" (carpool) to win prizes!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jason EMAIL: webmaster@earthfeature.com IP: 10.17.141.182 URL: http://www.earthfeature.com DATE: 09/20/2008 11:25:10 AM when i was born in 1967 gas price was .28 cents a gallon. I have read some theories that the Bush administration has created the economic situation with this demeanor in mind: "to create a situation where they raise the price of gas so high, that when they bring the price back down a little bit, people will be happy it is lowered. but the fact is it will still be over $1.50-2.00 more then it was 6 years ago, thus satisfying the populas even tho it will remain much higher then before, so the oil companies associated with Bush will reap benifits from higher gas prices for years to come." Sad...the most depressing thing in my mind today is how my fellow Americans allowed an president to cheat his way into office by using manipulated votes 8 years ago and ALLOW him to remain in office even after this administration ALLOWED the 911 attacks to happen 7 years ago. Our people should have rose up against this administration and because we did nothing we now will have to suffer for years to come...and our children too. i hope we find an alternative to gasoline soon and put those thieving, terrorist, monopolies, back were they came from. dont buy gas switch your house heating to electric or solar dont be afraid to say what you think! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Dominique Burgunder-Johnson TITLE: For People and Wildlife, There's Only One Answer to Secure Our Energy Future STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: sorry-but-for-p DATE: 09/14/2008 11:40:02 PM ----- BODY:

New DirectionIn the coming days, Congress begins voting on a new set of energy bills that if passed will be detrimental for wildlife and the natural resources we all depend on.

The new package of energy legislation under consideration has come together as a product of the efforts of some in Congress who favor a proposal they call "all of the above"—all drilling, everywhere, all the time. If these efforts progress, Big Oil's scheme would drill the entire U.S. coastline and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

While Big Oil has been spending millions of dollars on public relations campaigns this summer to try and convince Americans that increased and expanded domestic drilling will lower gas prices, the truth is quite simple—increased drilling will have little to NO impact on reducing family fuel costs.

Please remember that even Bush's own Energy Department admits drilling here and drilling now will not save us any money today, tomorrow or in the near future.

Furthermore, drilling "at home" does nothing to secure domestic energy sources. With only 3 percent of the world's oil, the United States could drill every national park, wildlife refuge and coastline, and still be importing 60 percent of the oil we use.

Getting our country's leadership to put America on the path toward a clean energy future is the ONLY answer to solve America's economic, environmental and energy crisis.

Federal legislation that promotes clean, alternative energy and reduces global warming pollution will reduce our oil imports four times more than drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and the Rocky Mountain states, combined.

The clean energy solutions that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels are the same technologies that will also solve global warming, clean the air and help protect America's natural resources for our children's future.

In the coming weeks, please ensure that you and all your friends send messages into your Members of Congress, urging them to leave the failed energy polices of the past behind and push America's energy policy in a bold new direction.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michelle EMAIL: michs@gmail.com IP: 71.0.100.231 URL: DATE: 09/19/2008 09:51:24 AM Let us not forget that a lot of the high price of fuel is speculation about what will happen. When offshore drilling was put back on the table, gasoline prices dropped 30-60 cents per gallon in days! People always have and always will need energy to survive, whether burning wood or converting solar rays. A comprehensive energy policy requires all of these things to be included. The NWF's strength in environmental issues can be used to help us find safer, better ways to get the energy we need. What can NWF do to help fuel companies get the fuel we need safely and responsibly today? What can NWF do to help fuel companies invest some of those huge profits into non-fossil sources for tomorrow? If NWF can do that, you’ll be making an impact today and for decades to come. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Dominique Burgunder-Johnson TITLE: Help Get Environmental Education Back in America's Classrooms STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: help-get-enviro DATE: 09/14/2008 08:59:01 PM ----- BODY:

Kids OutsideThanks to the thousands of emails and phone calls from National Wildlife Federation supporters and a growing coalition of over 700 organizations representing more than 40 million Americans, the No Child Left Inside Act will now finally be brought to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote.

This week, the House is scheduled to vote on this important bill, which will strengthen and expand environmental education in our nation's schools.

Please take just a few minutes to call your representative, and ask them to vote 'YES' to the No Child Left Inside Act.

In the next 30 years, today's children will inherit a world of environmental challenges. Yet, our schools are being pushed to cut environmental field trips and other outdoor activities.

To secure our children's future we need to prepare them to understand and inspire them to preserve our natural world.

Please speak up to ensure your representative does their part to help reconnect our kids to nature.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Dominique Burgunder-Johnson TITLE: A Victory for Teddy's Bears! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: a-victory-for-t DATE: 09/13/2008 07:50:22 PM ----- BODY:

Black BearWildlife and the people who love them recently scored a huge victory when the EPA finalized their decision to veto the controversial Yazoo Backwaters Pumps Project. The success will help protect 20% of the nation’s duck population that migrates through the area and spare taxpayers a $220 million bill!

The area also contains the wetlands where Theodore Roosevelt famously refused to shoot a Louisiana Black Bear that had been tied to a tree--an action that sparked the creation of the teddy bear.

For almost 70 years, sportsmen and residents in Louisiana and Mississippi have fought the Army Corps of Engineers' project for the threats it posed to wildlife refuges and national forests. Their efforts were also supported by more than 45,000 National Wildlife Federation activists who sent in public comments to the Environmental Protection Agency protesting the project's efforts.

In an age of global warming, these wetlands need to be protected now more then ever.

Mississippi's wetlands not only maintain a healthy population of wildlife in the area and nationally, but also protect residents from the increased flooding and harsh weather that comes with global warming.

The Yazoo project, sometimes called the "monster that won't die," is officially dead. Thanks to all of you who helped us achieve this historic victory.

Let's keep up the fight to protect wildlife!

  ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Connecting the Dots: Interview with NWF's Dr. Amanda Staudt STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: connecting-the CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 09/12/2008 12:30:45 PM ----- BODY:

Amandaaustin_2 The National Wildlife Federation's Dr. Amanda Staudt, a clime scientist, was on KTBC-TV in Austin, TX this morning, connecting the dots between global warming and stronger hurricanes. You can watch the interview on KTBC's website!

To learn more about how global warming will bring stronger storms, deeper droughts, and more intense wildfires, check out NWF's Extreme Weather page.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Video: The Endangered Species Act is Under Attack! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-the-endan CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 09/11/2008 09:57:07 AM ----- BODY:


Take action here!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Anne Keisman TITLE: Hey America -- Take A Walk! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: hey-america--- DATE: 09/10/2008 01:33:39 PM ----- BODY:

Mt_ad_160x300b_3 You've probably been staring at this computer screen for awhile. Get up and stretch your legs!

Wait! Before you do that -- and I really think you should -- let me put you in a good mood. In a month, you most likely have a three-day weekend  -- Columbus Day Weekend! (If you don't, consider using a vacation day. It's cruel and unusual punishment to work when the rest of America plays.)

Have you made plans for that weekend? Even if you have, you can still join thousands of Americans for the Make Tracks! Family Trail Weekend, sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation's Green Hour Campaign.

It's simple. Just visit  www.maketracks.org and register. Enter your zip code into the NatureFind tool to find a trail or walking path near you. Then call your friends and family and ask them to “Make Tracks!” with you one day that weekend.

Haven't hiked much, or ever? Don't worry, this is a leisurely stroll, not a test of endurance.

Why? Exercise, fresh air, wildlife watching, time with friends and family, fun exploring the neighborhood, a moment away from the computer monitor and the 500 channels of cable television. (And you don't spend money on gas!)

Green Hour is a national campaign to give kids unstructured time outside again – essentially getting people to use the phrase, “Go outside and play!” again. And what better way to introduce kids to the outdoors than making a special event of it?

Hey – I’m no saint. I’m one of those people that circles around the shopping center to find a parking spot a few feet closer to the store entrance.

I know I have a lot to work on –- and I’m not going to start by hiking to the top of Mount Everest. I’m going to start by taking a walk. Right now.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: A Conservation Message for Kids, from a Kid STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: amazing-enzo-st DATE: 09/06/2008 10:06:12 PM ----- BODY:

Enzoology

I'd like to introduce you to a kid who not only gets his green hour but helps other kids appreciate nature and wildlife. Meet Enzo! Enzo is the star of his very own online website and show  Enzoology. This is where he posts informative and fun videos that speak to kids as well as anyone who wants to learn about wildlife.

Here's what Enzoology is about:

"ENZOology is a show about for kids all about animals, insects and conservation science! From entomology and zoology to biology and beyond, Enzo teaches that science is cool. Each episode is filled with facts and fun. So if you are interested in dinosaurs, fossils, sharks, dolphins, spiders, ants, minerals, snakes, animals, chemistry or anything inbetween, chances are you'll love Enzoology." - From ENZOology
                   

Enzo supports conservation and exploring the outdoors while learning about his surroundings! It's great to see a kid in the information age not glued to a computer screen but instead is working to show kids the fun of the outdoors!


Watch the video as Enzo and his pet ball python tell you why conservation is important to him:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mimi EMAIL: marimoy@juno.com IP: 12.197.52.228 URL: http://scienceforfood.blogspot.com DATE: 09/06/2008 10:29:11 PM This is awesome! His videos are way better than mine. *sniff* ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tracy EMAIL: strawberryhedgehog@gmail.com IP: 216.9.182.70 URL: http://strawberryhedgehog.com DATE: 09/09/2008 12:19:27 PM This is so great! I've forwarded it on to all of my teacher friends. Nicely done, you can't beat a cute kid with a good message. :c) ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Will You Be...My Good Neighbor? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: an-attempt-to-c CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 09/03/2008 12:04:02 AM ----- BODY:

Animals are some of the most amazing neighbors. They make borrowing a cup of sugar look lame. When I think about all that they contribute to their communities, it inspires me to pitch in and do my part.

That's why I've decided to start my own "Good Neighborhood," based on the National Wildlife Federation's Good Neighbor program. I'm hoping it will be a positive reminder for me and the people I recruit that our simple actions can directly impact our neighbors.

That being said, I'm hoping to elicit the help of my dear friends from all over the Web to help me begin this good (though I think it's GREAT) neighborhood.

22392_5 







Why I'm starting a Good Neighborhood

1.
It's About Creating a Can-Do Community - Helping the environment can seem overwhelming at times when you look at the big picture. This neighborhood is all about creating a community of people taking small steps to become more energy efficient.

2. It's a Great Green Resource - NWF hopes that this program will help inspire but also serve as a resource for questions and future tips about how to be a Good Neighbor to wildlife and others.

3. It Gives Me a Way to Thank People - I want to help promote those who are helping me promote this program. So I will be uploading a picture of you, with a link to whatever profile or site you'd like. Please be sure to email me at brigidad@nwf.org.

How to Join my Good Neighborhood:

Visit the site at http://online.nwf.org/danielle and click the "Take the pledge" button. After you pledge what you are doing (or will do) to help wildlife and reduce your energy consumption, you'll be asked to donate $15, which goes directly toward NWF's work to protect wildlife and habitat. Once you've finished, email me at brigidad@nwf.org to let me know. Include a profile picture of yourself as well as the link to where you want your photo to go (your social network page, your organization, etc.).
Thanks so much! Any help you can give me will be appreciated.

-Danielle

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Ranger Rick at the DNC Convention STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: ranger-rick-at CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 09/02/2008 12:07:38 AM ----- BODY:

Rangerrickjeremybloggerdnc08Rangerrickbloggertentdnc08_32rangerrickkatiecouricdnc08Rangerrickjeremysensalazardnc08 




Ranger Rick visited Denver for the 2008 Democratic Convention. The National Wildlife Federation’s beloved character accompanied the Federation’s Jeremy Symons, Sr. Vice President to the “Big Tent” to talk with bloggers about protecting wildlife, global warming and the need for clean energy economy. Helping Ranger Rick get around, Malea Stenzel, Associate Diector of NWF's sister organization and 501c4, National Wildlife Federation Action Fund.

Rangerrickmaleadnc08

Ranger Rick was easily recognized by convention goers, bloggers and even Colorado’s U.S. Senator Ken Salazar. The highlight of the day came when two big stars collided; Ranger Rick and CBS’ Evening News anchor Katie Couric. They had a friendly chat about the environment.

Later, Ranger Rick visited a convention concert sponsored by the League of Conservation Voters. The friendly raccoon handed out NWF Climate Action Now bracelets, posed for photos and was even rumored to dance at the show.

Republicans, be on the watch for Ranger Rick this week in Minneapolis St. Paul at the 2008 RNC Convention…Who knows where he will pop up next to talk about important issues like protecting wildlife and global warming.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Dominique Burgunder-Johnson TITLE: Let's Keep Our Kids Out and About! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: lets-keep-our-k DATE: 08/27/2008 03:39:09 PM ----- BODY:

Kids OutsideWhether it was picking daisies, camping with my scout troop or sledding down snowy hills with my family, I know that many of my childhood outdoor experiences were critical in developing the enthusiasm and respect I still have for the natural world.

That's why I've become deeply concerned about seeing the first generation of American children growing up effectively isolated from nature. In fact, over the past 20 years, the time children spend playing outdoors has been cut in half.

This increasing "nature deficit" is not only threatening America's long-standing conservation ethic, but has resulted in alarming child health issues.

Studies demonstrate that unstructured play in natural settings is essential to all aspects of children's health. It leads to more physical activity, increased activity and more positive social interactions with friends and family members.

From the redwood forests to the Gulf Stream water, exploring the diverse landscapes of America has shaped who we are as Americans.

Let's ensure that future generations can reap the benefits of daily contact with nature to preserve this special part of our national and cultural identity.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pete Monfre EMAIL: pete@enzoology.com IP: 71.114.240.217 URL: http://www.enzoology.com DATE: 09/01/2008 10:58:32 AM Great Post! We are starting to realize that we might be able to really impact this critical issue. Keep up the good work! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Cool Resource - WebEcoist STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: cool-resource- DATE: 08/25/2008 12:01:50 AM ----- BODY:

I love the web. I also love nature. When the two meet, I'm thrilled. Let's just say I was very excited to see the launch of the new WebEcoist.

WebEcoist




Here's a bit of information about the site:
WebEcoist
is dedicated to the premise that the natural environment is not only fundamentally important to us in practical terms but is also amazingly intriguing in all kinds of ways many of us rarely consider.  Here the idea of "going green" does not just mean sorting your recycling--it is a way of looking at the world and thinking about our place and actions within it. Here you will find a vast amount of information condensed into articles and series that bring a wide range of useful and interesting eco-info right to your web browser.

Paw printI'm giving this site two paws up for it's useful information and awesome lists like 20 of the World's Weirdest Endangered Species, which always seem to catch my eye.

WebEcoist get's my appaws--ahem applause!





----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: EnviroAction -- August 2008 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: enviroaction-- CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 08/17/2008 07:39:17 PM ----- BODY:

Take Action* FEATURED ACTION *
Help Protect Against Invasive Species

Often when ships arrive from foreign ports and empty their ballast water, they potentially introduce thousands of non-native species into our waters. These invasive species are one of the leading threats to biodiversity, imposing enormous costs to agriculture, forestry, fisheries and other human enterprises and human health.

The U.S. House recently passed a bill that would require ships to treat their ballast water, helping to prevent further introduction of invasive species into America's waterways. Now it's up to the Senate to pass similar legislation.

Urge Your Senators to Pass Strong Water Ballast Legislation!
http://online.nwf.org/stoptheinvasion


CLIMATE ACTION UPDATE:
Global Warming Linked to Four-fold Increase in Fires, Burning Six Times More Area


Fire is a natural and beneficial part of many forest ecosystems, but the number and intensity of fires today is challenging fire managers and forest communities throughout the West.

How is global warming fueling these fires? Watch the video today:
www.nwf.org/climateaction


Higher Education Sustainability Act to Help Campuses Go Green, Environmental Ed Vote Still Set for September

Green JobsCongress and President Bush recently granted a huge victory for environmental education by approving the Higher Education Sustainability Act, which will help colleges develop academic programs that address sustainability and aid campuses in becoming more energy-efficient. Congress is still scheduled to vote on legislation to improve environmental education in America's elementary and high schools in the coming month.

Make sure Congress passes the "No Child Left Inside Act":
http://online.nwf.org/nochildinside


Conservation Reserve Program Ruling Marks a Hay-Day for Wildlife

Sage GrouseA U.S. District judge issued a permanent injunction to stop widespread haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program lands without first studying the likely impacts on wildlife and our natural resources. The decision reduces the CRP land open to increased haying and grazing from 24 million to less than 2 million acres, protecting habitat for sage grouse and other species.

Find out more details of the CRP ruling:
www.nwf.org/farmland


Q&A: Why We Can't Drill Our Way Out of the Problem

Drill RigLately it might seem like everyone from Presidential hopefuls to your next door neighbor has ideas on how to solve America's energy crisis. As the debate heats up and pressure mounts for increased drilling, NWF's Public Lands program asked public lands expert, Kate Zimmerman to answer five of the most common questions in the drilling debate.

Get the real dirt on drilling:
www.ourpubliclands.org/fuelpricesanswers


Good NeighborLearn cool tips from good neighbors:

Some of the most popular ways NWF's Good Neighbors are helping to cool the planet...

  1. Turning off lights when not in use.

  2. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact flourescent ones.

  3. Running dishwasher and washing machine only when full. [Learn More]

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Bush Administration Launching Sneak Attack on Endangered Species Act STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bush-administra CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 08/11/2008 06:06:24 PM ----- BODY:

This news just broke:

WASHINGTON - Parts of the Endangered Species Act may soon be extinct. The Bush administration wants federal agencies to decide for themselves whether highways, dams, mines and other construction proje cts might harm endangered animals and plants...

If approved, the changes would represent the biggest overhaul of the Endangered Species Act since 1988. They would accomplish through regulations what conservative Republicans have been unable to achieve in Congress: ending some environmental reviews that developers and other federal agencies blame for delays and cost increases on many projects.

The National Wildlife Federation is already pledging to fight hard to protect the Endangered Species Act:

"I have been working on the Endangered Species Act for 15 years and have never seen such a sneaky attack," said John Kostyack, Executive Director of Wildlife Conservation and Global Warming at the National Wildlife Federation. "To suggest that our nation's most important wildlife law could be gutted after a mere 60 day written comment period is the height of arrogance and disrespect for wildlife science. Elected officials have been saying no to proposals like this for 15 years.

"Do not be fooled when the Administration claims it is merely tweaking the law," said Kostyack. "The cumulative impact of these changes equals a full blown attack on America's premier conservation law. We owe it to future generations to stop this attack and continue our legacy of protecting wildlife on the brink of extinction."

You can help protect the Endangered Species Act! Contact Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne right now and let him know you won't stand for any weakening of endangered species protections.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Margaret Nejedly EMAIL: nej6115@aol.com IP: 205.188.117.143 URL: DATE: 08/13/2008 01:19:56 AM You have already set this country back 35 -40 years, in our endevors to save animal species. Must you go on tearing down until you are gone, taking how many animals with you? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Clarence Funk EMAIL: cfunk@san.rr.com IP: 76.23.20.87 URL: DATE: 08/13/2008 08:13:25 AM The legal action the National Wildlife Federation has taken for political purposes [NWF vs. USDA, Case # CV08-1004-JCC] is endangering the wildlife that this organization should be protecting. This legal action to stop the emergency grazing of CRP land will encourage farmers to terminate their CRP contracts and adopt long-term farming practices that will eliminate wildlife habitat. In addition the pressure of high food prices will encourage people to slaughter wildlife to feed their families. A strong relationship can be demonstrated between wildlife decline and economic stress in our society. Does the National Wildlife Federation want to promote the return of wildlife slaughter that characterized the period of the 1930's? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pat K EMAIL: antcoll@comcast.net IP: 67.170.247.48 URL: DATE: 08/17/2008 01:16:15 PM We have all witnessed the most evil and corrupt Presidential administration in history. No polite society should ever allow Bush and Cheney to be a part of it. Congress has allowed this to happen by not performing their constitutional oversight role and responsibilities. Vote out all the incumbents regardless of your political party. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: KL EMAIL: radroxygirl45@optonline.net IP: 69.120.199.108 URL: DATE: 08/25/2008 07:41:09 PM what???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! r u kidding me?????????!!!!!!! is this dumb western seriously trying to do this?! y? i dont understand whats the point?! oh wait i know- just so the oil freaks- bush and his administration can get all the MONEY in the world. thats all this world is about right- only and always about money right? bush and his poeple dont care about any other living thing on this earth except themselves and their money. that goes the same for all the corrupt big companies and people like the FDA and the oil companies and A LOT if not, all politicians (except AL GORE) ETC., ETC., ETC. the list just goes on and on. PLEASE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION- FIGHT ALL THE BUSH HEADS AND ALL OTHER IDIOTS LIKE THEM!!! Why dont you guys team up with ALL the enviromental organizations like GREEN PEACE, WWF etc. there's so many so just do it!! ALLL OF WILDLIFE IS IN DANGER- THEY NEED YOU GUYS ANYONE THAT CAN HELP- DONT LET THIS HAPPEN- YOU R HUMANS TOO AND DESERVE THE RIGHT TO TALK YOUR MIND AND SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT- bush isnt the only human on this earth even though he likes to think so. ANIMALS CANT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES- THEY CANT DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM EVIL DEVIL WORSHIPERS LIKE BUSH- YOU GUYS CAN SPEAK FOR THEM SO PLEASE FIGHT FOR THE ANIMALS RIGHTS. Its so sad and bad that in this world humans r at the top of the food chain. i know you know what i mean. we destroy ALL LIVING THINGS ON THIS EARTH ALL FOR THE LOVE AND WANTING OF MONEY!!!!!!! WELL at least wen JESUS comes and the world ends, we KNOW whos going to HELL. MORE TREES-LESS BUSH. Live in harmony with nature stop acting against it, KL. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: JasonB EMAIL: jason_brommel@yahoo.com IP: 130.13.225.182 URL: http://protectingourenvironment.com/saving-the-most-endangered-ape/ DATE: 09/11/2008 01:39:05 AM The actions of this sector of government underline where their true priorities are. It seems in this day in age, which has been the case for a long time, oil trumps everything. Gosh, it is amazing the lack of understanding, our care for, the fundamental systems of our planet. Once again, economic interests and "progress" are exhibiting reckless abandon. Does no one realize the importance of our ecosystems? Does anyone in our government care that every species, no matter how small, is intricately weaved into the web of life of the planet. One species goes, another one becomes overpopulated, and the whole world becomes one step further out of balance. It is ever more disappointing to hear the raucous chants of "drill baby drill" in large political crowds, fueled by the belief of potential new leaders, one of which has taken the lead on suing the federal government over the listing of the polar bear as endangered because the polar bear, and all the experts and wildlife biologists, who do know what they are talking about, are standing in the way. The polar bears are on the top of the food chain in their ecosystem. If they do become extinct one day, or critically endangered, then think about the long term effects of that. But that's the point - the people in charge aren't thinking about that. Or do they even know, or even care? That's why organizations and sites like this are so important. Although it seems like such an uphill battle, every new voice that is heard is one more step in the right direction of logic and progress toward a heightened awareness of the realities, and opportunities, that we must face. Now is the time. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Tracy Perkins TITLE: Bye Bye Bugs STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bye-bye-bugs CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 08/01/2008 03:05:18 PM ----- BODY:

Spending time outdoors is one of the best parts of summer in most parts of this country. Camping, hiking and combing the beach are all wonders of summer time, but they all have a common enemy...hematophagous critters, a.k.a. blood sucking insects! Not only are these bugs annoying, much more importantly--depending on your location--they could actually jeopardize your life.

Throughout human history, blood sucking insects have devastatingly spread bacteria, viruses, and blood-borne parasites: responsible for an astonishing number of deaths due to bubonic plague, Chagas disease, dengue fever, filariasis, leishmaniasis, Lyme disease, malaria, rabies, sleeping sickness, St. Louis encephalitis, tularemia, typhus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, West Nile fever and others.

This is not to say you will actually catch any of these while you are exploring the outdoors, it is just to say those diminutive bugs are a force to be reckoned with. In many parts of the world such diseases are still rampant, but luckily here in the U.S. the most common one we have to worry about is West Nile (though the likelihood of you getting that is low--there were only under 3,700 cases last year). Regardless, life is better when we can avoid bug bites. But are there ways of doing this without using the equally hazardous option of DEET-packed bug spray.

Photo taken by James Towner in Show Low, Arizona June 2008

DEET, or N-Diethyl-meta-toulamide, is the most widely used active ingredient in bug sprays. DEET should never be used on infants younger than 3 years old. It poses mild risk to children (regardless of concentration), anyone with sensitive skin, or anyone using it repeatedly. Testing has shown that there are positive mutation results in mammal cells, suggesting potential carcinogenic effects. It is also classified as an irritant for skin, eyes and lungs by the European Union. Further animal testing showed brain and nervous system effects at moderate doses along with endocrine system disruption and reproductive effects at high doses. Apart from potential risks to human health, DEET, as a chemical pesticide, is also not so great for the environment, with potential wildlife and environmental toxicity, particularly to freshwater wildlife.

With the potential dangers of conventional bug repellent, there are some great natural ones on the market, but the best way to ensure what is in your product is to make it yourself. It is fun to try and you can rest assured there aren't any hidden ingredients and you can tailor it to your taste. ** You should note that not all essential oils are safe for use on pregnant women or infants. Always look up the essential oils you are using when you are pregnant, breast feeding, or intending to use on little ones. The best bet for pregnant women who want to avoid bugs is citronella and tea tree essential oils mixed with carrier oil or water.

Making a Natural Bug Repellent Spray

4 oz distilled water
40 drops citronella essential oil
20 drops tea tree essential oil
10 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops cedar essential oil
10 drops lemongrass essential oil

5 drops basil essential oil

Put your essential oils into a sterile dark colored glass or plastic spray bottle first then fill the rest of the bottle with 4oz of distilled water, pure witch hazel, aloe vera juice, green tea brewed in distilled water, or any combination of these that you like. Shake the mixture before using and then spray on skin before heading out and be sure to keep it near by if you are out and about. You could easily make this a body oil if you'd like more staying power and don't mind a greasier feel, just replace the water with any carrier oil of your choice but be sure to avoid clothing.

If it is too late and you've already been chewed up you can make your own soothing oil to alleviate the itch and irritation of bug bites. * * You should note that not all essential oils are safe for use on pregnant women or infants. Always look up the essential oils you are using when you are pregnant, breast feeding, or intending to use on little ones. The best bet for pregnant women who already have bug bites in search for relief is eucalyptus and  lavender essential oils mixed with carrier oil or water.

Making an Anti-itch Bug Bite Soother
4 oz carrier oil of your choice
40 drops peppermint oil
20 drops lavender oil
20 drops tea tree oil
10 drops rosemary oil


I tend to use a blend of apricot kernel and sweet almond oils as my base oil but you can use any vegetable oil you have around; olive oil, canola, sunflower, or soy oil would work just fine. Pour your base oil into a sterile dark colored glass or plastic bottle (if you don't have one that is dark colored store it in a cabinet, light breaks down the oils rendering it less effective). Add the drops of essential oils. This is a potent blend so be sure to avoid sensitive areas (eyes, nethers, etc). Try a test patch if you are sensitive to be sure it works for your skin type.

Have fun making your goodies and enjoy the great outdoors even more with fewer pesky bugs around! 

If you are interested in other handmade eco-friendly skin care products or recipes please visit my website, StrawberryHedgehog.com.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dagny EMAIL: dm@onnotextiles.com IP: 24.8.40.151 URL: http://www.onnotextiles.com DATE: 08/11/2008 03:10:12 PM I'm so glad you're getting the information out there about bug sprays. It amazes me how many people spray that on themselves with no regard to the chemicals in it. Dagny www.onnotextiles.com bamboo and organic clothing ----- -------- AUTHOR: Dominique Burgunder-Johnson TITLE: Still the Drills, Spare the Bears--Send an eCard to Show You Care STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: still-the-drill CATEGORY: The Push for Drilling DATE: 07/31/2008 06:05:10 PM ----- BODY:

PB eCardHelp spread the real dirt on drilling with a Polar Bear eCard!

As anyone with an eye on the screen or an ear on the wavelengths might be able to tell, Big Oil has been in a public relations frenzy over the past few weeks.

In the midst of a summer of sacrifices for the millions of Americans adjusting to painful prices at the pump, comes today's headlines revealing Exxon Mobil's record breaking profits.

The truth is slowly but surely coming to (energy efficient) light: there's definitely some dirty business going on here…

And yet, Big Oil is still trying to convince us that drilling in our nation's most pristine and protected areas will somehow reduce rising family fuel costs?

But the fact is--as even Bush's own Energy Department admits--drilling here and drilling now will not save us any money today, tomorrow or in the near future. What it will do is continue to drain the pockets of Americans, increase global warming pollution and have devastating impacts on our country's wildlife and natural resources.

Oil drilling on our public lands is already at an all-time high, yet energy costs are still skyrocketing. Americans deserve better energy choices that are cheaper, cleaner and safer than fossil fuels.

The technology and resources already exist to give Americans real solutions that will preserve the natural world and free us from being forced to rely on unsustainable fuel sources.

A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that strong global warming legislation would slash U.S. petroleum consumption by one third by 2030 saving far more oil than we could ever pull from the Arctic Refuge and the new coastal areas.

The power is in the hands of Congress to lead the way. Let's continue to let our nation's leaders know that we want clean energy solutions to secure our future.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: 7 Reasons Bats are Just as Cool as Batman STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bats-in-the-dar CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 07/22/2008 06:38:58 PM ----- BODY:

Batman, the hero of Gotham and star of The Dark Knight, is a good guy faced with intense obstacles that sometimes make him an enemy in the eyes of his city. More often than not, he falls victim to the fact that people tend to scrutinize what they don't understand.

Sounds like the average bat if you ask me. We have thousands of little heroes saving us every night--it's just a matter of knowing why bats are just as awesome (even more so) then Batman.

7 Reasons Bats Are Just as Cool as Batman


1. They take out thousands of pests:  While Batman is tough on inner-city pests, a small brown bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour. And bats
don't just stop at mosquitoes; they eat a large number of other insects like beetles and moths that are agricultural pests. Species like the  big brown bat are known for being very helpful when it comes to bug control. The California leaf-nosed bat is so agile, it can swoop down and grab beetles, crickets and grasshoppers right off the ground. So if you have a pest problem, put a little bat house on the side of your home and fight off the bugs the natural way!

Indiana bat2. They bring us awesome food like mangoes and tequila:  Do you like tequila? How about mangoes? Both of these would suffer greatly if we didn't have bats. Fruit bats make up about 30% of the bat population and play a huge role in pollinating essential crops like agave, from which tequila is made. Seeds dropped by bats can also account for up to 95 percent of forest regrowth on cleared land. In fact, it's known that more than 300 plant species in the tropics alone rely on the pollinating and seed dispersal of bats.

3. They have an expansive range: While Batman's range is fairly restricted to the city limits of Gotham, bats have a much more expansive range. Depending on the species, they can cover hundreds of miles in a single night, hunting for insects, drinking at water holes and pollinating plants. We certainly are being watched over!

4. They are the ONLY flying mammals: That's right, while Bruce Wayne can glide, bats can really fly! While you may hear of "flying" animals like squirrels, bats are the only mammals that can truly fly. The others simply glide.

5. Echolocation...that says it all: In the most recent Batman movie, the Caped Crusader uses something resembling echolocation, but it's nothing compared to the real thing. A number of bat species have this "feature" built in! Bats that use echolocation often have big ears and really funky looking faces. Those faces help capture sound waves bouncing off of prey and other objects and funnel those waves to the ears. Bats that don't use echolocation, like fruit bats, actually have big eyes to see in the dark and long dog-like faces (some are called "flying foxes" because of this). Here's a great shot of one.

6. Even their poo is helpful: To my knowledge, the Dark Knight has never developed a bowel-related superpower (thank goodness). Bat guano, however, not only makes a great fertilizer, it is the sole habitat for some animal species! That's the making of a real hero--when even poo has helpful qualities.

7. They help the whole ecosystem, not just one city: Bats are key species to helping their habitats flourish. Not only do they eat insects and pollinate crops, but they also serve as prey for predators like hawks and owls.

I don't know about you...but when I shine the bat symbol, I have a completely different idea of the response I want. I want more bats! Unfortunately, a number of bat species (both in and out of North America) are at risk. They are suffering from a White Nose epidemic and are also falling victim to habitat destruction. We can take a turn in doing the saving of these little heroes.

To see a list of bat superheroes--Read this excellent bat guide (pdf).

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: damselseo EMAIL: chepay118@gmail.com IP: 202.71.179.234 URL: http://www.cherylestorgio.com DATE: 07/23/2008 10:52:09 AM Informative! In addition: Bats that consume frogs are able to identify poisonous frogs by listening to the mating calls of male frogs. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ela EMAIL: elasita@gmail.com IP: 98.204.217.241 URL: DATE: 07/24/2008 11:16:57 AM great job Danielle! I love this article. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Peg Flynn EMAIL: pflynn@mahoningcountyoh.gov IP: 68.22.85.66 URL: DATE: 08/25/2008 08:35:57 AM I have several bats that fly nightly in my yard. I live in a wooded area with some fields and meadows. I love seeing them since I know they will help deplete the mosquito population in my area. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: dwayne EMAIL: dwayne.junco@gmail.com IP: 203.177.74.135 URL: DATE: 08/29/2008 09:39:12 AM in our ecology class bats also plays a great role in production of cement!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: I like Bats EMAIL: backwoods99@yahoo.com IP: 65.111.211.224 URL: http://profile.typepad.com/6p01156fa8c6ec970b DATE: 03/31/2009 05:27:06 PM I agree about the amount of insects that a bat can eat. It is a great thing to have a colony of little brown and or big brown bats around in Michigan. I don't like them when they are in a home, if a bat removal process is done please follow BCI criteria and please put up a bat house for less stress of relocation. This will also keep the bats around for that natural bug control. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ryan hakwye EMAIL: ryanhawk97@aol.com IP: 72.147.0.171 URL: DATE: 04/27/2009 03:44:40 PM i have four pet bats ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: BattyJanice EMAIL: battyjanice@aol.com IP: 205.188.117.6 URL: DATE: 04/30/2009 02:06:39 PM I grew up in a house on top of a hill, with a creek to one side and a pond to the other, and lots of old coal mines scattered around. Directly in the flight path of the bats that lived within. I have always been in love with bats- and grew to love them more when I began caving. I have converted many folks to bat friends- helping to build and install bat houses and shelters, teaching police and animal control officers how to safely remove them from homes (used to work at a 911 center...) and teaching kids about our little furry winged friends. And I hope to never stop doing all I can to promote understadning and caring for them- worried about the WNF outbreak- my cave owner friends have closed their caves in response- what else can we do to help with this? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Dominique Burgunder-Johnson TITLE: Enough Already With All the Fossil Foolery STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: enough-already CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/17/2008 04:12:39 PM ----- BODY:

New Offshore Drilling Won't Dig Us Out of the Hole

Oil RigSo, big oil and friends are at it again: doing what they can to keep us hooked on fossil fuels for as long as possible.

President Bush's announcement on Monday to lift the ban on offshore drilling is the next step in a series of attempts to fool Americans into thinking there's a future in the fossil fuel economy.

But, the fact is that we can't drill our way out of higher gas prices and a failed energy policy.

Calls for more drilling will only increase already record high profits of big oil companies, and will do little to reduce the painful prices we're paying at the pump.

Bush's own Energy Department reported that opening up our protected coastal area would have no real impact on current domestic crude oil and natural gas production or lower gas prices.

Clean EnergyIt's time for our country's leadership to put America on the path toward progress by making investments in clean energy solutions.

Federal legislation that promotes clean, alternative energy and reduces global warming pollution will reduce our oil imports four times more than drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and the Rocky Mountain states, combined.

We need to encourage Congress to start promoting the clean energy policies that offer us a real alternative to the dead end direction of fossil fuel addiction.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle EMAIL: danielle.brigida@gmail.com IP: 98.169.97.52 URL: DATE: 07/18/2008 10:56:44 AM Learn more what NWF has to say about this: http://www.nwf.org/news/story.cfm?pageId=22B09F9F-15C5-5FE8-B0B8E77B5A0C8D0B ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: V K Pandya EMAIL: pandyavinod@yahoo.co.in IP: 61.8.136.157 URL: http://www.wildlifeofgujarat.blogspot.com DATE: 07/21/2008 05:12:58 AM Good one, Keep it up. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Mixxing it up with NWF STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: mixxing-it-up-w CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 07/14/2008 10:33:59 AM ----- BODY:

The National Wildlife Federation has teamed up with people from the online bookmarking site Mixx in order to create a great place for supporters and fans of NWF and wildlife to submit interesting content and participate in discussion

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Write It! Wear It! Snap It! Boast It! for Public Lands STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: write-it-wear-i CATEGORY: Public Lands DATE: 07/10/2008 12:05:49 PM ----- BODY:

The National Wildlife Federation needs your help to give us a catchy slogan for Our Public Lands web site. This contest will run until the fall of 2008 and will be broken down into a four parts.

Write It! - Submit your slogan. The slogan should emphasize the importance of public lands, inspire others to visit or protect public lands and be short enough to fit on a t-shirt.

Wear It! - Donate and get a T-shirt with the winning slogan

Snap It! - Submit photos of you, your friends and family wearing your public lands T-shirt on public lands and answer the question: "Why do you protect public lands?" The top (2) winning photos and stories will be featured in an ad that will run in a major national outdoors magazine. The winner will also receive a year's subscription to the magazine.

Boast It! - The winners of both the slogan and photo portions of the contest will have full bragging rights, but for all other contestants, there's no need to despair. We will be prominently displaying a virtual billboard of all photo entries on the homepage of our website where you can direct all your family and friends.

So how do you do all of this!? Glad you asked...Try this easy to use web widget that will keep you updated with information on the contest. Then click Share It! and post it to your facebook, MySpace, blog or any where you want your friends and family to see it. Show people you care about public lands and get them involved in the contest.

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onemillionthsite












Wetpaint
, one of the most respected Wiki hosting sites, is offering an awesome, green reward for it's one millionth site creator.


For those of you who haven't created a wiki site for something you love, I highly recommend you do so because you could win something that would benefit both you and the earth!

Check out what the http://onemillionsites.wetpaint.com is giving away:

"Wetpaint will reward the one-millionth site creator with the chance to give back to their community and the planet!

For one year, Wetpaint will offset the carbon emissions of both the home and car of the millionth site creator. Additionally, Wetpaint will sponsor the carbon offset of a local school or non-profit organization selected by the lucky millionth site creator.

Taking it one step further: if the millionth site is created as a referral generated by an email or website, Wetpaint will offer up the same thank-you package to the referrer!"

For those of you who haven't yet created a wiki, it's a neat way to collaborate with others who share your interest!~ NWF has created a  wiki and would love to see what issues you guys care about! Whether it's wildlife activism or endangered species conservation, let us know!

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Great American Backyard Campout




With NWF's Great American Backyard Campout  right around the corner, (JUNE 28th 2008) I thought it would be great to post about great resources campers can use while on their own personal outdoor adventures. So to begin I'll start with the necessary items (like first aid and packing lists) and I'll finish up with some campfire activities everyone can enjoy!

Camping Essentials:


#1. Know What You're Packin':
First things first, it helps to have a thorough packing list for a camping trip. Don't forget to include items like your sun glasses, sunscreen and bug spray!(If you are a beginning camper..check out this pdf that tells you everything you'll need.)

#2. Always Remember First Aid!
Safety is always important, and so is making sure you have a handy first aid kit ! Once you create a first aid kit that includes all the essentials, you can take it with you and hopefully never use it.

#3 Be Extra Safe With These Camping and Campfire Tips.

Don't forget to read over some great tips on how to best prepare you and your friends or family for camping! Here are some safe campfire and camping tips to keep in mind.

#4 Camping-Friendly Recipes: Everything From Sloppy Joes to Cornbread.
Just because you may be far away from a traditional stove doesn't mean you have to miss out on delicious food. Here are some great camping recipes that also include some awesome pie iron tips! If you've got camping recipes to share, be sure to visit and share them on the forum!
Check them out and don't forget to pack them when the time comes...

#5 Use Wildlife Resources To Observe Your "Neighbors"
NWF encourages people to learn about their natural surroundings and that includes in your backyard or nearby park. Using great sites like Wildlife Watch and Night Watch, you can observe wildlife in a number of ways! Download wildlife lists and keep an eye, ear and nose out for fun things to spot.

#6 Camping Games and Activities:
If you are between the ages of 6-113 then you should check out these games and crafts. I'm all for crafts, and while I know that is a little unusual for a girl in her twenties, I have to admit that i'm excited to check out campfire games. And I've definitely made my share of terrariums in my day! Also, don't forget to sing along to these fine camping songs!( I personally don't subject people to my singing, but be my guest!)


For those of you who do take the time to do Campout on June 28th and would like to commemorate the night, feel free to check out our selection of t-shirts. But we encourage people to camp through out the summer and in doing so connect to our wonderful surroundings. There are some awesome resources to find the right answers to your camping questions! You can even find a campsite with ReserveAmerica and continue the adventure while learning more about wildlife.


What's the buzz around campout? Check out these awesome blogs and what they have to say...

Tree Hugger
Georgia Outdoors

Great Wild Outdoors
Life as A Mom
Newswise
Tampa Bay Newspaper

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PolarbearsFrom the Associated Press:

Less than a month after declaring polar bears a threatened species because of global warming, the Bush administration is giving oil companies permission to annoy and potentially harm them in the pursuit of oil and natural gas.

The Fish and Wildlife Service issued regulations this week providing legal protection to seven oil companies planning to search for oil and gas in the Chukchi Sea off the northwestern coast of Alaska if "small numbers" of polar bears or Pacific walruses are incidentally harmed by their activities over the next five years. [...]

Exploring in the Chukchi Sea's 29.7 million acres will require as many as five drill ships, one or two icebreakers, a barge, a tug and two helicopter flights per day, according to the government. Oil companies will also be making hundred of miles of ice roads and trails along the coastline.

The National Wildlife Federation was already suspicious of the Bush administration's commitment to protecting polar bears. Now the Center for Biological Diversity calls this decision "a blank check to harass the polar bear in the Chukchi Sea."

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: website design EMAIL: cara.marlyn@gmail.com IP: 91.121.204.145 URL: http://ooyes.net DATE: 06/16/2008 01:50:22 PM And they reported without a hint of bias! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: web design company EMAIL: sharalyn.odell@googlemail.com IP: 91.121.7.211 URL: http://ooyes.net DATE: 06/16/2008 01:51:40 PM And they reported without a hint of bias! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Paula Kahumbu EMAIL: paula@wildlifedirect.org IP: 196.201.208.23 URL: http://wildlifedirect.org DATE: 07/06/2008 08:25:19 AM Oh it will be so great when we finally say goodbye to GWB! Surely these rules can be changed just as quickly as he made them right? ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Seven Tips for Bird Feeding on a Budget STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: seven-tips-for CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 06/11/2008 04:52:19 PM ----- BODY:

Corel_easternbluebird_163036

It’s no secret that the economy has slowed down in recently months.  Gas and grocery prices are up, and we’re all looking for ways to save a buck. So what’s a backyard bird watcher to do when it’s time to refill the bird feeder with expensive seed? Resourceful bird lovers can continue to attract birds without breaking the bank with these tips.


1.  Plant Natural Feeders – Birds only use feeders to supplement the natural foods they find in the landscape, so focus of your bird-feeding efforts on your plants even in good economic times. Plants feed birds with seeds, berries, nuts, sap and nectar as well as shelter and nesting places. Once planted, they’ll provide free bird food for years to come. Get a list of the best plants for your state here.



2.    Say No to Insecticides – Before you reach for the bug killer think about this: 96 percent of bird species in  North America feed their babies insects. Most adult birds rely on insects as a source of protein too, but even those that primarily eat plant foods as adults still feed their young insects, including hummingbirds. Make sure you have plenty of insect life for the birds by going organic and eliminating insecticides. Let the birds control the insects for you.


3.   Go Native – Native plants that grow naturally in your area provide birds with the foods they’ve been eating for thousands of years and thrive in local soils and weather. Many exotic plants don’t provide seeds or fruits that birds can eat and those that do have become invasive pests. Native plants also support up to 60 percent more insects than exotics and therefore more birds. Luckily, many natives are ornamental and commercially available (check out American Beauties native plants).


4.   Attract Birds with Water – Even if you can’t provide food, a simple bird bath with clean water will attract plenty of birds to your yard. Replace the water every three days to keep the bath clean and to avoid mosquito problems.


5.   Free Food – Make your own suet by recycling bacon grease. Next time you fry up a batch of bacon, pour the grease into a plastic container and freeze it. You can then put it out in a suet cage or mesh onion bags as a high calorie treat for birds such as woodpeckers, jays and chickadees. Saving the plastic packages from store-bought suet and using them again to make your own will save you even more.


6.  Buy in Bulk – If you are addicted to watching the constant activity of birds visiting your feeders, consider buying seed in bulk to save some cash. Avoid seed blends which often have “filler” seeds that most birds toss aside and feed black-oil sunflower seed, which all feeder birds relish. Store seed in a metal container with a secure lid to keep moisture and other critters out.


7.  Grow Your Own Feeders – Plant sunflowers instead of buying expensive sunflower seed. The flowers look beautiful and also provide nectar for bees and other beneficial insects. In the fall, cut the flower heads and hang them in the yard as home-grown bird feeders.



For more tips on attracting wildlife, check out the series I host on Animal Planet called Backyard Habitat (which just came out on DVD)  and my book Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife.

 

You can also have your yard or garden recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat by National Wildlife Federation.

Photo Copyright © 2008 National Wildlife Federation and its licensors.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: web design company EMAIL: cara.marlyn@gmail.com IP: 87.106.188.238 URL: http://ooyes.net DATE: 06/12/2008 03:02:39 PM We just throw seed out in the yard and let the birds have at it. We now have sunflowers growing in every year from the extra seeds the birds didn't find and after those mature the birds pull the seeds out of the flower and eat them. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pat EMAIL: wingert.pat@gmail.com IP: 69.253.236.198 URL: DATE: 09/23/2008 08:50:24 PM I thought about saving the sunflower heads until winter, then putting them out in the snow. I wanted to put them in an airtight bucket to keep the mice out. Will that work? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: How to get on the cover of National Wildlife Magazine STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: how-to-get-on-t CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 06/10/2008 10:01:41 PM ----- BODY:

June/July 2008 Cover of National WildlifeWith each issue of National Wildlife® magazine reaching more than 1 million homes, it's a pretty high honor for the photographers who are featured on the cover. Guess what? You can be one of those lucky shutterbugs by entering the 38th Annual National Wildlife Magazine Photo Contest!

I was lucky enough to talk to Jill Stanley, one of NWF's photo editors and contest judges to find out all the dirt on the contest and on getting your photos published on the cover of National Wildlife. Here are a few tips for entering and making this goal a reality, even if photography is only a hobby for you.

Winning PhotoWho was last year's contest winner?
Piotr Kwatera

Was he an amateur or professional?
He was an amateur from Krakow, Poland!

What percentage would you say of people who enter are amateur vs. professional?
Because we only recently opened the contest up to the Pros within the last few years, the professional numbers have been on the low side. I would say that about 80% of our entrants are amateur--which has been great for them. That said, however, we've really beefed things up with the photo contest this year and have made the competition more attractive to professional photographers, so we have higher expectations this year in terms of an increase in exceptional photography!

In the past five years, who won more often? Amateurs or pros?  
Definitely amateurs. They surprise us every year with stunning entries. Amateurs tend to also submit more entries per submission so their chances of being recognized is higher. Professional photographers really tend to edit down their submissions and sometimes limit themselves by only entering a few. 

Do the winning pics always include wildlife?
Not all winning entries include wildlife.  We have other categories like "Connecting People and Nature," "Landscapes and Plant Life" as well as a "Backyard Habitats" category. We've tried to be as wide open as we can in terms of wildlife and nature photography.

CaterpillarHow do you recommend people to choose the photos they enter?
It's a good question. I think anytime you submit your photographs to a magazine, photo contest or a photo editor, strongly consider your audience and tailor your submission to suit their tastes. In this case, we represent Wildlife and nature. I can't tell you how often we continue to get photos of Aunt Vera's cat "Fluffy" or someone's dog sitting on the back porch just as cute as can be. They are great, but they're not for our photo contest.

Any insider tips?
Study our publication. Pick up a few copies of National Wildlife magazine or scroll through some of the previous winners from www.nwf.org/photozone to familiarize yourself with our style and subject and you'll get a good sense of our expectations. Additionally, don't over do it. Some entrants have come so close to winning until the other judges and I open up the file to take a closer look only to realize that a tree branch has suddenly, magically appeared out of nowhere--or--they've over-saturated or changed colors so much that it clearly is not representing true nature. We also get excited to see wildlife behavior captured in a photo!

Ready for the challenge? Submit up to 20 of your best photos today!

Check out last year's winners...

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I was feeling down after my last post about the extinction of the Caribbean monk seal, only to get aAdoption_graphic  notification a few minutes later about NWF's new wildlife adoption program

Here's how it works.  It's a symbolic adoption, meaning that you adopt a species that needs our help rather than an individual animal. You make a $30 donation in the name of the species of your choice which supports NWF's work protecting wildlife.  As thanks, you'll get a stuffed animal plus an adoption certificate and a screensaver featuring your adopted species. (But for me, the biggest benefit is knowing that you're participating in the protection of some amazing animals that really do need our help.)

The stuffed animals are not only really cute, they've been crafted to truly resemble the real-life animal. And you can even make an adoption in someone else's name too, which makes a great gift.

Some of my favorite species up for adoption are the grizzly bear, river otter, desert tortoise and barking tree frog.  Check out the full list of species here.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Carribbean monk seal extinct STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: carribbean-monk DATE: 06/09/2008 03:29:13 PM ----- BODY:

Usfws_monkseal_4 The Caribbean monk seal has been officially declared extinct.  It's the only seal species to go extinct specifically from human causes.  Both the Hawaiian monk seal and the Mediterranean monk seal survive but are endangered.  As we continue to feel the impacts of global warming, there are several other seal species that might be heading down the path to extinction.

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Dandelion1_4 For most folks, dinner comes neatly packaged from the grocery store.  But before it reaches the shelves, all of our food comes from the land in one way or another.  And did you know that some foods that aren’t farmed at all, but are found only in nature?  Late spring is a great time to connect with natural world by trying some of these wild edibles!

Dandelion
The flowers of these sunny lawn weeds can be made into a tasty drink called dandelion wine and the greens make an excellent salad green.  In fact, all parts of this plant are edible and are chock full of nutrients.  Buy them in the grocery store – or simply harvest them from your own herbicide-free yard.

Morels
The scrumptious, earthy flavor of wild morel mushrooms is legendary.  They only grow in the wild and morel hunters across the country are in the woods in full force looking for these delectable fungi.

Garlic Mustard
This invasive exotic weed crowds out native woodland plants and the wildlife that depend on them.  Why let the weeds win when you can pull them and turn them into a tasty garlic mustard pesto?  You’ll be doing a favor for the forest -- your taste buds too!

Fiddleheads
New, unopened fern fronds are known as fiddleheads, and those of some fern species are not only edible, they’re downright delicious!

Insects and Spiders
That’s not a typo. All sorts of arthropods from crickets to cicadas to spiders are edible and surprisingly nutritious.

Wild Edibles Tips
1. NEVER eat anything that you cannot identify with 100 percent confidence.
2. Don’t harvest from areas sprayed with pesticides.
3. Search local farmers markets and natural grocery stores first before collecting from the wild.
4. Search online for local foragers groups or wild food experts who can help you identify potential foods and coordinate foraging trips.
5. If you do collect from the wild, don’t be greedy.  Leave plenty to provide for wildlife and to ensure the next generation.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Trisha EMAIL: trisha@ideasforwomen.com IP: 71.8.200.138 URL: http://www.butterflygardeningandconservation.com/wpblog/ DATE: 06/05/2008 07:43:27 PM Are all dandelion edible? And where are they native to? I read NA, but then I've read Europe too. Are they native to both places? If so are they really the same species or similar or subspecies? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David Mizejewski EMAIL: mizejewski@nwf.org IP: 67.83.101.244 URL: http://www.myspace.com/mizejewski DATE: 06/06/2008 03:52:55 PM Hi Trisha. Dandelions are native to temperate zones in Europe and Asia and were introduced to North America. They are considered naturalized here and are not ecologically invasive (although some gardeners use the term to describe how they readily grow in their lawns). ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: kat EMAIL: katzinn@katzinn.com IP: 68.62.94.27 URL: DATE: 06/18/2008 08:35:48 AM Are there any poisonous mushrooms that look like morel. My daughter brought home a mushroom from her fiance's farm in the thumb area of Michigan. She says they're growing all over the farm. It looks like a Morel, but neither of us having ever picked Morels in the wild are uncertain whether to harvest some for eating. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jerry EMAIL: jraber4@neo.rr.com IP: 168.98.131.4 URL: http://www.fungaljungal.org/morels/falsemo.htm DATE: 06/19/2008 12:50:49 PM Yes, there are what they call false Morels. You can find the difference from the URL I added. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: joe EMAIL: jstone37@cox.com IP: 72.218.39.46 URL: http://fox.com DATE: 02/26/2009 06:42:34 PM i like tis website ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: 12 Amusing Wildlife Superstitions STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 12-amusing-wild DATE: 06/03/2008 04:23:13 PM ----- BODY: ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Watch Racing Star Leilani Münter's Drive for Climate Action STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: watch-racing-st CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 06/03/2008 10:17:11 AM ----- BODY:

LeilaniCheck out this video of Indy Lights racer Leilani Münter talking to TMZ about her environmental efforts! Leilani was in town for a rally in support of the Climate Security Act. Learn more about Leilani at her website.

If you haven't yet contacted your senator to ask them to strengthen and pass the Climate Security Act, visit the National Wildlife Federation's Climate Action Center.

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Tonywankenobibackyardcampi In case you haven't heard about it yet, I'd like to introduce you to the Great American Backyard Campout. It's a little idea that grew into a big reality that gives thousands of people a chance to participate all over the country (and world!). Basically, on June 28th, communities, families and friends will be setting up their tents in either a park or their very own backyard. It's a really great way to feel both connected to other neighbors and loved ones as well as your neighborhood or nearby park!

I'm very excited about this event because I'm all about community and nature. Here are a few good reasons why participating in the campout is easy and fun!

1. Doesn't Cost a Thing (though we don't turn away donations)
While this event doesn't cost a dime (*unless you go to a park that charges campers) -- you can get some really great resources off the website. Not to mention you can160x3001 invite people to your own campsite using the website. You can also participate in the forum discussions and share your camping wisdom.

2. Gives You a Chance to Night Watch
If you are wondering what Night Watch is, it's a chance to keep your eyes, ears and nose peeled for interesting, nocturnal wildlife and other nightly happenings. You can participate in Night Watch by observing certain sounds, smells, and lights as well as the sky! It's a pretty great way to relax and experience the outdoors without actually depending on the sun.

3. Introduces You to a Camping Community

Even if you are the type of person to shudder when you hear the word community, it's a great chance to share your recipes, favorite games, & experiences from camping.

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May 16th is Endangered Species Day!

Endangered Species Day raises awareness about the threats to endangered species including climate change - and the success stories in species recovery.


Watch the Endangered Species Day PSA

 


How You Can HelpCanada lynx
Here are ten things you can do at home to help endangered species.

Take The Pledge
Take the National Wildlife Federation’s pledge to help save endangered species. There’s even a special version for kids!

Events
There are more than 60 events going on around the county to celebrate this event.
Find out about events in your area.


This message brought to you by David Mizejewski our awesome naturalist!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Trisha EMAIL: trisha@ideasforwomen.com IP: 71.8.200.138 URL: http://www.butterflygardeningandconservation.com/wpblog/ DATE: 05/16/2008 11:03:22 PM If I had known about this I would wrote about the Regal Fritillary! Maybe next year! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Polar Bear "Threatened" Listing Comes with Strings Attached STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-conditional CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 05/14/2008 09:51:08 PM ----- BODY:

Today the Dept. of Interior announced it would list the polar bear as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. Sounds great, right?

Unfortunately, the decision came with administrative guidance -- better known as strings attached. Despite its own admission that the polar bear is threatened by global warming, the Bush administration insists the ruling can't be used to limit greenhouse gas emissions. And even though the Minerals Management Service says oil and gas leases in Alaska's Chukchi Sea come with a 33-51% chance of a major oil spill, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne claims the polar bear's threatened status shouldn't be allowed to interfere with fossil fuel drilling in their backyard.

So if the Bush administration won't go far enough to protect the polar bear, what can we do? As the National Wildlife Federation's Karla Raettig told CBS News today, Congress needs to pass the Climate Security Act:


You can read more National Wildlife Federation reaction to the ruling in our Newsroom.

As for the oil and gas leases, Grist's Kate Sheppard reports, "On Wednesday afternoon, Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) filed the Polar Bear Seas Protection Act, a bill that would direct the National Research Council to study the impacts of climate change and of oil and gas exploration on species in Alaska's Chukchi and Beaufort seas."

Learn more about global warming's threats to wildlife and contact your senator in the National Wildlife Federation's Climate Action Center!

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Will Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) vote for the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act when it comes to the Senate floor? Sounds a lot more likely:

The presumptive GOP nominee didn't say for sure that he would vote for the bill, authored by Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) and John Warner (R-Va.), both of whom have campaigned actively for him. But McCain said they were coming closer to satisfying his concerns about the bill. The measure, slated for a vote in early June, does not boast the same generous subsidies for nuclear power as previous bills.

"I'm pleased in negotiations and discussion with Senator Lieberman that there will be a far more important nuclear component of this legislation that's going to be coming to the floor," McCain said in a news conference at Jersey City's Liberty Science Center. "I hope that it will be passed, and I hope that the entire Congress will join in supporting it and the president of the United States would sign it."

It'll be interesting to see if the support of Sen. Lieberman and Sen. McCain helps lead Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to back the Climate Security Act. The three work closely on other issues like Iraq.

Have you checked out the National Wildlife Federation's new Climate Action Center? Lots of cool videos and easy links to contact your member of Congress. Check it out!

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California's outdoors industry -- wildlife watching, hunting and fishing -- is an $8.2 billion a year business. That's roughly equivalent to the GDP of Cambodia.

So imagine the shockwaves sent by the state's first salmon shutdown:

Salmon fishing was banned along the West Coast for the first time in 160 years Thursday, a decision that is expected to have a devastating economic impact on fishermen, dozens of businesses, tourism and boating.

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez immediately declared a commercial fishery disaster, opening the door for Congress to appropriate money for anyone who will be economically harmed.

California_coverUnfortunately, the forecast for salmon doesn't get much better from there, according to a new report released Thursday by the National Wildlife Federation and Planning and Conservation League Foundation. With their habitat already decimated by dams, climate change now threatens to warm the salmon's remaining cold water spawning grounds.

So what can be done to reverse the trend?

"Most of California's ecosystems are already fragile, having withstood years of pressure from human activities. Without decisive action, global warming could push them over the edge," said the Planning and Conservation League Foundation's Matt Vander Sluis. "The single most important conservation action we can take is to quickly reverse the growth of global warming pollution."

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: EarthlingAngst EMAIL: EarthlingAngst@aol.com IP: 64.27.144.98 URL: http://www.earthlingangst.blogspot.com DATE: 05/03/2008 06:09:25 PM Add salmon to the polar bears, walruses, various kinds of whales and seals, Key deer, koala bears and other animals that are threated by global warming. We'll sure miss them when they're gone. Too bad our government is so short-sighted and won't take action before it's too late. Thanks for keeping us informed about all these sad developments. Maybe the next administration will do better (it can't do worse). ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Use this Weekend To Wildlife Watch STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: earth-day-is-ov CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 04/25/2008 05:11:22 PM ----- BODY:

Wildlife Week 2008

Earth Day is over but we've still got this weekend to celebrate  National Wildlife Week. National Wildlife Federation has been holding this annual event for 70 years to celebrate wildlife and help people connect with nature. This year, we're encouraging everyone to get outside and look for wildlife by participating in WILDLIFE WATCH.

How it Works

1.  Download a checklist of species for your state.

2.  Find a place to look for wildlife in your community.

3.  Spend time outside looking for the plants and animals on the list.

4.  Tell us about what you saw and add your sighting to our map.


Here are some great animals to watch for!

Northeast
Spring Peeper

Spring Peeper

Midwest
Groundhog

Groundhog

Southwest
Pink Evening Primrose

Southwest Pink Evening Primrose

Southeast
American Robin

American Robin

Hawaii
Ohia Tree
Ohia Tree

Alaska
Wood Frog
Wood Frog

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Video: CBS News on NWF's Carbon-Neutral Sailfish Tournament STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: video-cbs-news CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/25/2008 11:17:27 AM ----- BODY:

Watch this great coverage from CBS News of The Sailfish Tournament in Miami, organized by the Florida Wildlife Federation's Capt. Dan Kipnis and co-sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation!

The tournament was entirely catch-and-release. The sailfish were never even brought on the boat. To score points, anglers took photos of their jumping sailfish. That's why towards the end of the piece you can hear the mate yelling, "Did you get a picture?" Once a picture is secured, the line is cut and the sailfish swim free.

Harry Smith's introduction to the piece makes it seem like organizations that pay for carbon offsets are paying for the right to pollute additionally. Not true. Fishing tournaments like this one happen literally every weekend in every port on Florida's coast. Capt. Kipnis was the first organizer to use proceeds from the tournament to reduce its environmental impact. Here's hoping he's started a trend!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: NWF Scientist Details Climate Change's Threats to Chesapeake Bay STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-scientist-d CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/23/2008 01:42:12 PM ----- BODY:

DucksThe National Wildlife Federation's Dr. Doug Inkley testified before the Virginia Commission on Climate Change yesterday, detailing the effects of warming temperatures and rising sea levels on fish and wildlife. Virginia's trout and duck populations are particularly at risk. And in the Chesapeake Bay, climate change is just one of many threats to oysters and crabs.

The hearing also presented some startling previews of how rising sea levels will impact Virginia's Hampton Roads area. When it comes to hurricanes and flooding, Hampton Roads is already one of America's most vulnerable places. Higher water and stronger storms brought on by global warming will only make things worse.

You can view the slides from Dr. Inkley's presentation below or here (2.7MB PDF) or read the National Wildlife Federation's recent report on sea level rise and the Chesapeake Bay.

SlideShare | View | Upload your own
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Earth Day Checklist STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: earth-day-check CATEGORY: Earth Day DATE: 04/22/2008 12:47:21 PM ----- BODY:

Who said it wasn't easy being green?Bikepath

This Earth Day it's easier to be "green" than ever before. And that is a true reason to celebrate. So grab your pen and paper and write down a few fun activities you'd like to accomplish. I'd love to hear what other people are doing for Earth Day! Here's my list:

My Earth Day Checklist:

1. Turning Off My Computer to Walk Outside (preferably on a bike path): There's so much noise during the day that I'm feeling the need to find a quiet place and listen to sounds that don't resemble a keyboard. I'm sure most people aren't online as much as I am, but I truly feel recharged when I'm away from plugs that feed my laptop. And since it's Earth Day I'm going to try and make it longer than just a green hour.

2. Identify Wildlife I Can't Recognize: On said walk, I'm making it a goal to learn at least one new species. I usually am such a field guide fanatic that I don't wander far without them, but I've also been known to take pictures with my cell phone and reference the birds or plants through their traits when I return. Either way, I'm planing to wildlife watch because that's something I am absolutely fascinated with.

3. Knock Off a Few Magazines I Don't Need: At some point today I plan to visit my Catalog Choice account and mark off a few more magazines that I don't want anymore. While there are some magazines that are great for learning purposes, catalogs are something I don't need!

4. Start a New Compost Pile: Since my move I hadn't had the chance to figure out where my new compost pile is going to be. I've dedicated this afternoon to laying down the foundation.

Birdfeeder5. Feed the Birds (squirrels) in My Yard: Ok, so this one is cheating because I have bird seed already,  and pretty much already feed the squirr--er birds, in my yard. But it's important I refill the feeder especially on Earth Day. I also should look into a more effective feeder so the birds get some seed.

6. Take Some Nature Photographs: I've been meaning to do this recently but just haven't had the chance. I took Nature Photography in college, and think it's a really neat way to enjoy the outdoors. So even though I can't enter the contest, it's a great day to capture the beauty of nature!

7. Drop Off My Used Batteries: I collect these guys for an extended period of time and eventually I must turn them in. I know it's not very 'earthy' but I am attempting to dispose of the little energy suppliers correctly.

8. Free My Inner Activist: Since working at NWF I've had the opportunity to take action more than the average person. But that doesn't make it less important. I plan on catching up on action alerts and making a few calls today in hopes to make my case for Mother Earth.

Earth Day can be just as cheery as Christmas --  but the trees stay in the forest. What I mean is, this can be a time where we celebrate our successes and how we've grown in understanding our impact. I hope everyone considers making a checklist or at least giving me a few pointers with mine. Don't forget to get outside today! It's Earth Day and National Wildlife Week and we should all be very proud and excited for life and all it's glorious biodiversity.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Trisha EMAIL: trisha@ideasforwomen.com IP: 71.8.200.138 URL: http://www.ideasforwomen.com/news/ DATE: 04/22/2008 02:50:25 PM Nice blog! I hadn't seen it until today. This is what I plan to do: 1) I plan to finally get around to applying for the backyard habitat thing. I've been wanting to do it for years. 2) writing a series of posts about earthday on one of my blogs 3) restarting writing in my butterfly gardening blog. 4) I'm hoping to have time to walk outside a bit - it was raining earlier, but sunny now - and see how my garden is coming along. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Grover McWally EMAIL: grover@mcwally.com IP: 166.70.57.38 URL: http://www.speedstrip.com DATE: 04/22/2008 06:43:29 PM Delightful list! I think I'll do mostly the same, except cap it off with some fresh-picked dandelion tea, sow some wild henna seeds in a vacant lot, collect some fallen nuts for dinner, roast them over a buffalo dung fire in the open prarie, while dancing naked, howling at the moon, and perhaps copulating with the indigenous wildlife or even a knot in an old majestic oak. O nature, I love thee... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: allan EMAIL: m0nsterzink@yahoo.com IP: 125.212.53.83 URL: DATE: 04/23/2008 07:14:27 AM I'm not really opposed to your ideals, but we all know somewhere in this world, someone is gonna fill the pollution gap you left. It's not just "help the environment for this day", rather, make it a habit.. btw, i dunno when earth day is. xD usually, i go to the local wildlife sanctuary every weekends and help there. @Grover McWally: are you a druid or a werewolf? or just nuts..xD jk ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: poetryman69 EMAIL: bytemespammer@quidnunc.com IP: 65.33.132.175 URL: http://moon.poetryman6969.com/ DATE: 04/23/2008 07:59:29 PM We marvel that a hundred years ago some scientists thought that a man could not survive traveling over 25 miles an hour. I believe that people of the future will marvel that we wasted billions of dollars and dozens of years on ideas such as Earth Day and Global warming when the solution to all our energy and pollution problems was within easy grasp. Our real problems are political, regulatory and legislative. If government clears the way, American can stop paying tyrants, terrorists and dictators for oil. Once that oil money vanishes, all the world's trouble makers dry up and blow away. We have all the energy we need now in the form of our own nuclear power,oil, coal, and natural gas. If we fund research into solar and even more exotic forms of alternative energy the future will be secure as well. Keeping the cash at home will make us economically secure. Not turning corn into ethanol will get the world fed again. Getting rid of our addiction to foreign oil stops all oil wars. Few things are more wasteful, expensive, or kill more people needlessly than oil wars. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: green thinking EMAIL: greenthinking.blog@gmail.com IP: 121.97.202.98 URL: http://greenthinkingblog.com DATE: 05/22/2008 11:44:25 PM Let us a little permit Nature to take her own way; she better understands her own affairs than we. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Celebrate National Wildlife Week in Style Like Shirley Temple STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: celebrate-natio CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 04/15/2008 05:37:03 PM ----- BODY:

DisneyFranklinShirley So what do Shirley Temple, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Walt Disney have in common? Nothing. Haha, just kidding, they have all had roles strongly supporting National Wildlife Week! For those of you who haven't marked it on your calendar yet it's
April 19 - 27.


The skinny on this cool and fun tradition is that it's been around for 70 years and, while the themes have covered everything from clean water to endangered species protection, the purpose remains true: "uniting the efforts of all friends of outdoor America to the end that future generations shall have their rightful heritage of wildlife." It's also a great excuse to do something for your world!
WildlifewatchThis year's theme is GETTING OUTDOORS. That's right. So immediately after learning about this event I want you to properly clothe yourself to step outside and breathe fresh air! NWF really wants to make the outdoor experience worthwhile by helping you watch and record the wildlife you see. We are helping people locate nearby parks and encouraging everyone to share their stories. Especially for those that are computer bound (me) but love the outdoors. Let me tell you, I had no idea I lived near so many trees. 

There are also tips and resources for individuals, groups, and communities to develop their very own service projects. Download a watch list that has flora and fauna local to you! If you're in need of a thorough wildlife resource be sure to use enature.com.  After all, Jeremy has the right idea, let's use this to prepare for (blogger and regular) bioblitz :).

Web_ad_250x250To sum it all up, make sure you spend a significant amount of time outside next week and you won't regret it! If you see an animal, try to remember it and share it with us. But if not, just enjoy the time getting closer to your roots...literally. The outdoors is calling, and while people like Robert Redford have celebrated this in the past, what's most important is that you celebrate it now!

If you're interested in promoting it or if you link to it let me know and I'll add you on here!



For your enjoyment I've also added videos of Zorro (Guy Williams) and Disney talking about National Wildlife Week!

                                   ZORRO



                                 DISNEY

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Spring Bird Migration is in Full Swing! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: spring-bird-mig DATE: 04/07/2008 03:16:47 PM ----- BODY:

Spring bird migration is in full swing.  Here are just a few of the species to be on the lookout for in your region this week.

Northeast

Ruby throated hummingbird

Broad-winged hawk

Eastern kingbird

Midwest

Bobolink

Barn swallow

Red-eyed vireoTanager

West

Yellow-headed blackbird

Bullock’s oriole

Cliff swallow

South

Purple martin

Scarlet tanager

Eastern wood pewee

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: claude EMAIL: kungfu3377@yahoo.com IP: 74.33.204.175 URL: DATE: 04/17/2008 08:19:58 PM How to stop walmart from killing birds at there store at queenberry'glens falls new york! ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: A lost treasure found! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: a-lost-treasure CATEGORY: News DATE: 04/03/2008 02:39:03 PM ----- BODY:

In a scenario reminiscent of the Antiques Roadshow, a staff member at the National Wildlife Federation has discovered an original watercolor of ivory billed woodpeckers by the very artist universally acknowledged as the last person to see the now presumed extinct bird. The large format, pristine image is going up for auction next month and already has an opening bid of $7,500.

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Eckelberrylowres

In April, 1944 Don Eckelberry, renowned wildlife artist and bird guide illustrator, visited the Singer Tract of Louisiana and witnessed what became the last confirmed sighting of the bird in the United States. The watercolor image, signed by Eckelberry and dated 1947, is an exceedingly rare testament to that final encounter when the artist was literally sketching the last ivory-bill as the bulldozers were coming! Now the money raised from the sale of this watercolor, painted shortly after that expedition, will help protect habitats for a myriad of species that teeter on the brink of extinction. Eckelberry’s image clearly demonstrates why people love this animal and hope that the bird might not be extinct after all —the fiery plume of the male, the distinct ivory bill, and the breathtaking size of the creature are vividly captured in the watercolor.


Mr. W. Graham Arader III, one of the country’s foremost experts on natural history prints and paintings, personally viewed the framed and matted painting at his New York City gallery and placed the opening bid on the painting of $7,500 when it comes up for auction in St. Louis on April 24, 2008. Other auction items include a Toyota Prius Hybrid, an Amazon River cruise, and a wildlife-management study abroad trip to South Africa.


Bidders must be present at the auction however proxy bidders are welcome. Tickets are available for $200 per person ($100 of which is tax-deductible), and may be purchased by calling 703-438-6095.

----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Cae Sullivan EMAIL: lonesome.dove007@yahoo.com IP: 76.27.203.169 URL: http://blogs.nwf.org/arctic_promise/2008/04/a-lost-treasure.html DATE: 05/15/2009 09:13:51 PM Differently, I'm confused.. This article has a water color show -- the oil painting of the Imperial Woodpecker, possibly the one painted by the Veterinarian (in Denver COl.) who was looking for a falcon and saw this out of the corner of his eye. He rushed home and painted it. I understand it is $850 or so. I do have to get all these straight ... ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: How to be an Organic Gardener STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: organic-gardeni CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 04/02/2008 04:47:11 PM ----- BODY:

S_gnomeI recently moved into a new house and I now have a glorious backyard that's lush, green and full of (wild)life. I have never had a green thumb (though the rest of me is green, I swear!), but I'm very interested in taking up gardening in my spare time. That being said, I stumbled across these wonderful tips for how to maintain an organic garden. I wanted to share it with you as I quickly learned the two important steps for organic gardening are eliminating pesticides  and fertilizers The Full list can be found here, but I'm going to give you a brief overview.

Eliminating Pesticides

What you can do:

                                                              

Eliminating Fertilizers

What you can do:            

Organic Pest Control Tips Prevention:

* Talk with your neighbors about not using chemical pesticides.    
* Plant native plants which can hold their own against native pests.    
* Build healthy soil to have strong healthy plants - compost.    
* Gradually eliminate plants that always get sick - they are probably not native.    
* For aphids, do not over fertilize with nitrogen because they seek fresh plant growth.
* Attract birds to your yard by planting appropriate plants.
* Prune and destroy infested wood.    
* Remove garden debris like old boards so slugs don't have a wet spot to live.    
* Get to know your beneficial bugs and don't hurt them!
 

Physical Barriers:    

* To reduce ants indoors, the cat food bowl can be smeared with a thin band of petroleum jelly at its base to keep ants from gaining access to it. NEVER feed pets outside.    

* Spray plants with a strong stream of water to knock aphids off.

* To reduce ants on trees and plants, put a sticky barrier such as teflon tape. (Ants are usually protecting the aphids because they like to eat something called "honeydew" which the aphids produce.)

* Slug traps: covered plastic containers such as yogurt or margarine tubs baited with fresh beer sunk in ground, leaving one inch of rim exposed; renew every three to four days.

* In vegetable gardens, weed and turn your soil. Some weeds serve as a reservoir for insects such as flea beetles, spinach leafminers and aphids that may later move to garden plants. Regular cultivation will expose soil insects to predators, parasites, and weather. Plow or spade gardens in the fall to incorporate compost into the soil and expose soil pests. For regular habitat gardening, it is often not a good idea to turn the soil as disturbed soil is a haven for non-native plants.

 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: NWF on Animal Planet tomorrow, April 2 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-on-animal-p DATE: 03/31/2008 03:14:23 PM ----- BODY:

Nims_island_premiere NWF on Animal Planet tomorrow!
Tuesday, April 2 at 10 a.m. eastern/pacific
Don't miss an appearance by NWF naturalist David Mizejewski in a special Animal Planet program called "Nim's Island Our World: A Reel Thinking Event."  The special, hosted by Jeff Corwin, focuses on the wildlife that appears in the new major motion picture Nim's Island and explores how kids can make a difference protecting wildlife and our environment in real life just like the title character does in the movie (which premieres nationwide on April 4th
David talks with Jeff about how NWF helps kids experience nature and make a difference for wildlife.  With reference to NWF's award-winning magazines for kids and programs such as Wildlife Watch and Certified Wildlife Habitat, the special will provide millions of impressions for NWF and our work.

Some other highlights of the special include:

--Interviews with the cast of the movie (Jodie Foster, Abigail Breslin, Gerard Butler)
--Contest to find a "reel life Nim" - find out more here

--The commercial-free special will also be broadcast directly to schools across the country in partnership with Cable in the Classroom from the National Cable Television Association.

Learn all about how NWF is involved with the movie and the special here.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: David Mizejewski TITLE: Mysterious bat die-off in the Northeast STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: mysterious-bat DATE: 03/28/2008 04:41:28 PM ----- BODY:

Indiana_bat_fws_2 Bats in the Northeast have died in massive numbers over the last few months and no one knows why.  There are over 1,000 bat species globally and these flying mammals are important players in their respective ecosystems.  Northeastern bat species feed on insects and play a role in controlling insect populations.  Some of the species affected include the little brown bat, the small-footed bat and the endangered Indiana bat.  Let's hope we find a cause and cure for this mysterious epidemic soon.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lauren Allen EMAIL: karenlassetter@yahoo.com IP: 71.90.165.35 URL: DATE: 03/29/2008 10:02:10 PM I completly support helping the bats with this. If anyone knows where I can go to get information on where to help them, please let me know. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David Mizejewski EMAIL: mizejewski@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: http://www.nwf.org DATE: 03/31/2008 02:51:30 PM Thanks Lauren. Right now it looks like the most anyone can do is stay out of caves since it looks like humans might be spreading the disease. Sounds like state wildlife agencies and scientists still have a lot of research into the problem before they will recommend specific actions. I'll post any updates I hear on this blog. David Mizejewski NWF Naturalist ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: sandy valencour EMAIL: sandyvalencour@msn.com IP: 75.165.99.247 URL: DATE: 04/04/2008 01:50:22 PM I have to say bats scare me to death, but I have gotten attached to a few that have lost their way or hung around a window during day time and one sick one. I think they are cute but for some reason when in flight they scare me (probably a childhool thing) I sure don't want to lose any of them as they are healthy for us to save. I wish I knew more about them but from the west coast, all I can do is sign petitions and pray that this human race wakes up someday. If you start petitions, please notify me as I would be happy to help. If you have any other way I can help, let me know. Thank you for caring about these little guys ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kay EMAIL: kayfredericks@att.net IP: 76.214.52.71 URL: DATE: 04/04/2008 07:48:07 PM what about environmental implications per cellphone tech - microwave radiation ? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jennifer Jones TITLE: Natural Resources Conference Focuses on Climate Change Solutions STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: natural-resourc CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/27/2008 09:42:22 PM ----- BODY:

Another packed meeting room for a session on climate change here at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference.

Birdtank This time the meeting was for natural resource managers working at military bases. Among "conservation-reliant species" (those that require conservation management plans to stay healthy), 80% are on military land, according to one speaker. The audience was told that global warming is "pulling the rug out from under species" and "no species is safe"  from global warming.


Another speaker talked about why military and natural resource managers should care about alternative energy, saying, "climate change is happening." He also noted that the energy consumption of the federal government is more than that of 61 countries.


At the Energy and Climate Policy Committee, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies released findings from a survey of state agencies, including specific questions on the impacts of climate change in their state.  Lack of funding, information/research and political support were all cited by various states as factors inhibiting agency ability to prepare for climate change over the next decade. 


The lack of funding and information/research responses underscore the importance of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act now before Congress.  With dedicated funding for the protection and restoration of natural resources, new investments can be made to incorporate climate change in wildlife management plans.   


Natural resource managers aren't debating any more about if global warming is real -- they are now focused on what can be done to ensure all the work to protect our wildlife heritage isn't compromised in a warming world.  Lieberman-Warner gives these agencies a fighting chance at conserving wildlife for our children's future.   

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jennifer Jones TITLE: Taking Action to Help Wildlife Adapt to a Changing Climate STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: taking-action-t CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/26/2008 03:54:32 PM ----- BODY:

Here at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Phoenix, National Wildlife Federation's Senior Wildlife Biologist Doug Inkley was an invited speaker for an all day workshop on climate change impacts on wildlife, fisheries and outdoor recreation.

Expecting about 20-30 people, the room was packed with more than 250 professionals in natural resource conservation. As one participant mentioned to me, "everyone was really listening. It wasn't about does global warming exist, instead people wanted to know what are we going to do about it."

TortoiseThe attendees are looking for management solutions and what can be done to minimize and avoid impacts on fish and wildlife, and the habitats they need to survive. They were grateful for the National Wildlife Federation's and The Wildlife Society's persistence to raise awareness about global warming impacts and the need to find solutions that help wildlife. Many natural resource managers now realize they have to put climate change at the front and center on their agenda if they expect to be successful in conserving fish and wildlife.

Getting this kind of traction in the natural resource community is significant! As I get myself ready for today's sessions on energy and wildlife policy, I'm listening to Senator McCain's foreign policy address at the World Affairs conference. He calls for the need for U.S. leadership on global warming, including a cap and trade mechanism:

We and the other nations of the world must get serious about substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years or we will hand off a much-diminished world to our grandchildren. We need a successor to the Kyoto Treaty, a cap-and-trade system that delivers the necessary environmental impact in an economically responsible manner. We Americans must lead by example and encourage the participation of the rest of the world, including most importantly, the developing economic powerhouses of China and India.

Time is runing out, but at least we are now talking about solutions and not wasting precious time debating the science.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: HoatteExtistE EMAIL: clamark53@mail.ru IP: 61.237.237.183 URL: http://www.avazo.com DATE: 04/04/2009 11:45:08 PM O, I know some of you How you steal such domain blogs.nwf.org I like what you doing In return we suggest this link as interesting Drug Testing Kits and Information - http://www.xlar.com ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Disastrous Drop in California Salmon STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: salmon CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 03/26/2008 08:34:51 AM ----- BODY:

Salmon1 Disturbing news from the California coast:

Federal fisheries managers on Friday took the initial step toward imposing what could be the strictest limits ever on West Coast salmon fishing amid a precipitous drop in fish returning to California's Sacramento Valley.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council unanimously adopted three options for sport and commercial fishing off the Pacific Coast, including an unprecedented complete shutdown of fishing off California and Oregon.

"This is a major disaster. We've never had one ever like this," council chairman Donald Hansen said after the vote. "It will have a major impact on California commercial fisheries for salmon, recreational fisheries, California charters."

This year's troubles are blamed on several factors, including poor water quality and unusual weather patterns. But long-term, salmon face an even larger threat - global warming. Because they need cold water, even small temperature increases can lead to widespread loss of salmon habitat. Rising sea levels are also bringing changes to water salinity where streams and rivers meet the ocean.

To learn more, read our recent report on sea level rise and the Pacific Northwest.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: A Visit from the Easter Hare STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bunny-facts-for CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 03/23/2008 02:46:37 PM ----- BODY:

RabbitEven Peter Cottontail would approve of the facts below, I think. Here's some information on our little furry friends....

The Easter Bunny is getting ready for his big day this Sunday, but did you know that the original "bunny" was actually a hare? Hares are a close relative of rabbits but have a few key differences:

Jackrabbits are actually a type of hare. Find out more amazing Easter Bunny trivia and rabbit facts at enature.com.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Wherever You Live, Changing Climate is Shifting Spring STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wherever-you-li CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/20/2008 05:42:55 PM ----- BODY:

TidalbasinThe Associated Press has a great roundup the local impacts of a delayed spring thanks to climate change:

The capital's famous cherry trees are primed to burst out in a perfect pink peak about the end of this month. Thirty years ago, the trees usually waited to bloom till around April 5.

In central California, the first of the field skipper sachem, a drab little butterfly, was fluttering about on March 12. Just 25 years ago, that creature predictably emerged there anywhere from mid-April to mid-May.

And sneezes are coming earlier in Philadelphia. On March 9, when allergist Dr. Donald Dvorin set up his monitor, maple pollen was already heavy in the air. Less than two decades ago, that pollen couldn't be measured until late April.

Pollen is bursting. Critters are stirring. Buds are swelling. Biologists are worrying.

"The alarm clock that all the plants and animals are listening to is running too fast," Stanford University biologist Terry Root said.

Blame global warming.

And here's where it gets even more interesting:

What's happening is so noticeable that scientists can track it from space. Satellites measuring when land turns green found that spring "green-up" is arriving eight hours earlier every year on average since 1982 north of the Mason-Dixon line.

The key message in all this is that when you're talking to your friends about climate change, avoid talking about icebergs, glaciers and polar bears. Yes, those are all critical impacts of climate change, but they're all very far from home (apologies to our Alaskan and Canadian readers ... this is me looking north, waving hello).

Instead, try to focus on the impacts in your community:

NWF.org makes it easy for you to learn more about how your community's climate is changing. Check out our state fact sheets!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Mahesh Basantani TITLE: Computer Software to Help Save Endangered Animals STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: computer-softwa CATEGORY: Current Affairs DATE: 03/17/2008 01:52:12 PM ----- BODY:

MarmotsSpecies extinction is a natural phenomenon with one to five species going extinct each year. But, presently this rate has accelerated, with dozens of species lost each day.

It is believed that primary reasons to blame for this rapid extinction stem from human activities like overhunting, urbanization, over-exploitation, and pollution and disease. These have led to the loss of natural habitats of several organisms.

Climate change is also considered as a threat to many species. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of threatened species, of all the organisms found on earth 40% are estimated to be threatened. Some of the key organisms which face serious risk of extinction include African lions, Siberian tigers, marine turtles, great apes and panda bears. A great number of conservation efforts by several organizations are underway to protect endangered species.

Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) is one of the world's rarest mammals, and is listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species: Only 252 Vancouver Island marmots were found across Canada at last count. It is found only in the high mountainous regions of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. It is herbivorous, lives in small colonies in underground burrows, hibernates for 8 months in a year, mates in early spring (usually May), and is the largest animal in the squirrel family.

Several efforts, which include captive-breeding programmes, are underway to protect this mammal from the risk of extinction. But, recently, Calgary researcher Diane Casimir adopted a unique and ingenious approach to further the endeavor of saving these organisms. She has created a computer program to select for the most potential mates, and that would bear young ones. She has based her software on several factors like the period for which the mates were kept together, the age, previous production of young ones, etc. These factors are combined with the genetics of marmots. The software on the basis of these attributes could predict marmots that are most likely to mate. Truly wonderful!

This greatly helps in planning the future breeding programmes of marmots, which would help increase the population of this endangered animal. This study could further be extended to other animals which are threatened, or endangered. Of course, factors taken into consideration would differ from animal to animal.

Diane Casimir is working with the Centre for Conservation Research and the University of Calgary on the reproductive behavior of the marmot.

Important Links:

Abstract of the research article

News piece published in The Vancouver Sun

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Beth EMAIL: leodlere@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 03/18/2008 09:54:28 AM Marmots are awesome and they have a great name! It's so sad to hear they're in such dire straits. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Washington Post Compares EPA Chief to Mr. Magoo STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: washington-post CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/17/2008 01:39:06 PM ----- BODY:

At a recent Senate hearing, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) had this back-and-forth with EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson:

Feinstein, who chairs the Appropriations subcommittee that controls the EPA's budget, asked why Johnson had not yet complied with a Supreme Court ruling a year ago in Massachusetts v. EPA that required him to come up with ways to regulate greenhouse gases.

"I find this unbelievable on behalf of what is called an environmental protection agency," Feinstein said, "and there's a finding of the United States Supreme Court telling you to do something."

"Well, Madam Chairman," Johnson eloquently intoned, doing a spectacular imitation of Mr. Magoo wandering about in the smog, "I respectfully disagree that this is an easy decision. . . . I think Justice Scalia actually set it up as, in essence, a three-part test for me and this would be my brief summary, and that is: If the agency finds -- if I find that there's endangerment, then under the Clean Air Act I must regulate. If I find that there is not, that's test one. If I find that there is not endangerment, then I should not regulate. Or third, if there are other circumstances...."

If he finds there's endangerment? Did he read the reports his own EPA helped put out last week detailing the huge economic risks posed by even a modest sea level rise?

The multiagency reports cited the Port of Wilmington in Delaware as an example. The report says that if the sea level rises by two feet or even a bit less, 70 percent of port property will be affected.800pxastrakhan_flooded_tram_tracks

Meanwhile, it says, such a rise in sea level would leave almost 2,200 miles of major roads and almost 900 miles of rail lines in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and the District of Columbia “at risk for regular inundation.”

If that's not endangerment, what is?

Unfortunately, this administration has proven it won't recognize the risks of climate change until the Chesapeake Bay is lapping at the front steps of the White House.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: New Report: Glaciers Vanishing Faster Than Ever STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-report-glac CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/17/2008 12:03:41 AM ----- BODY:

GreenlandglaciermeltMore unsettling news on the climate front this week, as scientists say glaciers are now melting nearly twice as fast as they did just a decade ago:

Scientists measuring the health of almost 30 glaciers around the world found that ice loss reached record levels in 2006, the U.N. agency said.

[The U.N. Environment Program] warned that further ice loss could have dramatic consequences particularly in India, whose rivers are fed by Himalayan glaciers.

The west coast of North America, which gets much of its water from glaciers in mountain ranges such as the Rockies and Sierra Nevada, also would be affected, it said.

"There are many canaries emerging in the climate change coal mine," UNEP's executive director Achim Steiner said in a statement. "The glaciers are perhaps among those making the most noise and it is absolutely essential that everyone sits up and takes notice."

We need Congress to act right now. Tell your Senator to support the Climate Security Act today!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Benson EMAIL: tan_benson@hotmail.com IP: 118.168.98.59 URL: DATE: 03/17/2008 08:15:52 AM Another reason is Sun. The more sunny days the more water move from land to ocean because ocean is bigger than land. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Be A Good Neighbor to Wildlife STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: greening-your-h CATEGORY: Energy DATE: 03/14/2008 11:56:25 AM ----- BODY:

The #1 thing us homo-sapiens can do to help wildlife today and here on out is reduce our global warming pollution. Knowing this, the National Wildlife Federation just introduced a pretty sweet new program to show you how easy it is to conserve energy in your own home. (It saves you money too!)

Gn_homelogo

It's amazing to think that what light bulbs you choose may impact your favorite endangered species, but the interconnectedness of life knows no bounds.

Headline


Check out the Good Neighbor-hood...

The program is cool because it shows you what you may already be doing in your house and also gives you more things you can pledge to do. When you rack up a certain number of points based on these actions and commitments, you qualify to be a "Good Neighbor." What does that mean? A certificate of course, as well as some nifty other perks to keep you on the power-saving path. 

I signed up for the pledge the other day and am very happy about getting my reminder stickers for the light switches in my house. Sometimes it just takes a little reminder for me and my roommates to do something that seems so obvious.

Living as a Good Neighbor is an important step to being part of a community united to mitigate global warming. By taking the pledge you are agreeing to take steps to reduce your impact! Once you complete the pledge, NWF will reward you with our exclusive Good Neighbor Pledge Kit.  For just $15, you'll get some really "cool" benefits.

Top Five Easiest Things to Do to Conserve Energy


Have questions? Here's some background Information:

Every day, we make choices that affect the earth and the future of our world. From the cars that we drive, to the lights we use, to the things we keep plugged in, all of these choices have a direct and lasting impact on the environment. Many scientists agree that human created carbon pollution, like a coal-burning power plant or the exhaust from a car, is
making global temperatures rise and causing climate change.

Scientists say that a temperature increase of just 2°F could result in the irreversible damage
to the environment, we need to act fast. Luckily we can avoid this end, because the
we just need to reduce carbon pollution by at least 2 percent every year or 30 percent
by the year 2020.


If you're still not convinced that making a few changes around the house will help check out these facts: 
Source

1. "The U.S. EPA ranks the major greenhouse gas contributing end-user sectors in the following order: industrial, transportation, residential, commercial and agricultural[8]."

2. "Major sources of an individual's greenhouse gases include home heating and cooling, electricity consumption, and transportation."

3. "Corresponding conservation measures are improving home building insulation, compact fluorescent lamps and choosing high miles per gallon vehicles."

It's important to recognize the impact of lifestyle on the environment. Changing a few things within the home is a huge step toward being a good neighbor to wildlife and others.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Sen. Boxer, Conservation Leaders Show Unity for Strengthening Climate Legislation STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: sen-boxer-conse CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/12/2008 02:41:28 PM ----- BODY:

On Capitol Hill today, the National Wildlife Federation showed its support for Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) in the fight for strong climate legislation. As chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Sen. Boxer has played a key role in bringing the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act to the Senate floor, where it’s expected to be debated in June.

BoxerlarryNational Wildlife Federation President Larry Schweiger joined with the heads of a dozen other conservation groups, pledging to work together to identify the best opportunities to strengthen the bill moving forward.

"Global warming is the single biggest threat to wildlife, and every year we wait to address it creates a bigger problem for our children and the future of America's natural resources," said Schweiger. "Congress must pass legislation that starts us on the path to cut global warming pollution by at least two percent a year, protects consumers as we transition to a new energy future and defends America's natural resources from the climate changes already underway."

Other organizations joining today's event:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been (Or: How I Found a Home at Heartland) STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: what-a-long-str CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/04/2008 07:40:47 PM ----- BODY:

While I'm blogging from inside the Heartland Institute's global warming denier conference today, I spent the first two hours of the event on the outside looking in.

When I went to register on Friday, the event's website said that the conference was full and registration was closed. I emailed the Heartland Institute's events manager asking, "Is there any way to participate in the event or am I out of luck?" Her response:

I am so sorry but we are sold out, I have no extra space, in fact I am over my limit hoping some people will cancel. The entire conference will be on our website about two weeks after the event.

Sorry.

Security_2I thought I'd stop by the conference anyway in case there were opportunities to participate without being registered. But security agents (on the left in the photo) were posted at each main conference entrance checking badges.

I set up my laptop in the lobby by an elevator and started writing my first blog post of the day. Eventually, a couple of reporters noticed me and wanted to interview me about not being allowed inside.

As a crew from the BBC was talking to me, the Heartland Institute's events manager approached us with a security agent by her side. I asked the events manager if there was a problem. The crew continued to film as she told us that due to increased security with the president of the Czech Republic in attendance, only registered participants were allowed on the conference floors.

I thought it was pretty extreme that they were about to have security escort me out. "I don't to cause any trouble. If you want me to leave, that's fine, I'll go" I said. "But am I really a security risk?"

The events manager turned to the camera and put her hand up. "Stop filming!" she said.

The BBC cameraman was taken aback, but since the Marriott is private property, he had to do as asked.

The events manager turned back to me and said, "I never said you couldn't register. I said you could register as media."

I told her that sounded great and picked up a press credential. I've been inside the conference ever since.

Later, I bumped into the BBC crew and we all shared a laugh. It's amazing what can happen when the cameras are rolling. Press credentials appear out of thin air!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Elected Officials in Attendance STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: elected-officia CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/04/2008 01:22:25 PM ----- BODY:

Elected officials spotted in attendance at the Heartland Institute's global warming denier conference:

Connecticut State Rep. John Harkins
Minnesota State Sen. Mike Jungbauer
Montanta State Rep. John Sinrud 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: The Real Enemies: Liberal Media, Pop Culture, Hollywood Elites STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-real-enemie CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/04/2008 01:06:19 PM ----- BODY:

I went to a session yesterday called "Climate Change Politics." Guess what didn't come up until the Q&A? Politics.

So what did the panelists talk about? Those reliable conservative bogeymen, the liberal media, pop culture and Hollywood elites.

They all started with one liners Al Gore, Leonardo DiCaprio and Barbra Streisand. The audience ate it up.

MoranoIn fact, the communications director for Sen. James Inhofe spent virtually his entire presentation mocking celebrities and journalists who'd expressed support for or reported on climate action.

Then panelists moved on to attacking that liberal media for reporting all that science from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. For some reason, a favorite target was Ann Curry. I mean, I expected the potshots at MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and CNN's Miles O'Brien, but even Ann Curry is controversial to these people?

The more I've listened to these speakers, the more I've realized that for most of these deniers, it's not about the science. They can only see the world in terms of left and right, so they've absorbed global warming into that broader paradigm of partisan politics and culture wars.

But as National Wildlife Federation President Larry Schweiger says, "Confronting global warming is not an issue of left and right. It's a matter of right and wrong." We have a moral responsibility to confront climate change now to protect our children's future.

Fortunately, while attacking the liberal media, pop culture, and Hollywood elites may play well on Rush Limbaugh, it's falling flat in the halls of Congress. U.S. Senators like John Warner, Norm Coleman, and Elizabeth Dole recognize that climate action is not a partisan issue. They're joining a bipartisan coalition supporting the Climate Security Act, a bill that would establish a cap-and-trade system to cut our carbon emissions.

And while President Bush has stonewalled on climate action, every one of the leading presidential contenders has expressed support for mandatory cuts in carbon emissions.

So maybe the deniers should keep playing to Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. Pretty soon, those may be the only allies they'll have left.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Shimmy EMAIL: shimmykat@comcast.net IP: 98.193.37.141 URL: http://shimmykat.blogspot.com DATE: 03/04/2008 03:07:46 PM Funny how Glenn Beck doesn't talk anymore about those dogs he tortured and killed. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: The Real Underdogs STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-real-underd CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/04/2008 10:42:11 AM ----- BODY:

Desperately underfunded and hopelessly outgunned.

There's a real underdog in this climate fight. Think 1980 US hockey team. Think Rocky.

It's ExxonMobil. That's the consensus here at the Heartland Institute's global warming denier conference.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am not making this up. They would have you believe the most profitable company in the history of Planet Earth is as helpless as a newborn doe against those bullies Al Gore and James Hansen.

Don't believe me? Peep this:

[I]n this David and Goliath battle, it is American industry that is the David and the environmental activists, with their vast resources, who are the Goliath.

Keep in mind they're saying all this in a conference that's sprawled over parts of half a dozen floors of the Marriott Grand Marquis Times Square, where martinis in the lounge start at $15. There's big money behind this event.

ExxonSecrets.org reports it's found data linking $7.5 Million in Exxon funding from 1998-2006 to the Heartland Institute and many of the event's cosponsors. This year, the coal industry alone plans to drop $35 million on a campaign to stop climate action, namely the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act.

Look, you don't need me to detail how silly it is to call ExxonMobil an underdog. But it's a reflection on the credibility of this conference that speaker after speaker can say it without getting laughed out of the room.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Liveblogging Global Warming Denier Conference, Day 2: The Search for Science STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: liveblogging-gl CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/04/2008 09:20:54 AM ----- BODY:

And we're back! It's the second and final day of sessions here at the Heartland Institute's global warming denial conference. You can check out all the posts from day one at Wildlife Promise. I'm just getting settled in here at the first session at the ginormous Marriott Grand Marquis Times Square. Given that I'm used to going to sportsmen's meetings at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg, this is quite a different experience.

While I get warmed up, check out Andy Revkin's write-up of the event in this morning's New York Times. He saves the best for last:

The meeting was largely framed around science, but after the luncheon, when an organizer made an announcement asking all of the scientists in the large hall to move to the front for a group picture, 19 men did so.

There are nearly 600 conference attendees.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Heartland Institute: Following the Money Trail STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: heartland-insti CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/03/2008 03:27:10 PM ----- BODY:

Global warming deniers spare no expense. The Heartland Institute's "2008 International Conference on Climate Change" is being held at the Marriott Grand Marquis Times Square. The seminars are spread over several floors and there are two sprawling suites reserved for media on the 44th floor. Here's a look at one media suite:

Where does all the money come from? While the Heartland Institute no longer discloses its funders, ExxonSecrets.org reports Heartland received $561,500 (unadjusted for inflation) from ExxonMobil between 1998 and 2005. Sourcewatch also reports Heartland receives major funding from the tobacco industry, receiving $240,000 from Philip Morris (a.k.a. Altria) from 1993-1998 alone.

DeSmogBlog reports the global warming denier-tobacco connections don't stop there. Click through their exhaustive research on the conference's speakers and you'll find plenty of tobacco ties.

Tobacco campaigns paid off doctors and scientists, successfully confusing the public for decades. Now the energy industry is trying to muddy the waters on global warming.

Don't let them get away with it again. Learn the facts on global warming and tell your member of Congress you want them to support strong climate action.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: shindig EMAIL: IP: 203.114.174.1 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/cindybaxter/ DATE: 03/03/2008 10:30:46 PM Exxonsecrets has a great map of the whole thing - and the groups funded by Exxon http://www.exxonsecrets.org/index.php?mapid=1178 ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Brian Costin EMAIL: bcostin@heartland.org IP: 74.0.136.10 URL: http://www.heartland.org DATE: 03/12/2008 12:01:52 PM My name is Brian Costin, and I am Assistant Director of Government Relations here at the Heartland Institute. I would like to point out the following in regards to the above blog posting. * The Heartland Institute has made it clear that no corporate funds at all were used to help pay for the conference. It was entirely financed by individuals and foundations with no financial interest in the subject of global warming. * The Heartland Institute receives about 16% of its total income from corporations, the rest comes from individuals and foundations. No one corporation has EVER contributed more than 5% of Heartland’s annual budget. All energy companies COMBINED in 2007 gave less than 5% of the organization’s total budget. ExxonMobil hasn’t contributed since 2006. If funding determines a think tank’s perspective, then you might expect Heartland to be 95% in favor of global warming alarmism! * Heartland’s alleged “links” to tobacco and oil companies are part of a smear campaign against it and other conservative and libertarian think tanks in the U.S., being waged by a few liberal front groups. The truth is that Heartland, like virtually all other think tanks and advocacy groups, accepts gifts from corporations, but it has policies in place that ensure the integrity of its research. Those policies are plainly posted on its Web site. Funding from oil and tobacco companies has never amounted to more than 5% of Heartland’s budget, and Heartland has never took positions on oil or tobacco issues at odds with its stated mission and perspective. No oil or tobacco executives have ever worked for The Heartland Institute, and none currently serve on its Board of Directors. This too is plainly posted on Heartland’s Web site. * The Heartland Institute has been operating for 24 years, has 2,700 donors and supporters, and has been publishing books, policy studies, and holding conferences on global warming for 15 years. It is a credible and respected voice in the debate. The way some reporters attempt to portray Heartland because it dares to voice a “skeptical” perspective on climate change speaks volumes about media bias. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miles EMAIL: grantm@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: http://blogs.nwf.org/arctic_promise DATE: 03/13/2008 11:46:17 AM Brian! Thanks for stopping by! Hey, I emailed the Heartland Institute a couple of weeks ago to ask if John Stossel got an appearance fee to address your closing lunch, and if so, how much, but I never heard back. Are you guys releasing that info? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Easemacausy EMAIL: ritsrernenliz@gawab.com IP: 24.163.230.68 URL: DATE: 05/09/2008 09:06:09 PM To do two things at once is to do neither. -- Publilius Syrus ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://perryburnsko.easyjournal.com ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Global Warming: Yes We Can Solve It STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: global-warming CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/03/2008 01:39:25 PM ----- BODY:

Talking to speakers here at the Heartland Institute's "2008 International Conference on Climate Change," I'm finding they're loosely sorted into three categories based on their views:

  1. Those who say global warming is not happening at all
  2. Those who say global warming is happening, but it's not due to human activity
  3. Those who say global warming is happening and it is due to human activity, but climate action will surely destroy our economy

The one thing everyone here agrees on is that we must not do anything to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions. Quite convenient for the oil industry, which has provided major funding to the conference's organizer. But it's not exactly a positive, forward-looking message, is it?

Experts at the National Wildlife Federation have a different view. They tell us the best climate scientists in the world not only believe global warming is happening and it's due to human activity, but that there's a way to curb its worst effects before it's too late. In fact, they believe it's inaction that's the biggest risk.

It's called the 2% Solution. It provides a safe, sensible path to reduce carbon emissions 80% by 2050, the amount scientists say is needed to avoid the most devastating impacts of global warming. Along the way, many of the same solutions that will ease our planet's fever -- renewable energy, more efficient vehicles, green homes and offices -- will create millions of green collar jobs, make America more energy independent, and clean our air and water.

With prices at the pump expected to push towards $4 a gallon this summer, it's a solution whose time has come.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Alan Roberta EMAIL: rudrakshapower@gmail.com IP: 220.227.154.12 URL: http://www.lifeofearth.blogspot.com/2008/03/mystery-of-global-warmings-missing-heat.html DATE: 03/20/2008 06:17:51 AM Smart work about global warming. I have also a blog which give information about cause of global warming. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Georgia EMAIL: pretty-sexz@hotmail.com IP: 121.220.27.249 URL: DATE: 06/03/2008 02:54:26 AM hi im georgia and i am doing a project brochure on global warming and the 1 question i would like to ask is how we can solve the problem of global warming? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Miles TITLE: Liveblogging the Heartland Institute's Global Warming Denier Conference STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: liveblogging-th CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/03/2008 09:35:42 AM ----- BODY:

I’m in New York City today for an event called "The 2008 International Conference on Climate Change." It’s sponsored by the Heartland Institute, one of the leading oil industry-funded deniers of global warming. According to ExxonSecrets.org, Heartland received $561,500 (unadjusted for inflation) from ExxonMobil between 1998 and 2005.

I know what you’re thinking – what better way to start the week than by hanging out at a meeting of global warming deniers? But conservative media outlets like the Wall Street Journal and National Review are doing everything they can to paint a false picture of the event.

They don’t want you to see it for what it is - a gathering of people who may have some science in their backgrounds but have long since sold their soul to the energy industry.

Someone has to be there to see what’s really happening at this event. I joked with my friends that I was going in like Cartman going into San Francisco on South Park – full atmospheric dive suit.

I’m not going to waste time here rebutting every line of global warming denial I hear this week. Trying to win a scientific debate with a global warming denier is like trying to blow out one of those re-lighting birthday candles – it’s a waste of breath.

But I will keep an eye on whether the speakers are being truthful on their resumes. Already, The News Journal of Wilmington, DE has reported David Legates has exaggerated his credentials. Why haven’t his state employers or local environmentalists made a big deal of it? Says Chad Tolman of the Sierra Club’s Delaware chapter, "I don't know if the governor or anyone else cares about it enough at this point to press the issue." Ouch. Much like the climate denial industry in general, looks like Legates has dropped from controversial to irrelevant.

As the event goes on, I’ll also dive into some topics that aren't on the conference agenda:

  1. Global warming isn’t a theory to be debated, temperatures are warming already and impacting species from moose in Minnesota to brook trout in Pennsylvania
  1. Congress isn’t debating warming, it’s taking on climate solutions, including top Republican Senators like Virginia's John Warner, North Carolina's Elizabeth Dole, and Minnesota's Norm Coleman
  1. Where did the money for this lavish event come from? Who paid for the speakers’ travel expenses and honorariums?

Much more to come over the next two days. You can also read more from Kevin Grandia at DeSmogBlog, one of the few true greens allowed to register for the event.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: The Posthumous Luger EMAIL: theposthumousluger@yahoo.com IP: 12.196.4.34 URL: http://posthumousluger.wordpress.com DATE: 03/03/2008 12:49:06 PM Hello, I sent the below comment to DeSmogBlog, I believe it is appropriate to send to you, too. >> Greetings, I've read your first post above, and you appear to be using the tactic of delegitimizing the presenters, rather than addressing their forthcoming arguments, as a means to debunk them. How is it you find this to be a necessary, or effective, tactic? As the conference will be releasing transcripts and its topics of discussion, you should instead be focused on addressing the coming information. Statistics and studies are independently verifiable -- how about taking the role of peer reviewer? I would be happy to discuss the conference releases with you, starting with this one: http://www.sepp.org/publications/NIPCC-Feb%2020.pdf Best, David ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: NWF Blogger EMAIL: grantm@nwf.org IP: 64.240.150.73 URL: http://www.wildlifepromise.org DATE: 03/03/2008 01:51:21 PM Don't worry, we'll tackle the NIPCC report (conveniently named to sound like the UN's IPCC report) in a later post! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kert Davies EMAIL: kert.davies@wdc.greenpeace.org IP: 72.255.33.189 URL: http://www.exxonsecrets.org DATE: 03/03/2008 03:14:37 PM I am here too, blogging for Greenpeace ExxonSecrets...feel like a skunk in the garden party. I've nicknamed this Denial-a-palooza 2008... The most important question is WHERE IS EXXON? 2 or 3 years ago Exxon would have delivered the keynote address here and a number of other corporations would have been proud sponsors. Now Heartland is distancing themselves from corporate funding. (WHO THE HECK IS PAYING FOR THESE $280/NIGHT ROOMS THEN?) To update your figures, we know about $7.5 Million in Exxon funding to the co-sponsors of this gig (98-06) including over $780K in 2006. I built a map of the attendees and sponsoring orgs here http://www.exxonsecrets.org/index.php?mapid=1178 and blog here www.exxonsecrets.org ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kert Davies EMAIL: kert.davies@wdc.greenpeace.org IP: 72.255.33.189 URL: http://www.exxonsecrets.org DATE: 03/03/2008 03:14:49 PM I am here too, blogging for Greenpeace ExxonSecrets...feel like a skunk in the garden party. I've nicknamed this Denial-a-palooza 2008... The most important question is WHERE IS EXXON? 2 or 3 years ago Exxon would have delivered the keynote address here and a number of other corporations would have been proud sponsors. Now Heartland is distancing themselves from corporate funding. (WHO THE HECK IS PAYING FOR THESE $280/NIGHT ROOMS THEN?) To update your figures, we know about $7.5 Million in Exxon funding to the co-sponsors of this gig (98-06) including over $780K in 2006. I built a map of the attendees and sponsoring orgs here http://www.exxonsecrets.org/index.php?mapid=1178 and blog here www.exxonsecrets.org ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: skeptic EMAIL: ronpaul2008@bigstring.com IP: 75.94.54.18 URL: DATE: 01/04/2009 01:49:38 AM First of all let me be clear, I don't question the fact that the climate changes and that it has changed recently and that it will most likely continue to change in the future. I do question the "man-made" tag line that has been attached to many scientific or unscientific claims about the causes of climate change (or what was formerly called "global warming" until evidence of a new global cooling period began surfacing). Even the founder of Greenpeace admits there's no proof that global warming is cause by humans. What is the real agenda behind those who push "man made" global warming? I'm not referring to those of the "earth cult" who simply refuse to look at the whole issue--those who will place blind faith in gl profiteers like Al Gore but refuse to consider the problematic scientific realities such as global warming cycles on other planets, the reality of recurring solar cycles affecting our own planet throughout history, the minimal effect that man-made carbon emissions have on the planet's climate, and the hypocrisy/scam inherent in many of the "clean fuels" offered to us such as biofuels that are destroying rain forests and elminating food crops while offering little (if any) environmental benefit. At the top, the real agenda ultimately rests in population control/extermination (since we all exhale carbon dioxide apparently we're all enemies to the planet right?), carbon taxes--allowing the elite in government to give more of our money to themselves to their friends in power through "bailout" schemes, and ultimately increased power grabs and tyranny through world government and purchasing/energy controls. We know that there is big money behind the propaganda effort to add the label "man-made" to any discussions of global warming. But where is the money coming from? Quite possibly its the same shady global "think tanks" like the CFR, Club of Rome, Trilateral Commission, etc. who decided long ago that they'd exploit the natural phenomenon of global warming and use it to grab more power and set up world government". I'm not going to say that Exxon hasn't invested money in the debate-- I'm well aware that corporations are first and foremost self-serving. But if you're really interested in following the money trail then I suggest taking a close look at what organizations stands to gain from carbon taxes and complete fascist controls/taxation of all transportation and energy production and transactions. A few million dollar injected into the debate by Exxon is pretty minimal compared to the billions to made on the other side of the debate. Just take a look at who is heavily invested in the carbon credit system that is soon to be pushed upon us: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=22663 ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kristin EMAIL: kristinsj25@gmail.com IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 01/05/2009 10:06:43 AM To follow up, Greenpeace's founder doesn't speak for Greenpeace. He speaks for the nuclear industry. http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/nuclear/patric-moore-background-inform "Patrick Moore, a paid spokesman for the nuclear industry, frequently cites a long-ago affiliation with Greenpeace to gain legitimacy in the media. Several media outlets recently either stated or implied that Mr. Moore still represents Greenpeace, or failed to mention his current ties to the nuclear industry. This page contains all the information journalists need to accurately describe Mr. Moore and to judge his credibility. We've included some information below and have attached several recent articles about Mr. Moore." ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Leap Year Frog Blog! Frog Facts, Martha Stewart and More STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: leap-year-frog CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 02/29/2008 06:13:11 PM ----- BODY:

NWF naturalist Dave Mizejewski made a special "Leap Day" appearance on The Martha Stewart Show this morning, bringing along a few camera-hoppy amphibians, including green frogs, American toads, a pickerel frog and a smoky jungle frog.

Watch Martha and Dave and their jumpy guests:

Frog Facts:

Record the Ribbit!

You can help scientists know what frogs are hopping around your backyard by taking part in the National Wildlife Federation's Frogwatch USA™ program. It's fun for the whole family, a great way to get outside and it's a neat thing individuals can do to help frogs.

This year, NWF has teamed up the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Amphibian Ark and organizations around the world as an official partner of the "Year of the Frog" campaign to raise awareness about the alarming decline in global frog populations. Year of the Frog calls attention to the alarming decline of frogs globally from factors such as...

Find out how you can be a part of Frogwatch USA in the Year of the Frog!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Graham Cliff EMAIL: gpcliff@tiscali.co.uk IP: 79.66.24.62 URL: http://www.lightpollution.org.uk DATE: 03/01/2008 06:41:06 PM Are you guys aware that the food of frogs, insects, are sucked out of habitat areas like a vacuum cleaner by light pollution? Light pollution or LP is a consequence of the 24 hour day which destroys the "habitat" of nocturnal creatures. Everyone is too blinded by the light to see. Graham Cliff. http://www.lightpollution.org.uk ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Colin Henshaw EMAIL: CoHenSN1987A@hotmail.com IP: 213.230.9.21 URL: DATE: 06/30/2008 01:54:47 AM A casual glance at satellite images of the world taken at night reveals the true extent of the light pollution problem. Thousands of cities world-wide are cooking the atmosphere all night, every night, three hundred and sixty-five nights a year. Surely no-one can now deny that this is having an ecological effect. Insect populations in recent years have declined significantly because of this. Consequently it will have concomitant effects on higher order consumers, frogs being among them. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jordan Ross EMAIL: jordanross3@yahoo.com IP: 207.191.191.20 URL: DATE: 08/27/2008 11:28:47 AM Hey, id like to say that you should really post something abot The Year of the Frog....Did you know that 6,000 species of amphibians die a year? or that we need to stop pulluting to save them... or start SAVING THE FROGS.... ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: 10 Extraordinary Animal Tactics for Surviving the Cold STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: animals--the-ma CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 02/27/2008 01:01:46 AM ----- BODY:

beeladybugSeal



Whether they hibernate, have thick fur coats or take shelter, animals are masters of surviving the cold weather. Here are a number of interesting animals and the fascinating things they do to survive harsh conditions.

  1. Japan's macaques monkeys keep warm by taking hot baths in volcanic springs.

  2. Polar bears (or "solar bears") soak up the sun with their black skin, which is covered by a coat of  clear hair that conducts the sun's heat. Not to mention they also have a handy 4 inches of fat to insulate them.

  3. Animals will also flock to warmth created by humans, such as pigeons in Chicago that huddle around the Eternal Flame and manatees that seek out warm water discharge from power plants.

  4. Aside from having blubber, penguins avoid losing energy and heat when they exhale by using special nasal passages to reclaim the warm air.

  5. Some honey bees huddle together to make a winter cluster in order to keep warm.

  6. Bees aren't the only ones that huddle together, even bats and ladybugs will huddle for warmth in a safe place.

  7. Various plants depend on snow to trap heat and insulate them from cold winds.

  8. Seals have a special set of blood vessels that function to conserve heat.

  9. Occasionally some fish will use a natural anti-freeze to keep from freezing in low temperatures.

  10. When water is scarce, wild bactrian camels will eat snow.

Despite all these adaptations you can still do your part to help wildlife survive the winter in your own backyard. Here's a few bird feeding tips.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Brandon EMAIL: blindhammer@gmail.com IP: 201.254.74.137 URL: http://www.spymac.com/details/?2146727 DATE: 02/27/2008 10:12:27 PM 11 - Humans burn the fossilized remains of other animals ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Brandon EMAIL: blindhammer@gmail.com IP: 201.254.74.137 URL: http://www.spymac.com/details/?2146727 DATE: 02/27/2008 10:12:42 PM 11 - Humans burn the fossilized remains of other animals http://www.spymac.com/details/?2146727 ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Fish Manitoba Narrows EMAIL: fishmanitobanarrows@gmail.com IP: 24.66.94.142 URL: http://www.fishlakemanitobanarrows.com/ DATE: 02/27/2008 10:45:45 PM Some animals have basically a glycol similar antifreeze with peptides in their blood in order that their blood can become supercooled below zero centigrade and not freeze or congeal ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Milla Jemeljanova EMAIL: love4365ztedsgf2@redsu2546758rzdnsets.so IP: 131.188.24.124 URL: http://gimps.de DATE: 03/03/2008 12:42:42 PM Most plants use natural wax to cover their leaves from the cold. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: website design EMAIL: christal.tayler@gmail.com IP: 64.22.79.57 URL: http://ooyes.net DATE: 06/26/2008 07:13:14 AM 11 - Humans burn the fossilized remains of other animals. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Humans and their Animal Phobias STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 18-animal-phobi CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 02/19/2008 11:00:10 AM ----- BODY:

Phobias are no joke. But they can be interesting. I tend to be an abnormal case simply because I like (and in some cases love) the animals that cause most phobias. So when I see a long list of strange phobias, I can't help but check them out. In honor of wildlife and animals in general, I've decided to list out a few interesting phobias that deal with our fauna friends. Oh, and if any of you have a fear of phobias (Phobophobia) exit the page very slowly...

ANIMAL PHOBIAS (if you know of more, add them to my list!)


Animals – ZoophobiaChicken
Animal Skin or Fur – Doraphobia
Wild Animals – Agrizoophobia
Bees – Apiphobia
Birds - Ornithophobia
Bulls – Taurophobia
Chickens - Alekorophobia
Dogs or Rabies - Cynophobia
Fish – Ichthyophobia
Frogs - Ranidaphobia
Horses – Equinophobia or Hippophobia
Otters - LutraphobiaSeaotter
The Great Mole Rat – Zemmiphobia
Insects - Entomophobia or Insectophobia
Insects that eat wood - Isopterophobia
Insects that cause itching - Acarophobia
Reptiles – Herpetophobia
Sharks – Selachophobia
Shellfish – Ostraconophobia
Snakes – Ophidiophobia or Snakephobia
Toads – Bufonophobia
Bats - Chiroptophobia
Cats - Felinophobia, Galeophobia or Gatophobia


It's no surprise why people find some of these animals intimidating. Sure, snakes, sharks and bats are scary to many people and are often portrayed negatively. But here's something to think about: Have you ever thought that maybe our phobias of them might be a crucial element to their survival? After all, it means that they are keeping predators like us at bay!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: KelR EMAIL: rand@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 02/19/2008 11:57:10 AM Don't forget the most recognizable phobia out there - Arachnophobia, the fear of spiders. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ashley EMAIL: lyric6a@yahoo.com IP: 65.17.56.152 URL: DATE: 02/19/2008 03:32:15 PM Phobias are NOT a choice. One cannot just "wish" them away, one cannot reason for having them... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 02/19/2008 04:43:51 PM They are definitely not a choice. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dana Gillin EMAIL: dana@bunnyblab.com IP: 207.180.145.29 URL: http://bunnyblab.com DATE: 02/22/2008 04:38:02 PM Don't forget Leporiphobia -- fear of rabbits. As if... An interesting story about where the fear came from: http://www.nakedtranslations.com/en/2005/10/000508.php --Dana ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John EMAIL: jonnyjonny_uk@yahoo.com IP: 91.76.30.160 URL: http://www.ofear.com DATE: 11/02/2008 04:12:27 AM It's good more and more people are recognising that phobias are something to be taken serious and more sites are helping in whatever way they can. There is a new site called oFear http://www.ofear.com that is dedicated to helping people with fears and phobias that is well worth visiting. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: BP EMAIL: IP: 69.29.27.133 URL: DATE: 10/12/2009 11:26:24 PM Would Leporiphobia apply to fear of albino rabbits? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: 10 Animal Heart Facts For Valentine's Day STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 10-animal-heart CATEGORY: Science DATE: 02/14/2008 06:58:46 PM ----- BODY:

We know that our emotional connection isn't why the heart is important (to put it simply it pumps blood). However, I wanted to take this opportunity (as I stare at my newly acquired Valentines scattered with pink and red hearts) to share with you a few facts that demonstrate why the heart is amazing. Please feel free to send me other neat facts about the heart and I'll gladly post them!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day. (Believe me, this beats (ha!) me showing you some exposed wildlife hearts which I considered doing)

ADVISORY: The following facts make great date conversation.

  1. Frogimage_2The heart of a blue whale is as big as a car.

  2. Frogs and lizards have three chambers whereas birds and mammals have four.

  3. The human heart beats roughly 35 million times a year.

  4. Octopuses have three hearts.

  5. Dogs have a larger heart to body mass ratio than all other mammals.

  6. Scientists have re-created the heart of a rat and it even started beating!

  7. Pythons grow bigger hearts at mealtimes.

  8. GiraffeA blue whale's heart beats six times a minute (next to a human's 70 times)

  9. A manatee's heart rate slows down by half during a long dive.

  10. A giraffe depends on it's powerful heart that weighs up to 12kg so that it can fight the force of gravity up that long neck to the head.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bill EMAIL: holy__crap@hotmail.com IP: 165.234.210.149 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 02:07:26 PM isn't it octopi and not octopuses? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle EMAIL: danielle.brigida@gmail.com IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 02:13:37 PM I've seen both used. :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: La-G EMAIL: gloriasmind@aol.com IP: 75.117.28.232 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 02:23:22 PM So when I call my dogs "big hearted babies" I'm scientifically correct? :) COOL. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joe EMAIL: mystile@aol.com IP: 76.16.116.16 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 02:41:39 PM Its Octopi, this site fails ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 02:59:57 PM http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 03:02:34 PM To put to rest this argument I suggest everyone looks it up in the dictionary. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octopuses ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kristie Richardson EMAIL: supernurse72@gmail.com IP: 72.148.213.246 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 03:18:05 PM I have some great facts can I get your email address. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: chikoos EMAIL: starchikoos@yahoo.com IP: 202.177.159.115 URL: http://www.chikoospace.blogspot.com DATE: 02/15/2008 03:20:10 PM Any interesting info about cats? And woodpeckers. I vaguely remember something special about their heartbeats. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Audiart EMAIL: yakksoho@yahoo.com IP: 76.105.5.75 URL: http://flickr.com/photos/whydah DATE: 02/15/2008 03:20:35 PM Secretariat's heart deserves mention: after his death it was found to weigh 22 pounds, 2.6 times more than the average thoroughbred heart. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 03:37:34 PM Email me at brigidad@nwf.org ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carl EMAIL: krankenwagen@gmail.com IP: 206.174.69.100 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 04:04:31 PM Yup: Octopi. And in La-G's case it's "it's" rather than "its" ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carl EMAIL: krankenwagen@gmail.com IP: 206.174.69.100 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 04:04:46 PM Yup: Octopi. And in La-G's case it's "it's" rather than "its" ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: carl EMAIL: krankenwagen@gmail.com IP: 206.174.69.100 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 04:22:43 PM Oops, make that Joe's case, sorry. [And goodness knows why that was posted twice... I fail.] ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Josh EMAIL: damninsane7128@gmail.com IP: 128.192.124.178 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 04:31:11 PM Carl: It's not Latin; it's Greek. Ergo it's not octopi. And, it was Joe who said "its" not La-G. Don't be a douche unless you're right about, well, anything. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jon massie EMAIL: copaceticjon@gmail.com IP: 75.54.67.188 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 04:54:28 PM http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus#Terminology it is octopuses. america has been deceived. learning latin is so helpful in figuring out the intricacies of the english language. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: mg EMAIL: gybenm@seattleu.edu IP: 143.231.249.141 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 05:57:43 PM Oxford English Dictionary states that it is octopuses and that the latin way of forming the plural, octopi, is incorrect. AND, just so this doesn't go too far off track, the ruby throated hummingbird's heart beats at a rate of over 1000 times/min while feeding. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: buckalw EMAIL: bucklawbucklaw@hotmail.com IP: 72.64.14.15 URL: http://www.foxattacks.com/vets DATE: 02/16/2008 08:30:21 PM It is incorrect octopi but still used. Octopusses, Octopedes. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Chacho EMAIL: llamaluvr7752@aim.com IP: 68.238.23.212 URL: DATE: 05/17/2008 12:32:17 PM yep...octopuses is definately correct. I looked it up myself...now, NO MORE ARGUEING! Just a question...Don't worms have more than one heart? ----- PING: TITLE: Big Blue Whale URL: http://discount.laptop.fast37.no-ip.org/big-blue-whale IP: 74.86.137.234 BLOG NAME: Big Blue Whale DATE: 04/22/2009 09:49:45 PM Watch Big Blue Whale on Pacific Noise: Record Label: BIMATOBE Records. W ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Water Conservation Tips STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: water-conservat DATE: 02/12/2008 05:51:51 PM ----- BODY:

I don't think I need to emphasize how important water is. However, I do want to say that with the number of issues we are facing we aren't paying enough attention to what makes up 75% of our bodies.

The need for water conservation is becoming more and more apparent as drought and other environmental pressures like global warming are affecting our water resources. Here are some not-so obvious tips on how to conserve water.

More Than Just the Basic Water Conservation Tips

Conserving Water: General TipsGlass of water

Conserve Water in the Bathroom

Conserve Water in the Kitchen

Conserve Water OutdoorsHosepipe

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: http://www.nwf.org DATE: 02/13/2008 12:40:58 PM I'd be interested to see what other cool water tips people have. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michael Sola EMAIL: IP: 68.34.228.25 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/skippermj/ DATE: 02/15/2008 12:58:58 PM I don't know Danielle - you may have your facts wrong. Being a student of classic star trek I could swear I heard an episode that Dr. McCoy said our bodies were closer to 90% water and without it we'd be just a few pounds of chemicals. :-) I've already put timers in the bathroom my kids use. The days of the 20 min shower has ended!!! Great stuff, keep up the good work. Michael ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Danielle EMAIL: brigidad@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 02/15/2008 02:24:44 PM Muscle tissue is what I'm referencing in this stat. :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Elisabeth Mc Cay EMAIL: urns84537@mypacks.net IP: 71.52.234.189 URL: http://www.eatsbarksandmews.com DATE: 02/17/2008 09:15:18 PM Great info. Here in NC we're really needing to be very strict in our water consumption. We have a well, but people in the cities (Raleigh, eg) are getting into rationing. By the way - very nice looking blog. How did you do it? I'm not that happy with godaddy's setup, but it's all I had to work with at the time. thanks ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bruce Bartels EMAIL: blbartels2@aol.com IP: 66.233.217.147 URL: http://unkelboob.com DATE: 02/29/2008 09:09:02 PM Visit YouTube, where you'll find an offbeat view of the future water woes with helpful tips to save water indoors. Do not come with a dry sense of humor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVRJ7FLT_oU ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: James Nevra EMAIL: nevra@arach.net.au IP: 203.161.71.123 URL: http://www.footyfossil.com.au DATE: 05/01/2009 04:01:47 PM Try my water conservation song for kids .... www.nevra.com.au/eachlittledrop.html ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: James Nevra EMAIL: nevra@arach.net.au IP: 203.161.71.123 URL: http://www.eachlittledrop.com DATE: 10/06/2009 06:12:49 AM The water conservation song Each Little Drop is now at .... www.eachlittledrop.com It's a free download (mp3) for schools. Please delete the nevra.com.au post of 01-May-09. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Create a Bird-friendly Habitat STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: create-a-bird-f CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 02/11/2008 05:06:16 PM ----- BODY:

In one of our previous posts, we learned that there are more birders than baptists. Guess where some live? That's right, in our backyards! So why not welcome these musical guests by setting up a wildlife friendly backyard and who knows--they might just dress you in the morning (Cinderella anyone?).

Here are a few tips from the National Wildlife Federation:

BackyardProvide water year-round - A simple birdbath is a great start. Change water every 2-3 days in summer and use a heater in the winter. Place the water container about 10 feet from dense shrubs or other cover that predators may use.

Install native plants - Select a variety of native plants to offer year-round food in the form of seeds, berries, nuts, and nectar. Try to recreate the plant ecosystem native to your area. Evergreen trees and shrubs provide excellent cover through all seasons, if they are part of your local ecosystem. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has lists of recommended native plants by egion and state.

Eliminate insecticides in your yard - Insects are the primary source of food for many bird species and are an important source of protein and fats for growing juvenile birds.

Keep dead trees - Dead trees provide cavity-dwelling places for birds to raise young and as a source to collect insects for food. Many species will also seek shelter from bad weather inside these hollowed out trees.

ChickadeePut out nesting boxes - Make sure the boxes have ventilation holes at the top and drainage holes below. Do not use a box with a perch, as house sparrows are known to sit on a nesting box perch and peck at other birds using the nesting box. Be sure to monitor the boxes for invasive animal species known to harm or outcompete native species. Check out more information about invasive species

Build a brush pile in a corner of your yard - Start with larger logs and top with smaller branches. Some birds will hunt, roost or even nest in brush piles.

Offer food in feeders - Bird feeders are great sources of supplemental food during times of food scarcity, and also enhance bird viewing opportunities.

Remove invasive plants from your wildlife habitat - Many invasive plants outcompete the native species favored by birds, insects and other wildlife. Check with your local U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension System office for information on plant species to avoid. Find your local Cooperative Extension System office.

Reduce your lawn area - Lawns have little value to birds or other wildlife, and they require more energy for mowing, applying fertilizers and watering.


If you've already done these tips and would like to display your beautiful, wildlife-friendly backyard, please email me at brigidad@nwf.org. I'm hoping to post about them around springtime for inspiration.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Climate Change's Largest National Teach-in STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: focus-the-natio DATE: 02/07/2008 01:44:20 PM ----- BODY:

Fnlogomiddlebury_2I want to thank all of you who supported or participated in the Focus the Nation Teach-in.It was a fantastic success, and the Focus the Nation team did a wonderful job. That's right, on January 31, 2008, an estimated 3 million participants concerned by the impacts of global warming met in over 1,800 institutions around the country.

This reaction to such an issue is a pleasant surprise and brings us hope for the future. Here's a taste of what happened all over the country (thanks to many of you!)

• Seminars
• Editorial visits
• Classes
• Labs
• Letter campaigns
• Email blitzes
• Films
• Rallies
• Art shows
• Concerts
• Tabling events
• Poster sessions
• Petitions And more

One of the main goals of Focus the Nation was to link up students and citizens with their elected officials. We're happy to report this goal was reached!

NWF's VP of Education, Kevin Coyle, reported back that a bipartisan group of nearly one-third of U.S. Governors, 20% of the U.S. Senate and 10% of the U.S. House of Representatives participated directly as speakers along with many state and local officials.

We should all feel good about what this means for the future of this country and the world. If you are looking for more to read, check out a few links below!

Focus the Nation's Blog

NWF's Campus Ecology Page
New York Times Article
Gristmill's Blog
The 2% Video Webcast

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Alex Bard EMAIL: adb57@yahoo.com IP: 66.230.72.40 URL: http://www.pennfuturepodcast.org DATE: 02/11/2008 12:45:35 PM www.pennfuturepodcast.org Please join PennFuture, as we interview several contributors at this year's Focus The Nation event. These interviews were conducted at three collegiate institutions in the state of Pennsylvania. PennFuture’s Joy Bergey participated in the event at Ursinus College, and brought us two terrific interviews. First, Andrew Revkin, award winning journalist who covers environment for the New York Times, talks about how global warming is felt in the underdeveloped world; then Dr. Heidi Cullen, climate expert for The Weather Channel, discusses some of the science behind climate change. Pam Fendrock, PennFuture’s northeast Pennsylvania outreach coordinator, attended two Focus the Nation events. At the first, at Moravian College, she interviewed one of the student organizers, Samantha Lukasiewicz, who talked about how the organizing impacted on the lives of students. At Wilkes University, she interviewed Dr. Marleen Troy, associate professor of environmental engineering, who talked about green initiatives currently at Wilkes. PennFuture works to create a just future where nature, communities and the economy thrive. We enforce environmental laws and advocate for the transformation of public policy, public opinion and the marketplace to restore and protect the environment and safeguard public health. PennFuture advances effective solutions for the problems of pollution, sprawl and global warming; mobilizes citizens; crafts compelling communications; and provides excellent legal services and policy analysis. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Derek Brockbank TITLE: Super Tuesday STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: super-tuesday DATE: 02/05/2008 09:47:35 PM ----- BODY:

The Super Tuesday results are coming in - as predicted it's neck and neck between Obama and Clinton, and McCain seems to be racking up wins (though both Huckabee and Romney have pulled in one win so far).  So what does this mean for Global Warming? 

Well, both Obama and Clinton have co-sponsored the strongest global warming legislation in the Senate (the Sanders-Boxer bill) and actively campaigned on the issue.  McCain was the co-author  (with Independent Joe Lieberman, who has endorsed him) of the first ever comprehensive global warming cap and trade bill in congress.  McCain has also been public in his disagreement with President Bush on the issue.  At the last Republican debate he said "It’s no secret that I have disagreed with the Bush administration in not being more active in addressing the issue of climate change... young Americans care, Californians care, people all over this country care, and we have to address this issue."

If McCain continues to win and takes on either Obama or Clinton, the next President will definitely take global warming quite seriously.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Bush Administration Goes Green? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bush-administra CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 02/04/2008 03:59:01 PM ----- BODY:

That's right folks. For only the 12th time in its entire history, the Environmental Protection Agency has decided to use the veto process to kill an Army Corps of Engineers project. Dead in the water is the Yazoo Pumps, a project that would damage 200,000 acres of wetlands, destroy the best hunting and fishing habitat in the Mississippi River Flyway and cost taxpayers more than $210 million.

According to the EPA's letter to the Army Corps...

"...the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is initiating review, under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act, of the proposed Yazoo Backwater Area Project in the Yazoo River Basin in Mississippi. EPA is taking this step because we have reason to believe that the recommended project plan could result in unacceptable adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystem, particularly to fish and wildlife resources." Download the EPA's letter (pdf)

Hats off to the EPA for taking a stand against this wasteful project!

"A Green Day for Bush"
By Michael Grunwald, TIME Magazine

"On the unexpected-meter, it probably falls somewhere between Man Bites Dog and Trump Declines Comment. But on Friday, the Bush administration did something excellent for the environment.

"In a letter obtained by TIME, Bush's Environmental Protection Agency moved to block a $220 million Army Corps of Engineers flood-control project in the Mississippi Delta, laying the groundwork for the first EPA veto of an Army Corps project since 1990."

Read the entire article...

This project--often called "the monster that just won't die"--still needs a few more stabs to the heart. The complete veto process could take a few more months. Stand strong EPA!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Groundhog Day Trivia STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: groundhog-day-t CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 02/02/2008 08:13:20 PM ----- BODY:

Today is Groundhog Day, but do you know the real reason the groundhog wakes up from its winter hibernation? It's not really to see its shadow. Click here to find out the true story.

Groundhog Trivia:
Groundhog

  • Groundhogs are rodents in the Sciuridae (squirrel) family that go by several other names including woodchuck and whistlepig.

  • The name woodchuck comes from a Cree Indian word, wuchak, which was used for several different animals of similar size and color, including other marmots.

  • This very vocal animal carries the nickname “whistle-pig” for the various hisses, squeals, growls, barks and teeth chattering noises it emits.

  • How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Based on the typical burrow a woodchuck digs, a scientist at Cornell University estimated the answer would be close to 700 pounds.

  • The elaborate architecture of a woodchuck burrow with lengths of 20-30 feet, include spy-holes, a toilet chamber, nest and nursery.

  • During hibernation, the body temperature of a woodchuck drops from 97°F (36°C) to less than 40°F (4°C). Its breathing slows to once every six minutes, and its heartbeat slows from 100 beats per minute to four.

  • Groundhog Day developed from the European tradition of Imbolc and Candlemas Day, marking the day between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. On that date, good weather meant more winter was on the way, bad weather meant the end of the cold season. This tradition was first linked to the appearance of the groundhog February 2, 1886, when Punxsutawney Spirit editor Clymer Freas reported the furry creature had not seen his shadow, thus an early spring was in the forecast.

 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Glenn EMAIL: phyza17@hotmail.com IP: 119.30.120.6 URL: https://www.conquiztador.com/?a=26041 DATE: 05/19/2008 11:17:05 AM Wao thats great i like the information about groundhogs :) _____________ John Glenn I challenge you to a game of trivia! Click here to battle against me online at ConQUIZtador. Let's see who's the winner... https://conquiztador.com/?a= ----- -------- AUTHOR: Derek Brockbank TITLE: Florida Primary Thoughts STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: florida-prima-1 DATE: 02/01/2008 04:15:22 PM ----- BODY: Thoughts from Jay Liles of Florida Wildlife FederationFwflogosmall on the results of the Florida Primary:

McCain wins! “Billary” (whoops) Hillary takes big Democratic Primary. Gets NO delegates.

Welcome to voting in Florida where we didn’t have problems enough in 2000. Now we can’t even get along among political allies.

Florida entered the primary week with a neck and neck race between McCain and Romney for the 57 Florida delegates to the Republican Convention (half the usual number as our R friends also have issues). What was promoted as a “beauty contest” for the democratic nominees did not generated the kind of analysis and media scrutiny the republican nominees got. Though Obama came in with the wind to his back he exited with little to show and the party line to cover his disappointment. While democratic voters could vote for their favorite they have been told all along that, due to party rules, their delegates will not be seated at the convention.  So because we change our primary by one week we are to believe the Dems. won’t count our 225 delegates? Nor Michigan’s? Sure.

The focus on Florida gave us a chance to highlight issues like a national catastrophic disaster fund but did very little to shed light on why we need funding for one hurricane after another – Climate Change!! It was only after former NWF staffer, Jerry Karnas, got Environmental Defense to help sponsor a debate that we got to put the question to the republican contenders – Do you favor action on climate change and if so what? Only two – McCain and Giuliani (may his political carcass rest in peace) answered – McCain, having already sponsored one of the most important climate change bills currently under consideration in Congress gave the answer we expected. Giuliani worked to distance himself from action on climate change but spoke about the importance of a big government program to diversifying our energy supply, using France as his example. Nukes for all my friends! Yikes!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Republican Fiction Project EMAIL: republican.fiction@gmail.com IP: 68.33.189.178 URL: DATE: 02/01/2008 10:10:49 PM What’s all the hullabaloo about climate change? A new meta analysis of famed groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil’s long winter/early spring predictions indicate that climate change is reversing since George W Bush got into office. Now that’s some good science. http://republicanfiction.com ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Webcast Launches "Focus the Nation" Global Warming Teach-In STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: webcast-launche CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 01/31/2008 11:44:44 AM ----- BODY:

Last night, more than 10,000 people logged on to www.earthdaytv.net to watch the Focus the Nation webcast, sponsored in part by the National Wildlife Federation. How do we know how many? Well, 10,000 was the bandwith of the website, and the website crashed.

No worries! You can still watch the webcast by going to www.earthdaytv.net and clicking on "The 2% Solution - Focus the Nation."

You can also find out more about Focus the Nation, a national teach-in happening TODAY and engaging millions of students and citizens with political leaders and decision makers about global warming solutions.

Watch the Webcast

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ELLEN GROSSMAN EMAIL: EGROSS.SKINNYGIRL@gmail.com IP: 24.148.82.214 URL: DATE: 01/31/2008 04:26:00 PM I COULD NOT WATCH IT BECAUSE THE GIRL THAT I USE HER COMPUTER HAS NOT THE WEBSITE I CAN SEE IT ON.SO I AM GOING TO MISS IT OR ALREALY HAVE MISSED IT. SOORY. WHEN I GET MY OWN COMPUTER, I WILL HAVE A PC AND I WILL HAVE IT TO WATCH. EGROSSMAN ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ELLEN GROSSMAN EMAIL: EGROSS.SKINNYGIRL@gmail.com IP: 24.148.82.214 URL: DATE: 01/31/2008 04:26:46 PM I COULD NOT WATCH IT BECAUSE THE GIRL THAT I USE HER COMPUTER HAS NOT THE WEBSITE I CAN SEE IT ON.SO I AM GOING TO MISS IT OR ALREALY HAVE MISSED IT. SORRY. WHEN I GET MY OWN COMPUTER, I WILL HAVE A PC AND I WILL HAVE IT TO WATCH. EGROSSMAN ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Linda Perkuhn EMAIL: linda@truthconsciousness.org IP: 71.36.124.182 URL: http://truthconsciousness.org DATE: 01/31/2008 04:55:52 PM Program was excellent, informative and terrifying in its implications. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: D.J.L. EMAIL: nedled@juno.com IP: 71.33.177.182 URL: DATE: 01/31/2008 07:12:42 PM Unless Third World countries like China and India reduce their greenhouse gas and pollutants, all our efforts will mean nothing. All of the poorer countries in the world want what we have. They need power to make money. Power production produces pollution. Good luck convincing these people to stay poor. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kristin M EMAIL: krypton36k@hotmail.com IP: 143.43.183.119 URL: DATE: 01/31/2008 07:24:24 PM Western Illinois University just finished their teach-in and we had a GREAT turnout despite the weather. Thank you for this opportunity! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Donna Rahman EMAIL: donnarahman@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.204 URL: DATE: 01/31/2008 10:21:45 PM No mention has been made of the overheating caused by hundreds of jets circling and circling overcrowded airports. Sometimes they even go to another airport to refuel so they can circle some more. Also, traffic lights can have hundreds of cars backed up, burning fuel, heating the atmosphere. This is a tremendous waste of energy that could be dealt with in various ways. Also, we should research and upgrade ways of collecting and storing solar power, like solar power banks. Also, a streamlined solar power collecting material, almost like a cloth could make installation easier. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Harry Applin EMAIL: thecaddman04@yahoo.com IP: 74.32.151.196 URL: http://www.harryapplin.com DATE: 01/31/2008 10:36:51 PM Very inspirational, especially Ed's presentation Thursday morning. I also must comment on Revolution Green's Biofuel documentary...well done. It made me look into bio-heating oil. The most important thing we should remember is that, as individuals, we can make a difference...a light bulb here, some insulation there...every little bit helps ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: bad boy andy EMAIL: lindande19@cox.net IP: 72.218.86.15 URL: http://www.cox.net DATE: 02/01/2008 05:59:05 AM I hope you get another time scheduled to watch the 2% Solution. It must still be crashed for some of us. I tried viewing it a few minutes ago. After two minutes of playing, it freezes. Everything was working fine until then. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: William Voigt EMAIL: wfv100@psu.edu IP: 128.118.120.7 URL: DATE: 02/01/2008 10:30:02 AM Dispite all the evidence there are still scientists and indivduals who do not believe in global warming. I can't see how people can have their head stuck in the sand. Everything we can do to be energy independent and greener will benifit our planet. But here is one point I think most people are failing to note. This earth is over 4 billion years old and we have had repeated warming and cooling cycles with mass extinctions and changes in floura and fauna. If we are in one of those natural warming cycles we will not be able to stop it. And I emphasize that point. We can slow down our footprint and we must do that! But natural cycles are the way things are. We must learn to live with them. One other note of interest, no one is talking about global population. We are rapidly reaching the point where the world's population and it's needs will out strip the resources we have. I see this as our biggest problem to solve. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mr Ta EMAIL: Ninjaneer43@yahoo.com IP: 198.76.89.7 URL: DATE: 02/04/2008 10:31:36 AM I am impressed that several of the respondents seem so level-headed compared to Chicken Littles on the show. “The 2% Solution” presented "climate change" as a man-caused crisis demanding immediate action. The action recommended, of course, was more government intrusion into the lives of all citizens. This is typical leftist totalitarian thinking. The enlightened nobles of the environmental movement will tell we poor benighted masses what we can drive, how we will light our houses, what we can eat, etc. From their perspective it is fine because they are smarter and more benevolent than the rest of us so we should just do what they say. In order to contrive the appearance of a crisis from which we must sacrifice our liberties to these green fascists, “2%” did not accurately portray the context of the debate about climate change. Mankind's relatively tiny contributions to atmospheric greenhouse gasses compared to natural sources were not mentioned. No mention was made of the fact that the earth has gone through much warmer periods in the past (including as recently as the first half of the 20th century) without the catastrophes that are being predicted now. You also have lumped all climate change into one anthropogenic basket. Where do you mention natural variations--most obviously those caused by the sun? “Bad boy andy” correctly points this out. I was also struck by the cavalier way in which the most obvious way of reducing CO2 emissions was all but ignored--nuclear power. There is a reason why European countries were so happy to sign on to the Kyoto accord and berate the US for not doing do. Rarely have I seen it mentioned in the context of the global warming discussion that France for example produces over 70% of its electricity with nuclear power. With the US at less than half that, Kyoto would give the nuke countries a huge economic competitive advantage! Life cycle costs of "alternative" power sources were not mentioned either. Until very recently, for instance, it took more energy to produce photovoltaics than they ever generated during their life. The materials with which they are made are difficult to recycle and even that process results in hazardous waste. These are surmountable technical problems, but it is disingenuous to pretend they do not exist or do not consume energy. As noble and economically sensible as conservation is, we are not going to conserve our way out of our growing demand for energy. The US uses the most energy per capita not because we are greedy but because we are the most productive nation on earth. Energy use and productivity are inextricably linked. Rich nations can afford to protect their environment. Gratuitous government meddling in the market almost always reduces net wealth. None of your choices for what to do with $100 Billion extracted from the economy by the government made much sense. If you really want to help the economy and the environment in the long run, the best thing to do with that money would be to give it back to the people who paid it in the form of lower taxes. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Love Polar Bears? We know just the place... STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: are-you-polar-b DATE: 01/30/2008 05:58:48 PM ----- BODY:

Are You Polar Bear Aware?

PolarbearA wonderful Squidoo site on polar bears has been nominated for Squidoo's prestigious Lens of the Year, 2007 award. The site, along with 10 others, was nominated out of more than 300,000 Squidoo lenses. Voting ends January 31, 2008. We are really routing for this Squidoo site and we need your vote!

So if you are on Squidoo, please take the time and VOTE for Are You Polar Bear Aware?

On the site, you'll find information ranging from polar bear art, facts and photos, as well as links to wildlife, endangered species and environmental organizations. It also features links to videos and live polar bear cams, a weekly cartoon, and of course videos and photos of polar bear celebrities like cute Knut, Hudson and now Flocke.

Frankie Kangas You can tell the creator, Frankie Kangas, pours her heart and soul into the site. She donates all income generated by the site to the National Wildlife Federation. Frankie is a sculptor and sculpts polar bears and other animals. She also donates a portion of her sculpture sales to NWF. She's incredibly generous and a wonderful advocate for polar bears! Her blog at www.polarbearnews.com is a great resource to learn cute and cuddly facts about our polar friends.

Watch a video about the site.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: cas EMAIL: casemple@gmail.com IP: 199.106.195.8 URL: DATE: 02/01/2008 08:11:59 PM What a cool site! I love the baby polar bear photos. I am so concerned about these bears. I was just watching a news piece about them at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSnPZhGa39s and it doesn't sound good. ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Love Polar Bears? We know just the place... STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: love-polar-bear CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 01/30/2008 04:46:38 PM ----- BODY:

PolarbearAre You Polar Bear Aware?

A wonderful Squidoo site on polar bears has been nominated for Squidoo's prestigious Lens of the Year, 2007 award. The site, along with 10 others, was nominated out of more than 300,000 Squidoo lenses. Voting ends January 31, 2008. We are really routing for this Squidoo site and we need your vote!

So if you are on Squidoo, please take the time and VOTE for Are You Polar Bear Aware?

On the site, you'll find information ranging from polar bear art, facts and photos, as well as links to wildlife, endangered species and environmental organizations. It also features links to videos and live polar bear cams, a weekly cartoon, and of course videos and photos of polar bear celebrities like cute Knut, Hudson and now Flocke.

Frankie Kangas You can tell the creator, Frankie Kangas, pours her heart and soul into the site. She donates all income generated by the site to the National Wildlife Federation. Frankie is a sculptor and sculpts polar bears and other animals. She also donates a portion of her sculpture sales to NWF. She's incredibly generous and a wonderful advocate for polar bears! Her blog at www.polarbearnews.com is a great resource to learn cute and cuddly facts about our polar friends.

Watch a video about the site.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: President Bush on Energy, the Environment and "Global Climate Change" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: president-bush CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 01/28/2008 11:58:28 PM ----- BODY:

Tonight, President Bush delivered his final State of the Union address, continuing--in his own way--to call for solutions to confront global climate change. Nowhere, however, did he mention passing federal legislation to reduce America's global warming pollution.

"I welcome President Bush's call for action on global warming," said NWF President and CEO Larry Schweiger. "While the White House stance on global warming has thawed, the real test of his commitment to advance U.S. leadership is to work with Congress to pass the bipartisan Climate Security Act." -- Read NWF's official statement.

President Bush on Energy, Environment and Global Climate Change:

"To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology.

"Our security, our prosperity and our environment all require reducing our dependence on oil. Last year, I asked you to pass legislation to reduce oil consumption over the next decade, and you responded.

"Together we should take the next steps: Let us fund new technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions. Let us increase the use of renewable power and emissions-free nuclear power. Let us continue investing in advanced battery technology and renewable fuels to power the cars and trucks of the future. Let us create a new international clean technology fund, which will help developing nations like India and China make greater use of clean energy sources. And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases. This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride.

"The United States is committed to strengthening our energy security and confronting global climate change. And the best way to meet these goals is for America to continue leading the way toward the development of cleaner and more energy efficient technology."

WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR -- What did you think about the energy and environment part of President Bush's speech?

EMAIL YOUR SENATORS -- The Senate has the opportunity to pass a strong global warming bill that protects wildlife. Ask your senators to support this Climate Security Act.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kat Haber EMAIL: Kathaber@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.204 URL: DATE: 02/04/2008 09:28:30 AM Finally awakening to the destruction that the Clinton's and Bush's have ravaged upon our waters, lands, and air. Our children are coughing smog in our cities, our cities are choked with traffic, our coastal waters are dumping grounds for international and military ships. Is this the legacy you wish to leave your grandkids? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jean Scoggins EMAIL: jeannana@yahoo.com IP: 71.80.85.169 URL: DATE: 02/06/2008 08:54:15 PM As the mother of two grown sons, one of whom is VERY wildlife conscious, and the grandmother of 3 wonderful grandchildren, I want to do everything I can do to make sure not only animals, but flowers and plants will be there for them to enjoy and learn from their entire lives. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Great Woes for the Great Lakes STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: great-woes-for CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 01/27/2008 02:09:12 PM ----- BODY:

Check out Kari Lyderson's article in today's Washington Post for a look at how decreased ice cover on the Great Lakes is impacting the shipping industry, outdoor recreation opportunities and wildlife and habitat.

Great Lakes' Lower Water Levels Propel a Cascade of Hardships
By Kari Lydersen, Washington Post

"A decade ago, Chicago winters meant monumental ice hillocks and caves forming along the lakeshore, skirted by interlocking ice sheets like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

"Today, it is rare to see more than a thin frozen shelf or a few small ice floes sloshing in Lake Michigan below the city's skyline."

The article is a scary look at how changes in the climate are having repercussions throughout the region. Low water levels are changing shipping routes and forcing freighters to be loaded "inch by inch." The water is so low that Lake Superior broke its 81-year-old low-water record by 1.6 inches in September.

Reduced wetlands are altering wildlife habitat and weakening the Great Lakes ecosystem. Jeff Skelding, senior manager of NWF's Great Lakes Restoration Campaign is quoted in the article:

"We firmly believe the changes we're seeing are impacting fisheries, possibly in a dramatic way," said Jeff Skelding of the National Wildlife Federation. "Disruption of habitat will impede fish species from being able to reproduce."

Read the entire Washington Post article...

Check out these Great Lakes links to find out more about how wildlife is being impacted and what you can do to make a difference:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Help Wildlife Survive Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: help-wildlife-s CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 01/18/2008 03:02:14 PM ----- BODY:

"It's the most important wildlife conservation legislation in history," said John Kostyack, NWF's wildlife policy expert.

"Really?" I could see this question in the eyes of many in the room. Could this new global warming bill--the Climate Security Act--really be as big as the Endangered Species Act...or the Clean Water Act...or the Clean Air Act? How?

"Well," said John, "Global warming has the potential to wipe out all of the conservation victories of the last century." Endangered wildlife on the road to recovery could face new challenges as global warming alters their habitat and way of life. Waters that we once fought to protect could dry up from extreme drought.

This is why passing the Climate Security Act is a #1 priority for the National Wildlife Federation.

This bill, introduced in the Senate by Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA), will be voted on in the next few months.

Let your senators know you want them to support this bill.

Not only does the Climate Security Act take big steps to cut the pollution that causes global warming, it also provides billions of dollars to help wildlife survive a changing climate.

The National Wildlife Federation will be working on all fronts to pass this legislation. Please stay tuned to find out more about the Act and how you can be a part of the campaign.

And please post the link to this action page on your blogs and websites:
http://online.nwf.org/changetheforecast

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Dave Mizejewski Talks Rainforests with Martha Stewart STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: dave-mizejewski DATE: 01/17/2008 04:09:13 PM ----- BODY:

NWF's own Dave Mizejewski was on the Martha Stewart show this morning talking about rainforests with Martha.  Check out the clips below.


Part One - David Mizejewski Talks Rainforests with Martha


Part Two - David Mizejewski Talks Rainforests with Martha

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Climate Scientist Censored in Montana STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: climate-scienti DATE: 01/17/2008 02:12:02 PM ----- BODY:

The Times reports that a Montana high school has canceled a speech by Nobel laureate climate researcher Stephen Running because "no opposing view would be offered".  From the article:

Dr. Running was surprised.

“Disbelief was the primary reaction,” he said in a telephone interview. “I’ve never been canceled before. But it was almost comical. I had a pretty candid discussion with the superintendent and the school board, and they said there were some conservative citizens who didn’t want me to speak.”

The irony here is that the superintendent, who canceled the speech, claimed that the reason he had to do so was the lack of time to explain the situation to those who complained.  To appease the concerns of the complainants, they could have easily brought on a global warming skeptic scientist, to speak alongside Dr. Running.  The question then is, how easily?  Perhaps its as hard to find a skeptic scientist in Montana as it is in Texas.

Fortunately, a student at the high school is fighting back.

The controversy here intensified when a local student’s article criticizing school officials was published Monday on the student-created “Class Act Page” of The Great Falls Tribune, a statewide daily.

“I was insulted as a high school student prepared to enter the world I need to hear both sides of the story,” the student, Kip Barhaugh, 17, said in an interview Tuesday. “I don’t feel there is another side. Global warming is not a controversial issue, it’s a fact. We need to be prepared to deal with it.”

Kudos, Kip.  I think its pretty impressive that a high school student would step up like that.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: angel EMAIL: angel.lina705@gmail.com IP: 219.95.36.77 URL: DATE: 04/16/2009 09:10:39 PM It's a good website and as human we all have protect the animal in this world. ________________________________ angel Drug Intervention Montana ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Global Warming on the Campaign Trail STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: john-mccain-sou DATE: 01/15/2008 03:53:24 PM ----- BODY:

With several primaries and caucuses coming up, I thought I'd give an overview of what the candidates are saying about global warming and other environmental issues on the campaign trail.  But first, here are the important dates coming up.

Republicans
1.15.08 - Michigan primary
1.19.08 - South Carolina primary
1.29.08 - Florida primary
2.5.08 - Super Tuesday

Democrats
1.19.08 - Nevada caucus
1.26.08 - South Carolina primary
2.5.08 - Super Tuesday

Here is what some of the candidates are saying on the trail:

John McCain

Source:

McCain said retraining programs in Michigan can help the nation address global warming and dependence on foreign oil, through research on such items as hydrogen- or battery-run cars.

"Michigan can lead the nation and the world again," he said after a town hall meeting in Howell. "We've got the technology here. We've got the academic base. We've got the ability to bring green technologies to the world."

Source:

But McCain, the Arizona senator who won the Michigan primary in 2000 and is trying to build more momentum after winning in New Hampshire last week, is drawing large crowds and makes no apologies for his stance on immigration or on another issue that sets him apart from some conservatives: global warming.

It was one of the issues McCain emphasized yesterday in a stop at Michigan State University in East Lansing, where he told the students that if global warming is not occurring, it still would be better to reduce emissions and leave a healthier planet to future generations. "It's going to be your planet, not mine," the 71-year-old said.

Source:

Mentioning the North American International Auto Show, which opens this week in Detroit, McCain pointed to several new models of hybrid vehicles, electric cars and flex-fuel vehicles as evidence that U.S. auto industry is meeting foreign competition head-on through environmentally-friendly technology.

"I believe Michigan can lead the nation in this new green tech," he said.

McCain said the world is in the midst of a climate change, partially due to man-made pollution, and he urged greater development of "clean" technologies.


Mitt Romney

Source:

The Free Press sent questions to eight top candidates asking their views on tackling invasive species, fixing global warming, diverting Great Lakes water to parched states and supporting $20 billion in funding to restore the lakes, from rebuilding sewers to repairing wetlands.

Only Republican Mitt Romney, a Michigan native, responded.

John Edwards

Source:

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Monday said a proposed coal-fired power plant shouldn't be built in northeastern South Carolina, continuing his call for a ban on those facilities.

"My view is that needs to stop," Edwards said of the $1 billion, 600-megawatt plant set to be built along the Pee Dee River in this early voting state. Santee Cooper officials are awaiting a final permit from state environmental regulators.

He also said he was opposed to new nuclear power plants and that the U.S. has no credibility in global warming discussions. "We are the worst polluter on the planet," Edwards said.

Have you seen other quotes from candidates about global warming?   Post them in the comments here.

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The climate crisis will be one of the biggest challenges facing the next president. But the top Sunday hosts don’t seem to think so. In 2007, they asked 2,275 questions, but only three mentioned global warming.  Our friends at the League of Conservation Voters have done the analysis and compiled all of the facts in video below.

Sign the petition and tell the reporters to focus on the human race, not just political horse race.



Some news organizations have no problem mentioning climate change, like this recent article about the escalation of ice loss in Antarctica.  Why then, when it comes to presidential candidates, do they find themselves tongue-tied? 

Now we want to know what you think.  Do you think the media have been ignoring global warming during the Presidential campaigns?  Do you think they have been doing a good job covering the issue and informing voters on where candidates stand?  Let us know in the comments!

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NWF's National Outreach Director, Claudia Malloy, is in South Carolina for the South Carolina Wildlife Federation's Annual Meeting.  She provided the following update.

I'm in Greenville, SC for South Carolina Wildlife Federation's annual meeting.  I have not run into any presidential primary candidates, but Senator Graham was in the lobby of my hotel wearing a McCain for President sticker.  At first I wasn't sure it was him, so I ran up to my room to look him up in my face book. (I'm such a geek traveling with my face book.)  Anyway, I ran back down to the lobby to say hello.  He was very nice and asked me where I was from.  I said DC.  He asked if I was with McCain's people, I told him I was in town with the South Carolina Wildlife Federation.  He said what a great group SCWF is and you could see he really admires them.  I asked the Senator what he was going to do on climate, would he support Lieberman-Warner?  He said yes, if it included nukes. 

We have our work cut out for us.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Unscripted New Hampshire STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: unscripted-new DATE: 01/10/2008 05:27:25 PM ----- BODY:

This fall and winter I was lucky enough to be a small part of an increasingly sizable contingent of conservationists who have tried to elevate global warming to Tier One status in the Presidential race.  Seldom did we come away from a campaign event, rally or town hall meeting without a global warming question having been posed from the floor or, failing that, asked along the rope line.  Often, the question came up spontaneously, not having been asked by members of our team at all.  Our “stop global warming” signs, stickers and supporters were omnipresent and appear to have made a difference.  As the Presidential candidates head now to Nevada, South Carolina, Michigan and Florida, here are ten parting reflections on what I think may have occurred in New Hampshire. 

1.    Cast then count.  Cantankerous New Hampshirites indulge in a quaint habit of actually casting their ballots before counting them.  TV anchors, however, love to count the ballots before they’re cast.  In NH, Gallup, Rasmussen, Zogby, Pew and the media who feed on their stats forgot that polls are snapshots of a specific time and place, not crystal balls.  Gee, did the public get sucker-punched into upside-down expectations about the Hillary Barack outcome.  Proclaiming “hey, this is OUR Primary, not yours (media),”Granite Staters did what they did, giving Clinton a three point win.

2.    Response rate.  A corollary of Ogden Nash’s “if called by a panther, don’t anther”: if called by a pollster, ask em how many hang-ups or ‘no-responses’ they got before they got you.  I’m told the raw “response rate” in the NH polling was weak, the number of undecideds was huge and persisted right into the voting booth, and the leaners were just that: “leaning, not settled”.  Another, vaguely related, curiosity: if pollsters know that cellphones have replaced landlines for a significant number of voters, how come they still don’t acknowledge a cell phone factor in their margin of error caveat?

3.    We don’t make things worse. The 63 % turnout (of registered voters) shattered the 2000 record.  In spite of that, I met several people who didn’t vote in the Primary because they just couldn’t decide whom to pick. This had never occurred to me.  These voters were so conscientious! They said the Primary was too truncated, too compressed this year.  A few didn’t want to do damage by casting an irresponsible, unthoughtful vote.  The selection was almost too juicy.  All assured me they’d vote Nov 4th.  Fascinating.

4.    Toast.  Beware, too, the glib prognosticator.  How well I recall FOX news’ gleeful obituary for John McCain in mid-summer as McCain, out of money, fired his top advisors.  “Stick a fork in him; he’s done,” crowed FOX.  Well, McCain done well: finished first by 6 % in NH, pretty good for someone who was well done dead meat in July.

5.    Apogee?  Normally, I subscribe to the adage “trend is you friend” in politics.  Momentum is huge for a rising candidate like Obama leaving Iowa.  But at some point momentum peaks, then stalls.  Hillary’s do-or-die get-out-her-vote juggernaut (abetted by balmy weather and the Shaheen machine), apparently had a momentum of its own, equal to or greater than Obama’s.  Why is Hillary so perennially underestimated?  A lot of women to cast a “shame on you” vote to rebuke male contenders and a media that appeared to be ‘piling on’ in celebrating Hillary’s predicted demise.

6.    Double Digits.  The media in asserting to attentive NH that Obama could win by double digits, became a player not a reporter.  At all the Dem events I attended, people feasted on their bounty of available picks.  They were genuinely torn.  They liked em all.  So when it looked liked Obama might have a big surplus, some of those votes may have strayed to Hillary to be sure an Obama win wouldn’t be interpreted as a humiliating repudiation of the Clintons.  Similarly, some independents, originally expected to add to Obama’s surge may have chosen to help McCain in what was perceived to be an even closer Republican contest.  Obama’s predicted coronation fell victim.  There may have been animosity among the combatants, but for the most part, there wasn’t antipathy among their supporters.  Look for that to change as the field winnows and the race gets more complicated.

7.    Laundromat.  One of the sweetest stories I heard came from an Edwards staffer who was gladdened to find John’s retired millworker parents at the Portsmouth Hilton’s front desk early one morning trading dollars for quarters.  They insisted on doing their own laundry before embarking on another 18 hour day bolstering their ardent, albeit wealthy, son.

8.    Stamina.  I was repeatedly amazed as I witnessed the freshness and resilience of virtually all aspirants.  They were always “on”.  No down time.  Little sleep.  Day after grueling day, they acted as if each event was their first, not the tenth, of the day.  And they’ve been doing this for months straight.

9.    Foreign press.  I never attended a rally or town meeting where there wasn’t a phalanx of awestruck foreign correspondents or a European TV crew.  The intense, retail aspect of NH’s every-voter-matters is a phenomenon. Warts and all, it’s envied around the world.

10.     Heart.  I was shameless in asking literally everyone I encountered if they’d voted yet, what their top issue was, and if they wanted to recommend anyone.  The answers I got were almost invariably cheerful and respectful.  Mostly, voters demurred on either revealing their choice of trying to influence mine.  A toll collector counseled “Just do what your heart tells you to do.”  I conclude there was a lot less “strategic” voting going on, and an awful lot of people just following their heart.  What a privilege to see New Hampshire up close exercise our birthright with such enthusiasm, good will and deliberation.  Bravo democracy.  Bravo New Hampshire.  But I hear South Carolina is a different matter.

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Well, the circus has finally left town and New Hampshire can go back to normal. If downpours on January 9 is normal, that is...

Mccain_2 Yesterday NH Voters surprised the country - not only by reviving their 2 favorite campaigns (I am assuming by now you all know who won ; ), but also by showing the country and the world that they want a President who understands the climate crisis facing us and has a plan to do something about it. At his final rally on Monday night in Concord, McCain actually took one of our signs out of a volunteer's hand and held it up when he passionately said "and we're going to stop global warming!" Quite a positive sign that someone seeking the Republican nomination would so boldly and visibly make this promise.

So today the election moves on, but I have no doubt that New Hampshire has had a significant impact on what is to come. The candidates are talking about global warming, the media is talking about it, and I am hopeful that it will continue to be a part of the debate as we move on to Super-duper Tuesday and beyond.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: sue EMAIL: rowersue@gmail.com IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 01/09/2008 12:29:44 PM wow - usually the goal is to get a candidate wear a sticker - getting them to hold up a sign is the TOPS! so refreshing to see an issue I care about actually discussed by the candidates for a change. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Catherine Bowes TITLE: Just a few more hours... STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: just-a-few-more DATE: 01/08/2008 05:20:06 PM ----- BODY:

...and the polls will close in New Hampshire. Eric Orff and I spent the day on Elm Street in Manchester, holding global warming signs and talking to media, campaign supporters, and tons of people who are just here to take it all in!

Nh_3_005_4 And certainly there was plenty to take in. Our crew managed to build snowmen on many busy street corners of Manchester, including the big one pictured here in front of the Radisson where most of the media is headquartered. It was the perfect magnet, sparking conversations with countless reporters and passersby. The posted pictures will hopefully give you flavor of all the craziness here in Manchester! 

Eric was reminiscing about his time on Elm Street in the 60s, when Nh_3_009_4 the 60s were "cool". Eric grew up in Londonderry, not 10 miles from here. He remembers when he first got his license and cruised Elm Street to be cool - not at all like today where temperatures flirted with the 60s and melting snowmen lined the street (thanks to us, of course!) Back in the 60s Elm Street was cool in January, but today temperature records were expected to be broken all across the state. And it is not just the temperatures heating up the streets of New Hampshire, this state is red hot with talk of politics and heated debates over what kind of leader this country needs.

You can feel the intensity increasing as the workday ends and more New Hampshire voters head to the polls and out to the streets to join the ranks of campaign supporters that are wildly cheering for their favorite. In just a few hours we'll see who wins over the guy pictured here - with perhaps the most relevant sign on the street today!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Adam Kolton EMAIL: adamkolton@msn.com IP: 64.241.16.19 URL: DATE: 01/08/2008 09:57:42 PM Interesting to see the Republican with the strongest global warming position win the NH primary so convincingly. Wonder if global warming is becoming an increasingly important issue for independent voters? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Global Warming: A Major Issue in New Hampshire STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: global-warming DATE: 01/08/2008 12:45:56 PM ----- BODY:

Energy Smart points us to a Time article called The eight keys to New Hampshire.  The article lists global warming as one of the eight keys.  As Energy Smart points out, none of the other "keys" are actually issues. 

Nostalgia; Independent Voters; The Union Leader; Fire Marshals; Huckabee’s New England Appeal; The Ron Paul Effect; Romney’s Rebranding; and, Global Warming.

Time:

It may be Al Gore's ultimate political triumph: climate change as a key election issue. Everywhere they go throughout the state, candidates from both parties field questions about global warming from voters who are looking for more than just platitudes. They want to hear about cap-and-trade, carbon tax, hybrid cars, and woe to the candidate who tries to side-step the issue. Last spring, 180 out of 234 townships in the state passed a resolution asking the federal government to address climate change. That could result in some raised temperatures for Republicans who are still getting used to the idea that global warming might be real.

Let's hope that global warming turns out to be a bigger factor than nostalgia or fire marshals, when the votes are counted tonight.

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Today's the day. I think everyone - campaign staff and voters alike - are ready for the NH madness to be over. 

I am in Manchester today - media central - and the streets are gridlocked. It is pretty much like what it looks like on TV  - just louder (you gotta love the Ron Paul army - they have actually shut down the main street thru Manchester on more than one occasion) and warmer! Not sure why the DC media folks need to be quite so bundled up - it's almost 60 degrees here! The locals would be in flip flops if the sidewalks weren't rivers of melting snow. Great day to talk to people about global warming.

The streets are crawling with media interviewing undecided voters and campaign supporters looking to change just one more person's mind. The Carbon Coalition - including staff from NWF, LCV, & the Granite State Conservation Voters Alliance and many volunteers - is working the streets as well, placing signs around the various media headquarters and trying to get our message into stories about this primary that is being so closely watched around the country ... and the world. I have been interviewed by the Italian and Danish press, as have many of my colleagues! It is quite interesting to see how many international media outlets are here. They are really trying to get a handle on what goes on in the minds of American voters when picking a President. Aren't we all...

For now, it is just one big waiting game. It's a great day for voting, so if nothing else I hope that New Hamsphire shows the world that Americans value our right to vote by GOING TO THE POLLS!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Thomas F. Powers EMAIL: tpowers@townisp.com IP: 64.30.90.251 URL: DATE: 01/08/2008 03:46:14 PM Most encouraging to hear that Granite State voters are broadly and deeply concerned about global warming! Time for Republicans inside the beltway to wake up and smell the Diesel fumes! Are you listening Jim Inhofe? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Catherine Bowes TITLE: what a day STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: what-a-day DATE: 01/07/2008 10:17:12 PM ----- BODY:

Let the games continue...

It is getting increasingly interesting to see just what the candidates will do to secure every last vote. I just left a very energetic crowd at the Elks Lodge in Dover, where John Edwards James_dentonspoke for about a half hour. The crowd remained excited after waiting nearly 2 hours for the guest of honor to speak - but we were not bored. The Edwards campaign has quite an entourage, and we were treated to speeches by none other than actors James Denton (from Desperate Housewives - I confess I didn't know who he was either ; ) and Tim Robbins (I knew him!). Susan Sarandon was also there for good measure, but unfortunately she didn't speak. 

When Edwards took the stage, the crowd was raging. He clearly has a solid, loyal following here in New Hampshire. I found myself next to an undecided voter who had recently started to lean heavily toward Obama. After hearing Edwards' passionate words, specifically Tim_3_2 how he will take back the country for the middle class and kick the special interests out of Washington, it looks like he has won her vote. Amazing what a great speech and a couple celebrities will do!

Despite the multitude of "Friends of the Earth Action Support Edwards" signs around the hall in the hands of children (and of course my "Stop Global Warming" sign), Edwards never mentioned climate change or the environment in his speech. Edwards_4

Earlier today, Eric Orff attended a Romney event in Salem where about 350 people gathered in another NH Elks Lodge to hear how former MA Governor will "change Washington". Apparently that is the theme of Romney's stump speeches these days, and it appears that all the candidates - from both parties - are offering change. Given the state of affairs in the country these days, that seems a good thing. The promise of change is far and away the loudest message NH voters are hearing, but the difference seems to be how, or if, each candidate can actually effect change.

010708_romeny_in_salem2 Romney actually spoke about energy independence in his speech, but surprisingly John McCain - the most outspoken advocate for action on global warming on the Republican side - did not. I attended a brief rally in Exeter on the steps of the town hall this afternoon - and the message was all about the war on terror. McCain was running really late (another consistent theme of the day!) and again I found myself waiting for the candidate to arrive among a - mostly - patient crowd. While chatting with those around me, I think I uncovered the truly bizarre NH voter we all hear about. Standing next to me was a middle-aged undecided man, and I asked him who he was leaning toward - and why. He said quite confidently, "I'm probably going to vote for Romney, but I'm considering Obama." Yes, you read that correctly. So naturally I asked "what are you looking for in a candidate, because those 2 are pretty different!" He said "they are both brilliant, and I am tired of having a President who can't put a sentence together that makes any sense at all." So there you have it.

Tomorrow, the voters of NH will tell the rest of the country who they think should be President. And who knows if it will be issues, smarts, hamburgers, or celebrities that influences their decisions. Time will tell, and there's not much time left! Candidates are attending events well into the evening tonight (I think Edwards' last event starts at midnight) so they are using every last second they have to convince people that they should be the next President.

On to tomorrow...

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Derek Brockbank EMAIL: doftheb@hotmail.com IP: 68.55.103.219 URL: DATE: 01/08/2008 12:14:10 AM Hah! Is the Don Hooper getting James Denton's signature? And here I thought it would be Catherine who would like the Desperate House-Hunk! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David EMAIL: pierpontd@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 01/08/2008 10:25:04 AM Great updates and thanks for the pictures! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Josh Nelson EMAIL: nelsonj@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 01/08/2008 10:35:55 AM Glad you like the updates David. There should be more on the way! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Catherine Bowes TITLE: one more day.. STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: one-more-day DATE: 01/07/2008 03:35:22 PM ----- BODY:

The candidates have one more day to win over NH voters, and they are surely giving it all they've got!

I just left a crowded Hillary rally in Dover, where about 500 people filled a community center (apparently over a hundred people were shut out, as is happening at both Clinton and Obama events across the state). Boy did Hillary come out swinging! She clearly understands that Obama is gaining momentum here, having already bypassed her in local polls by a sizable margin. She railed against his record on change, talked about the importance of experience in this unstable world, and again used the term "false hope" to undermine his message. This drew lots of cheers from the older voters in the audience, but clearly turned off the youth who were already thin in numbers to begin with. This was a stark contrast to the Obama events I have attended, and more and more it appears that the younger vote is going to make a significant difference in this election. If they actually show up to vote tomorrow, that is. It is supposed to be 50 degrees, though, so all voters are going to have to wade through what is sure to be a deluge of melting snow!!

The Republicans are also doing their part to persuade undecided voters. Eric Orff (pictured here!) attended a lunch in Concord with Huckabee and Chuck Norris - or "Chuckabee" as the NHites are fondly calling the pair - where they were providing free "Huckaburgers" to attendees (hmmm - Chuckaburgers?!). According to a very colorful cell message report, when Eric told the Governor that he was an Independent, undecided voter, Huckabee practically "sat on his lap and served him a burger personally!!"010708_orff_eats_a_huckaberger

The candidates on both sides are clearly using every trick in the book - from free food to all out attacks on their opponents - to win over NH voters. With just one day to go, who knows what they'll pull out of their hats!

On to events for Romney, McCain, and Edwards - at least - this afternoon...

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Derek Brockbank EMAIL: brockbankd@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 01/07/2008 04:27:30 PM Mmm... I can almost taste the Huckaburger. Thanks for the updates, say hi to all the candidates for me! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: The Excitement is Palpable in New Hampshire STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-hampshire-t DATE: 01/07/2008 11:56:13 AM ----- BODY:

Sam_and_barack_in_derry_nhI crossed into NH today from Mass on a rag-tag meandering secondary road.  I knew immediately exactly when I'd hit pay dirt.  I was jolted at the otherwise unannounced border by an assault, a visual barrage of Hillary, Mitt, and Rudy lawn signs stuck in every median snowbank.   An orgy of patriotic red, white and blue.  I expected Born in the USA Bruce Springsteen to personally jump out of my hybrid car stereo to tell me I'd arrived.

Three out of four winters, NH hardly has a pulse in January.  Everyone's either trying to ice fish or cuddle with a wood stove.  This year "Live Free or Die" Land is throbbing palpably.  The state is about to blow its cerebral cortex picking the next President.

I just came from something billed as an Obama "Derry Stand for Change Rally".  I expected big, and it was: 2,500 waited ... and waited.  Obama, mobbed everywhere now, arrived in the Pinkerton Academy gym in the southeastern NH sprawl of Derry an hour and a half late.

Connor_stops_global_warming_3 "Change" is all the rage now.  I was there for Climate Change.  The Global Warming mafia got more stickers on more unsuspectings than all the AARPers, Single Payers and STOP THE WARriors combined.  Derry toddler Connor Santora clutching his dad Franc's hand is proof.

What I found most surprising about the Obama rally (having attended a bunch all fall for pretty much everybody running), was that when he asked the question "Who's still deciding (on who you're gonna vote for Tues)?" easily, 40%, maybe 1,000 people (of every age, stripe and ethnicity) raised their hands.  I was astounded.  Granite Staters take their "front-porch-candidate-testing" wicked seriously.  No one's gonna stampede New Hampshire into doing anything they don't decide to do for themselves.  Attendees I met were there to listen, learn and kick the tires.  Way to be, democracy! I was lucky enough to have my son Sam agree to allow us to use his head for multiple messaging: Boston Red Sox logo and Stop Global Warming pin on his cap.  Note Barack Obama on stage in background.

NH Secretary of State Bill Gardiner sez this is the weekend New Hampshirites settle and decide.  But this year is more volatile and compressed (on both the R and D side) than anything I've ever witnessed.  Stay tuned.  Bill predicts Iowa-like huge turnout.  I plan to attend a John McCain "Mac is Back" rally in Hanover at noon Monday to see if Global Warming comes up as an issue, and how McCain, now the alleged NH frontrunner, addresses it as he woos the base.

This on the ground update is courtesy of NWF's Don Hooper.

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The

----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jackie Mccaffrey EMAIL: jackiemccaffrey@mac.com IP: 96.224.162.164 URL: http://www.myspace.com/thekiddy3 DATE: 01/07/2008 11:14:29 PM You just lost me. My candidate is John Edwards and all you can talk about is Obama. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Josh Nelson EMAIL: nelsonj@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 01/08/2008 10:46:47 AM Hey Jackie, They just happened to be at an Obama event. You can read about an Edwards event here: http://blogs.nwf.org/arctic_promise/2008/01/what-a-day.html Thanks for stopping by. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Catherine Bowes TITLE: NWF is on the ground in New Hampshire! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-is-on-the-g DATE: 01/06/2008 07:55:22 PM ----- BODY:

New Hampshire is buzzing!

1 The intensity of the presidential campaign in NH has definitely gone up several notches! For the last 2 days my colleagues and I have been traveling around the state - attending candidate events, talking to voters and press, etc - and the energy on all sides is astounding. One thing is for sure, there are still a TON of undecided voters out there and over the next 2 days the people of New Hampshire will continue to grapple with their decision.

The Iowa Caucus clearly caught many of the candidates’ supporters by surprise, and while the winners are working hard to ride the wave of momentum, the others are tirelessly attempting to create a very different outcome here in New Hampshire.

My colleague Eric Orff attended Hillary’s “welcome back to NH” event very early on Friday morning, and the energy in the large hanger was vibrant, positive, and enthusiastic – clearly there are droves of Hillary supporters desperately hoping that what “happened in Iowa will stay in Iowa.”

Throughout the weekend, large, energized have gathered to see Obama, Clinton, McCain and Edwards. Giuliani and Richardson have not been so fortunate, at least from the handful of events we were able to attend (not a scientific analysis by any means!). We plan to get to see many more candidates before Tuesday, so I'll report more when I can.

2 This morning I went to an Obama rally at a high school in Exeter, and the excitement is palpable. Both the candidate and his supporters can taste victory, you can feel it. In addition to his other key issues (war, health care, education), Obama spoke eloquently and passionately about his intention to take on the oil companies and the need for clean energy development in this country. This drew big cheers from the crowd, especially when he talked about the potential for job creation thru a new green economy.

Of all the events we have attended thus far, without a doubt the most inspiring for me was a rally we organized outside the Manchester debate last night. Well over 100 people donned global warming shirts, signs, buttons, and costumes (I’m not kidding, there were 2 polar bears, a snowman, Santa, and even a CFL lightbulb!!) and rallied outside the debate site. We outnumbered all the campaigns! People of all ages (including a bus of 30 that came up from New Bedford, MA to join us) cheered and chanted various “STOP GLOBAL WARMING” messages in front of the circus of media and campaign staff that filtered by. Cool stuff. Maybe NH Public Radio was onto something today when they called energy policy one of the "hip issues of this year's primary"!!

After the rally, we all gathered in a bar in Manchester to watch the debate and our crowd multiplied to over 200. The room erupted into cheers when McCain brought up global warming (of course that was quickly silenced when he mentioned nuclear), and of course again when Al Gore got his shoutout during the Democrats debate. Clearly this issue is on many voters' minds in NH, and fact that it is consistently among the important issues each “would be” President mentions is encouraging.

My apologies for this lengthy post, but it is amazing just how much happens in 1 day in New Hampshire right now! Over the next 2 days, my colleagues and I will attempt to provide a snapshot of all the craziness thru this blog. One thing is clear to me – the voters of New Hampshire are still making up their minds, and may well remain undecided right up until they pull the levers.

Exciting stuff! Stay tuned.

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Like the rest of the media and politarazzi, I'm heading out of Iowa with no real idea when or if I'll be back.  It's been fascinating and fun.  I've enjoyed seeing the rise and fall of candidates, and the slow but steady rise of global warming as an issue.

I should probably have some profound final words, but the best I can muster is that final words don't seem appropriate because, despite nearly a year of campaigning leading up to the caucus, Iowa is really a beginning.  Now is the start of the Election Year.  Now is the start of the campaign season.  We have our front runners and our long shots, but we don't have our candidates and we don't have our next president.  So take heart, you political junkies, we have a fun year ahead.  Stay tuned for my colleagues, Catherine Bowes and Don Hooper, blogging live from New Hampshire, starting this weekend.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: kathy EMAIL: dyasbrock@aol.com IP: 24.185.237.54 URL: DATE: 01/04/2008 06:50:32 PM Thanks for sharing all this, Derek. You made us feel like we were there & part of the action.And thanks for putting climate change on the minds (and in the mouths) of those who wish to run the country. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Derek Brockbank TITLE: Inspired STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: inspired DATE: 01/04/2008 01:27:36 AM ----- BODY:

Standing just feet from Obama at his victory rally, it was hard not to be inspired.  A message of change and hope wrapped in a bond between candidate and his adoring supporters - and these Iowa voters, volunteers and organizers truly are supporters: the people that hold up, support, his candidacy.  Three times in his victory oratory Obama wove in global warming and ending the "tyranny of oil" and applause rained down on each of them.  Obama spoke one truth specific to me tonight at HyVee Hall: that years from now I will remember tonight.

I regret having to shortchange Huckabee, but his speech was just before Obama's and I missed it, but instead I will give one anecdote from a Huckabee event in Grinnell today.  As Huckabee was leaving the event, a colleague of mine thanked him for his leadership on global warming  - as a devout Christian, Huckabee has spoken frequently on the need to protect God's creation and not pollute our environment.  Huckabee paused looked him in the eye, thanked him and said, "You know, our party needs to do more on the issue."  I won't claim global warming propelled Huckabee to victory, but he gets the issue and gets that the status quo is unacceptable.

I'm inspired - and tired - in Iowa.  Can't wait to see how the next month develops for the candidates.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sue Brown EMAIL: brownsc@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 01/04/2008 10:34:04 AM Thanks for blogging and letting us live the Iowa experience with you. Anytime 75,000 more people than expected turn up for an election it is a good day for democracy. That is the real exciting part of the Iowa experience for me. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Josh Nelson EMAIL: nelsonj@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 01/04/2008 10:35:18 AM That must have been quite an experience. Thanks for keeping the candidates on message! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David EMAIL: pierpontd@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 01/04/2008 10:46:33 AM Great work Derek! I agree last night gave me hope that we finally have candidates who understand the importance of taking care of our environment. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Derek Brockbank TITLE: Halfway in... STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: halfway-in DATE: 01/03/2008 09:36:36 PM ----- BODY:

In case you're so enthralled with my blog that you haven't looked at any other news media - Looks like Huckabee beat Romney, with Thompson and McCain behind and Paul and Giuliani a bit behind that.  But precincts are still reporting.  On the D side Obama is leading Edwards and Clinton but it's within 5%.

At the Caucus I observed Obama led with 186 people caucusing for him, Edwards had 116 and Clinton had 76 - translating to a breakdown of the 6 delegates from the precinct: 3 for Obama, 2 for Edwards, 1 for Clinton.

Quick thoughts: Turnout was huge!  At my precinct they were expecting 250 or so and got 378.  Also very few of the unviable candidate voters (caucus-goers who wanted a candidate that got less than 15% at the initial tally) had Clinton as their 2nd choice.  After the initial tally, Clinton only grew by 6, Edwards grew by 36, and Obama grew by 50.

Nothing's final but looks like Obama and Huckabee are the "presumptive favorites." 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Derek Brockbank TITLE: Waiting... STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: waiting DATE: 01/03/2008 04:10:14 PM ----- BODY:

Caucus in a couple hours...

I attended a Mitt Romney event earlier today.  The second issue he referenced was energy, but no mention of global warming or climate change.  He said we need more nuclear, liquid coal and much more efficiency.   Oh, and ethanol - this is Iowa.

While waiting for Romney, I got interviewed by German Television and a reporter from University of Wisconsin newspaper, so if you're reading my blog in Berlin or Madison - keep an eye out!  (Ok, so I'm working my way up... I'm sure Anderson Cooper will be calling soon.)

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sue Brown EMAIL: brownsc@nwf.org IP: 64.240.150.51 URL: DATE: 01/03/2008 06:06:40 PM so what is your feeling about whether new caucus goers will show up tonight? A couple candidate especially Obama and even Clinton are banking on new participants. Hard to tell how likely they are to attend. any intel on that? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Derek Brockbank EMAIL: brockbankd@nwf.org IP: 65.125.132.2 URL: DATE: 01/03/2008 06:37:10 PM I'm gonna say yes they will show up. It's really a giant guess, but young voter turnout was up in the 2004 general election and in 2006, so why not 2008. (will that apply to the caucus? Um... yes? maybe?) I also think the candidacy of a Woman and a African-American will be more of a draw for new voters than another white man, so I don't think the Dean analogy is as pertinent as some say. Also the weather's nice, a lot warmer (in the mid 20s) so could be a big turnout. That said, I'm still gonna hedge and say Edwards certainly has a good organization and strong support from the base. Finally, my prediction - I'll go with the same prediction I made at my first Iowa trip in May: Romney and Obama, but a very close 3-way Democratic split. (But don't bet on it.) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sue Brown EMAIL: brownsc@nwf.org IP: 64.240.150.51 URL: DATE: 01/03/2008 07:17:20 PM bold - even chuck todd of nbc news won't make a prediction. I think this time around Iowa won't annoint a winner but will rather weed out the losers. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Josh Nelson EMAIL: nelsonj@nwf.org IP: 68.48.76.146 URL: DATE: 01/03/2008 08:30:58 PM I'm hearing things about very high turnout from several people on the ground. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sue Brown EMAIL: brownsc@nwf.org IP: 64.240.150.51 URL: DATE: 01/03/2008 09:31:52 PM turnout is huge on the dem. side - could be 200,000 - last time it was 125,000 i seem to remember. abc news just declared Obama the winner on the dem side, Huckabee on the Rep. side. Hmmm...makes NH pretty unpredictable. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mike W EMAIL: mgwmgw@gmail.com IP: 98.204.112.154 URL: DATE: 01/03/2008 09:38:50 PM So it looks like your Romney prediction didn't fare too well. Any thoughts on the Huckabee boon? Also, what sort of effect did global warming have on these caucuses? Did you see anybody pushing the issue outside any precincts? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Derek Brockbank EMAIL: brockbankd@nwf.org IP: 65.125.132.2 URL: DATE: 01/03/2008 09:48:32 PM Ok, so while that was my long standing prediction - in the pool I actually put money on last week (you know, if gambling were legal) I had to list the order of the top 5. Here's what I had: Rs: Huckabee, Romney, Thompson, McCain, Giuliani. Ds: Obama, Clinton, Edwards, Richardson, Biden. I think that'll be pretty close (sorry i couldn't say it before, but I couldn't jinx the money pick). ----- -------- AUTHOR: Derek Brockbank TITLE: Breakfast with CNN STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: breakfast-with DATE: 01/03/2008 10:42:13 AM ----- BODY:

French toast, 2 eggs scrambled, hash browns and a side of presidential candidates, please. 

If dining at a roadside diner while watching Bill Richardson, Fred Thompson and John Edwards be interviewed live on TV just 20 feet away is your idea of a good time, you should have joined me at Waveland Cafe in Des Moines at 7:30 this morning (you may also want to get your head out of the blogs and get your green hour).

My favorite (off camera) quote: After his 36 hour campaigning marathon, John Edwards was asked by twenty-something supporter, "What's the secret? Energizer batteries? Red Bull?" To which Edwards responded, "I don't know, drugs I think."  Nothing like 36 hours with no sleep to take you off message, but everybody around him erupted in laughter.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: The Presidential Candidates EMAIL: zibblu@gmail.com IP: 71.125.252.124 URL: http://www.ThePresidentialCandidates.us DATE: 01/03/2008 01:25:19 PM If John Edwards would talk about drugs a little more I might consider supporting him. IE if he would talk about legalizing all drugs. Ending The Drug War! Marijuana prohibition has hundreds of thousands of Americans arrested every year. It's unfair & also a huge waste of money. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Derek Brockbank TITLE: Return of the Conservation Candidate STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: return-of-the-c DATE: 01/03/2008 01:03:00 AM ----- BODY:

I went to 2 campaign rallies tonight (well, three, but I got to the Obama rally right as it finished, so I don't count that) and I think momentum is building toward a conservation platform. Maybe not yet as a number one issue, but I think the era of candidates ignoring the environment may be over.

Mccain_context The first rally was for John McCain, which was overflowing. Held at their campaign office, it was wall-to-wall people with many standing outside and very few leaving despite McCain being a half hour late.  With McCain surging in New Hampshire and being endorsed by the Des Moines Register, I think he could be the surprise of Iowa after being written off months ago.  And I'm not the only one who thinks that: also at the event were Tim Russert, Brian Williams and George Stephanopoulis, as well as Sky News (U.K.) and the San Francisco Chronicle with whom I chatted while waiting for the candidate.  McCain has not made huge issue of global warming on the campaign trail, but he is the only Republican candidate to regularly address the issue on the stump and is the only Republican candidate to have strong credentials in looking for solutions  - 7 years ago he co-authored the first comprehensive global warming legislation in Congress.

160pxjohn_edwards2c_official_senateThe second rally was for John Edwards, and I'll be honest, I went because John Mellencamp was playing (and he played a heckuva set), but Edwards fiery rhetoric is always inspiring.  Before John Edwards even got a chance to speak, Elizabeth Edwards praised her husband as a man that would not negotiate with Exxon and corporate polluters.  John Edwards then hammered home his populist message of leaving America better off for our children than it is today.  Not a bad turnout there either, well over a 1000 people in a packed ballroom.

Iowans think long and hard about their candidates, and it seems the longer and harder you think, the more you begin to recognize the environment - and global warming in particular - is an issue the next president better be ready to address.

http://mccain.senate.gov, official Senate photo, Permission - US Congress; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Edwards, official Senate photo, Permission - public

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jim Peugh EMAIL: peugh@cox.net IP: 68.107.70.122 URL: DATE: 01/08/2008 01:07:25 AM Do any candidates have a mature environmental platform? To support solutions for Global Warming is currently obvious. Do any also advocate protection of sensitive habitat, endangered species, clean water, clean air, roadless areas, etc. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Derek Brockbank TITLE: Iowa Caucus STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: iowa-caucus DATE: 01/02/2008 01:41:59 PM ----- BODY:

Iowa's freezing, but the globe is warming and so I find myself in Iowa for the "First in the Nation" Presidential Caucuses, to help promote global warming as a presidential issue. I'll be reporting my thoughts here periodically over the next 48 hours, so if you care what a wildlife-loving, political junkie like myself thinks about the Iowa Circus (ahem, Caucus), check back frequently.

Right now, I'm typing away in the Press Center of the Iowa convention center.  I'm about 50 feet from Ed Schultz's Radio Show.  In the past hour, he's interviewed Sam Donaldson and Pat Buchanan, he's currently talking with Presidential Candidate - and internet sensation - Ron Paul.  Within the next 24 hours, 2500 credentialed press members will show up here.

But why I am here?  Well, becuase global warming has become an issue in these caucuses.  But don't take my word for it, check out the Des Moines Register.

Want to know more about the caucus process?  Click Here.  Want to know more about where candidates stand on global warming?  Click Here.

Stay tuned, reports on NPR issue forum, John Mellencamp for John Edwards Rally and, of course, the caucus itself, forthcoming.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: 10 Best Green Stories of 2007 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 10-best-green-s CATEGORY: News DATE: 12/28/2007 10:32:20 AM ----- BODY:

Grist has an excellent post called The Top Green Stories of 2007.  While they highlighted some of the biggest news, good and bad, I tried to focus on the most positive developments, some of which didn't get the media attention they deserved.  Overall 2007 was an amazing year for the environmental movement, but we've still got much work to do.  At NWF, we're all working hard to make sure that 2008 puts 2007 to shame in this category.

1.  A company called Nanosolar has created solar panels that are more efficient than coal.

"With a $1-per-watt panel," [CEO Martin Roscheisen] said, "it is possible to build $2-per-watt systems." According to the Energy Department, building a new coal plant costs about $2.1 a watt, plus the cost of fuel and emissions, he said.

2.  Congress passed a landmark energy bill, which does the following:

The bill increases vehicle fuel economy standards by 40 percent and will save consumers $40 billion a year at the pump and help spur innovation and new American jobs. Its improved energy efficiency standards covering a wide range of products, lighting and buildings will also benefit American consumers. The Energy Bill also improves provisions that boost homegrown biofuels and reduce our dependency on oil. The improvements include performance-based standards to ensure biofuels significantly curb global warming pollution and help to ease some of the impacts of biofuels production on wildlife and native habitats. National Wildlife Federation has advocated for these additional standards as important protections for the future of wildlife.

3.  Al Gore co-hosted Live Earth:  The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis:

Live Earth was a monumental music event that brought together a global audience on July 7, 2007 to combat the climate crisis. Live Earth staged concerts in New York, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg and Hamburg - as well as special broadcast events in Antarctica, Kyoto and Washington, DC - and featured feature more than 150 of the world's best music acts - a mix of both legendary music acts like The Police, Genesis, Bon Jovi and Madonna with the latest headliners like Kanye West, Kelly Clarkson, Black Eyed Peas and Jack Johnson.

Gore also shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

4.  Investments in green technology more than doubled over the past year:

While the coal and nuclear industries spent the year petitioning the government for handouts, people with their own money on the line flocked to the hottest investment since the internet: green tech. Where 2006 saw $1.2 billion dumped into the clean-tech sector, 2007 saw $2.6 billion in the first nine months alone.

5.  Nine Midwestern governors and the Premier of Manitoba signed an historic greenhouse gas accord:

This has powerful implications not just for state and regional progress, but for global warming policy nationwide. In addition, it lays out a detailed road map of supporting policies and regional partnerships to acheive the following, amongst other things:       

25 by 25 in renewable energy and fuels (25% by 2025).

2% energy from efficiency by 2015 and 2% per year thereafter.

Carbon pipeline sited and permitted and carbon storage regs by 2012, all new coal plants to capture and store CO2 by 2020.

6.  Over 5,000 college students came together at Power Shift 2007 to demand action on climate legislation.  This Discovery Channel video explains.  Here is another video of NWF's own Derek Brockbank, at Power Shift.

7.  In Bali, world leaders expressed their willingness to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  NWF CEO Larry Schweiger explains

Bali laid the groundwork for developing a fair climate plan that addresses the needs of nations representing those most vulnerable to the very real consequences of global warming. It also set the stage for deploying on a global scale the kind of clean energy technology needed to move beyond a fossil-fuel based energy future.

8.  The Climate Security Act has gone further than any climate bill has ever gone in Congress.  A vote is expected in the full Senate in the next few months.

"This evening’s vote marks a new era in Congress and a new approach to global warming. After years of empty promises in Congress, this evening’s victory is a sign that the leadership and political will are at hand to get the job done. "The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, led by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Cali., has sent to the full Senate meaningful global warming legislation that would quickly put the nation on the right path to reducing the pollution causing global warming.

Learn more about the markup at Hill Heat.

9.  Al Gore and Richard Branson announced the Virgin Earth Challenge:

The Virgin Earth Challenge is a competition offering a $25 million prize for the first person or organization to come up with a way of scrubbing greenhouse gases out of the Earth's atmosphere to avoid global warming. The prize was conceived and financed by Sir Richard Branson, a successful British entrepreneur, and was announced in London on 9 February 2007 by Branson and former US Vice President and 2007 Nobel Prize winner Al Gore, creator of the 2006 film An Inconvenient Truth on climate change.

  This prize has created incentives for some amazing technologies.

10. All of the major Democratic candidates for President have plans to combat climate change.  Grist has some excellent tools to compare and contrast:

Compare the candidates' green positions using our handy chart.  And watch video of some of the candidates speaking at the first-ever presidential candidate forum focused on climate change and energy policy, cosponsored by Grist. 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Fuel Efficiency will Sell More Cars STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: fuel-efficiency DATE: 12/27/2007 11:06:20 AM ----- BODY:

While last week's signing of the energy bill was a great step forward, it doesn't go nearly far enough.  This country has been slacking on fuel efficiency standards for decades, and it is starting to hit Detroit in the bottom line. Let's compare some fuel efficiency statistics by geography and time.

In 1987, Honda Civics got 57 Miles per Gallon.  Due to its increased weight, the 2008 Civic gets only 26-34 Miles per Gallon.

In 1908, the Model T got 25 Miles per Gallon.  In 2004 the average American car got just 21 Miles per Gallon.

MPGomatic has a list of dozens of late 70s and early 80s American cars with great fuel efficiency, many as high as 40 MPG.

The International Council on Clean Transportation has an excellent report called Passenger Vehicle Greenhouse Gas and Fuel Economy Standards:  A Global Update.  It includes this graph which projects global fuel efficiency over the next 10 years.

I'll be buying a car in the next few years, and I'd like it to be an American one.  The car I choose will be largely determined by fuel efficiency of vehicles on the market in my price range.  Hopefully, the American auto industry will get its active together and realize that people are sick of huge, gas guzzling SUVs.  There are millions of Americans like me who would prefer to buy a super-efficient (and cost-saving), small vehicle.

Fortunately, due in large part to the X Prize Foundation, there may be options.  The Aptera Typ-1 is expected to be on the market in early 2008, with the ability to go nearly 300 miles per gallon.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Wildlife and Weather - December 21st STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: wildlife-and-we CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 12/21/2007 11:52:02 AM ----- BODY:

Wildlife Update: Week of December 21st
A resource interpreting the impact of weather conditions on wildlife.

Christmas Bird Count

National Wildlife Federation supports citizen science, and one of the oldest such efforts is the Christmas Bird Count sponsored by our friends at Audubon. Here’s how it works: regular folks record bird sightings and scientists then use the data to study bird populations. It’s a great way to get outside during the holiday season with the entire family and do something good for wildlife.

It's going on right now, so sign up to participate at:
Christmas Bird Count



Recent snows make it harder for a lot wildlife species to survive, but not the lynx. These  beautiful, wild cats can still be found in small populations in the Northeast and are often confused with the similar bobcat. Lynx are more adapted to snowy environments and you can distinguish them from bobcats by their tufted ears, silvery coat and huge, snowshoe-like feet that allow them to move about with ease in deep snow.



Dark Eyed JuncoDark-eyed juncos have arrived in their wintering grounds across the Midwest. These smoky-colored sparrows breed in Canada and head south for the winter, giving them their common nickname “snowbird.” Keep a feeder filled this winter and you’ll be guaranteed to see these cute little birds in your yard.



Mountain BluebirdFrom Oregon to Colorado and down into Mexico, mountain bluebirds have returned for the winter. Be on the lookout for these beautiful birds feeding on berries and foraging for insects. To tell them apart from Western bluebirds check out their breast feathers. Mountain bluebirds have bluish-gray breasts while Western bluebirds’ are reddish-brown.



Witch Hazel-- Photo by Mason BryantWitchhazel, a native shrub, is in bloom across its range. Its spider-like yellow blooms are a great way to brighten the winter landscape in a season when other flowers have long since faded and the trees have lost their fall foliage. It’s also a preferred nesting shrub for birds come spring.

This Message was brought to you by our wonderful naturalist, David Mizejewski. Let us know what wildlife you enjoy in your area!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Reduce Emissions, When Politically Convenient STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: reduce-emission CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 12/20/2007 04:57:46 PM ----- BODY:

Just yesterday, President Bush was basking in the glow of the freshly-signed energy bill, taking credit for improved fuel economy standards and expanded biofuels mandates.

But it turns out the White House's green party only lasted until sundown. Just moments after network nightly newscasts started to air the footage of the meticulously-staged signing ceremony, President Bush's own Environmental Protection Agency blocked the effort of California and other states to regulate tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases. While the new federal energy law would require an average fleet fuel economy of 35 mpg by 2020, California officials estimate their new emissions standard would achieve an average of at least 36 mpg by 2016.

With a single ruling, the White House simultaneously turned its back not only on the Clean Air Act, 18 governors and states (representing half of all Americans), and more than 100,000 public comments, but according to the Washington Post, the EPA contradicted its own staff:

"Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen L. Johnson yesterday denied California's petition to limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks, overruling the unanimous recommendation of the agency's legal and technical staffs." 

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger immediately promised legal action:

"While the federal energy bill is a good step toward reducing dependence on foreign oil, the President's approval of it does not constitute grounds for denying our waiver.   It is disappointing that the federal government is standing in our way and ignoring the will of tens of millions of people across the nation. We will continue to fight this battle.  California sued to compel the agency to act on our waiver, and now we will sue to overturn today's decision and allow Californians to protect our environment." 

As Grist's David Roberts details, it's hard not to conclude this decision was based more on politics than policy:

"This flies in the face of the clear language of the CAA and the just-passed energy bill, both of which explicitly reserve for California the right to exceed federal fuel economy standards. It also directly contradicts rulings in several recent court cases. Johnson's legal reasoning has no support outside of Bush administration political appointees.

In short, as Johnson all but admitted, this decision was made based on a "policy preference" of the White House -- exactly what was prohibited by the Supreme Court's ruling in Mass. v. EPA."Look, President Bush deserves credit for signing the energy bill. As he himself said, the energy bill is "a major step toward reducing our dependence on oil, confronting global climate change, expanding the production of renewable fuels and giving future generations of our country a nation that is stronger, cleaner and more secure."

But his EPA deserves the heat it's getting for its indefensible decision. The blatant contradiction leads to a legitimate question. Are energy independence, climate action, and a clean energy future only goals when the spotlight is shining and the pressure is intense?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Energy Bill Signed into Law STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: energy-bill-sig DATE: 12/19/2007 02:32:22 PM ----- BODY:

Wildlife to Benefit from this "Down Payment" on Strong Global Warming Legislation

The package--which passed the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in the past week--will help reduce America's oil dependency and take an important step toward reducing global warming pollution.

Listen to NWF Global Warming Director Jeremy Symons talk about the bill on the The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, Dec. 18. (mp3)

Ray Suarez: "Is this going to make enough of a dent in the emissions problem in the United States?"

Jeremy Symons: "It's a down payment on stopping global warming, but we're not done fighting. We need those provisions and we need a comprehensive bill to reduce global warming pollution. And we need to get that done next year."

What is Good About the Energy Bill?

Historic Fuel Economy Standards for Cars and Trucks:

For the first time in more than 30 years, Congress increased fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 for new cars and trucks. These provisions will save American families $700 to $1,000 per year at the pump, with $22 billion in net consumer savings in 2020 alone.

This is the first increase by Congress since the days of 8-track tapes--marking a significant advancement in our efforts to address our energy security and laying the groundwork for climate legislation next year.

Renewable Fuels Standard:

The energy bill included a new commitment to homegrown biofuels and updates the program to achieve strong greenhouse gas performance standards and includes significant protections for wildlife and biodiversity.

Specifically, the bill includes a prohibition on the conversion of native ecosystems to the production of energy crops. The greenhouse gas performance standards--20% less GHGs for corn ethanol, 50% less for advanced biofuels, and 60% less for cellulosic ethanol and the requirement that land-use changes be accounted for in these targets--help ensure biofuels will contribute to solving global warming.

Incentives for Hybrids:

The energy bill establishes a plug-in hybrid/electric vehicle tax credit for individuals and encourages the domestic development and production of advanced technology vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Landmark Energy Efficiency to Bring Down Costs:

The energy bill includes landmark energy efficiency provisions that would save consumers and businesses hundreds of billions of dollars through 2030.

It would require more energy efficient appliances, such as dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators and freezers, and would speed up Energy Department action on new efficiency standards after six years of delay. It would require improved commercial and federal building energy efficiency and assist consumers in improving the efficiency of their homes.

A Skilled Green Workforce:

This package creates an Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker Training Program to train a quality workforce for "green" collar jobs--such as solar panel manufacturer and green building construction worker--created by federal renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives. Major investments in renewable energy could create 3 million green jobs over 10 years.

Making Coal Part of the Solution:

The energy bill includes an initiative that takes aggressive steps on carbon capture and sequestration to take the carbon out of coal--authorizing a nationwide assessment of geological formations capable of sequestering carbon dioxide underground and expansive research and development, including large-volume sequestration tests in a variety of different geological formations. First time ever the incentives for more efficient coal use include a requirement for carbon sequestration.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Mike Williams TITLE: Leave No Child Inside STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: leave-no-child DATE: 12/18/2007 02:26:29 PM ----- BODY:

When you go outside, what do you see?  Trees, plants, a blue sky specked with clouds, maybe a rabbit or deer?  What don't you see?  Kids, most likely.  Specifically, kids outside enjoying nature in unscheduled play.  There is a current trend in society that is keeping people, children especially, indoors and attached to  electronic devices (TVs, computers, cell phones, etc.).  Richard Louv wrote a whole phenomenal book (Last Child in the Woods) about our children's growing "nature deficit."  The statistic that most jars me is that kids are on average spending over 6 hours a day watching TV/playing video games/on the computer/on the cell phone. 6 HOURS.

On top of this, our schools are teaching less about the natural environment, thanks to the unintended consequences of the "No Child Left Behind" law.  So kids in America are getting less time to experience nature on their own time and learning about nature and the environment less in school.  Just exactly what will the next generation know about the environment?  How many of that generation will care enough, without the necessary knowledge, to become future leaders in conservation?

Sadly, we are only skimming the surface of this problem.  Kids not getting outside can lead to health problems, mental and physical.  Without knowledge about the environment learned at an early age, where will the future workforce and policy leaders that we will need to combat the effects of global warming and natural resource depletion come from?  What about this great "green workforce" we've been clamoring for?  Who will fill those jobs?

Thankfully, there are some steps we can take to begin to solve this problem.  The No Child Left Inside Coalition has been pushing legislation that will amend the No Child Left Behind Act to include important  provisions that will teach kids about the environment and provide more outlets to get them outside.

It is an important step, but like the energy bill in the greater global warming process it is only the beginning. 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Green News 12/17 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bali-forum-back DATE: 12/17/2007 12:49:17 PM ----- BODY:

Bali Forum Backs Climate Roadmap:

Delegates from nearly 190 countries emerged from a final 24 hours of bruising negotiations Saturday with an agreement on a new framework for tackling global warming, one that for the first time calls on both the industrialized world and rapidly developing nations to commit to measurable, verifiable steps.

As Temperatures Rise, Health Could Decline:

Depending on where you are, this is going to be a hotter, wetter, drier, windier, calmer, dirtier, buggier or hungrier century than mankind has seen in a while. In some places, it may be deadlier, too. The effects of climate change are diverse and sometimes contradictory. In general, they favor instability and extreme events. On balance, they will tend to harm health rather than promote it.

Testing the Climate:

The Arctic sea ice is shrinking so fast that within the next few decades, if not years, it could be completely gone in summertime. “The Arctic is often cited as the canary in the coal mine for climate warming,” Jay Zwally, a climate expert at NASA, told the Associated Press. “Now as a sign of climate warming the canary has died.”

Mumbai 'pulls off plug' in campaign against global warming:

Hundreds of citizens in India's financial capital took part in a campaign, aimed at spreading the effects of global warming and the need to conserve energy, by switching off power in several places in the city. The "Batti Bandh" (Lights Off) campaign was initiated by five young executives and was later joined by resident associations, corporates, NGOs and educational institutions.

Small N.H. city takes on global warming challenge:

Now, this lively, tiny city ringed by low hills is turning to behavioral science for solutions. First, a city task force is tackling the barriers to environmentally sensitive behavior - for example, a booth was set up downtown recently to sell energy-efficient light bulbs at a sharp discount. Then, to sustain new habits, they will employ a powerful emotional tool: Social pressure.

What are you reading today?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: What Would You Say to your Great, Great Grandchildren? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-100-year-le CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 12/17/2007 11:41:43 AM ----- BODY:


It's easy to get caught up in the now. I'm one of those people that is so focused on the present or the past that I rarely even have time to consider the future. Well thanks to Desmog blog's 100 Year Letter Project, I was challenged to write a letter to my great, great grandchildren about climate change. Hard task huh? Well, I took a crack at it and I suggest readers do too! Please feel free to leave comments or share your own stories.

Greetings future offspring of my offspring’s offspring,

I write to you from a time of hope and some fear. My childhood was one filled with hikes or ‘explores’ with my father. I was able to spend hours of time playing in the woods and nearby streams while watching all kinds of wildlife. My father and mother instilled in me a love for nature that I carry with me.


I’m curious to know what your world is like. I hope that your parents have instilled in you the virtues that make you a caring and responsible individual. In my day, there were serious environmental issues that concerned me and inspired me to work at a non-profit that protects wildlife and the environment for your future. I just hope we’ve left you more than wildlife in the zoos and books. I hope you get to see animals running free while enjoying the outdoors.


Right now one of the biggest issues we are facing is global warming. Many of us are trying desperately to reduce our impact on the earth. Has your generation figured out how to benefit all members within an ecosystem with smarter consumer products? Are things biodegradable? We have stripped the land and --not to be dramatic-- we’ve been very selfish without meaning to be. I hope that your generation thinks beyond human uses for things and makes them not just sustainable but HELPFUL to other living organisms. I know I sound worried and fearful, but you see, generations before me have overlooked very basic and important responsibilities to future generations, including the idea of a community. That is truly what the earth is, one functioning community. For too long, humans have overlooked the needs of the larger world and all things that don’t blatantly pertain to us. But the point is, they all pertain to us directly.


Anyway, before you worry about these questions I want you to leave my letter and step outside. Take a deep breath, smell the air, feel the wind, and know that this planet is your home. Really know it. Know that in my time, this was the only home we had. I hope that whatever I’ve left you with will be something as beautiful as what I was lucky to have. Because there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t try and make a better future for you by living responsibly today.


Love,
Granny Danny


What would you write to your great great grandkids?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kevin Grandia EMAIL: desmogblog@gmail.com IP: 24.84.34.175 URL: http://www.desmogblog.com DATE: 12/17/2007 07:09:29 PM Thanks Danielle, I posted yours today! http://www.desmogblog.com/node/2643 Regards, Kevin at DeSmogBlog.com ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Senate Passes Bill to Reduce Oil Dependency: Important Provisions Stripped After Oil Industry Mugging STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: senate-passes-b CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 12/14/2007 12:05:16 PM ----- BODY:

Yesterday the Senate passed an energy bill that helps reduce America’s oil dependency and takes an important step toward reducing global warming pollution. Unfortunately, the bill does not close $13 billion worth of tax loopholes and subsidies for the oil industry and reinvest the money in clean and renewable energy technologies. Earlier in the day, 40 senators blocked the bill, forcing Senate leaders to jettison the tax provisions.

Oil companies have given $8 million to senators over the past four years. Yesterday's action by 40 Senators proved they have gotten their money’s worth: $1,600 in tax breaks for every dollar the oil industry has spent in campaign contributions. Here is a breakdown (pdf) of oil and gas company contributions to the 40 senators who blocked a measure to rollback oil company giveaways (source:  Center for Responsive Politics).

Despite this, the bill passed yesterday increases vehicle fuel economy standards by 40 percent and will save consumers $40 billion a year at the pump and help spur innovation and new American jobs. Its improved energy efficiency standards covering a wide range of products, lighting and buildings will also benefit American consumers.

The energy bill also improves provisions that boost homegrown biofuels and reduce our dependency on oil. The improvements include performance-based standards to ensure biofuels significantly curb global warming pollution and help to ease some of the impacts of biofuels production on wildlife and native habitats.

Learn more about the energy bill:
http://online.nwf.org/finishline

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: cathy EMAIL: cathypardee@frontiernet.net IP: 74.37.191.210 URL: DATE: 12/15/2007 02:35:39 PM 35 mpg by 2020 is a joke! might as well be nothing. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dory EMAIL: dory.lutz@gmail.com IP: 152.3.204.116 URL: DATE: 12/17/2007 02:27:41 PM I agree with Cathy! This bill is better than nothing, but it is a long way from where we should be. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: The Energy Bill: Moving Forward STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-energy-bill DATE: 12/13/2007 11:50:51 AM ----- BODY:

This morning the cloture vote (to end filibuster) on the Energy Bill was defeated 59-40.  John McCain was the only Senator not present for the vote.  On the democratic side, just one Senator, Mary Landrieu (LA), voted the wrong way, against cloture.  On the republican side, nine Senators, Lisa Murkowski (AK), Charles Grassley (IA), Richard Lugar (IN), Susan Collins (ME), Olympia Snowe (ME), Norm Coleman (R), Gordon Smith (OR), John Thune (SD), and Orrin Hatch (UT) voted the right way, for cloture. 

Fortunately, Senator Reid has promised to "eliminate the tax title" and hopes to get the revised bill approved later today.  Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky predicted the revised bill would be approved with wide bipartisan support.

It is unclear whether or not the changes to the bill will satisfy the Bush administration, which has repeatedly threatened to veto the bill.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Common Sense EMAIL: dave@drpr.com IP: 98.207.31.229 URL: DATE: 12/13/2007 12:25:40 PM I'm glad to see you cross posted this at DailyKos. It should have a much broader readership there. I am just incredibly disappointed in Landrieu today. Of all the issues to take a principled stand on, she chooses to vote for Big Oil, for the flooding of New Orleans, and for a future filled with ecological calamities. I just don't see any upside for her legacy from this vote. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: "The Arctic is screaming" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-arctic-is-s CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 12/13/2007 01:59:36 AM ----- BODY:

Yes, screaming, says a scientist looking at last year's ice melt in the Arctic.

"Ominous Arctic Melt Worries Experts"
By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer

An already relentless melting of the Arctic greatly accelerated this summer, a warning sign that some scientists worry could mean global warming has passed an ominous tipping point. One even speculated that summer sea ice would be gone in five years.

Greenland's ice sheet melted nearly 19 billion tons more than the previous high mark, and the volume of Arctic sea ice at summer's end was half what it was just four years earlier, according to new NASA satellite data obtained by The Associated Press.

"The Arctic is screaming," said Mark Serreze, senior scientist at the government's snow and ice data center in Boulder, Colo.

Read the entire article...

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Bali, Global Warming in the Midwest, a Science Debate and More STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bali DATE: 12/11/2007 11:24:12 AM ----- BODY:

Grist has an excellent round-up of the news coming out of of Bali over the weekend, including the fact that CNN has left "due to a lack of probable news".  I guess CNN would rather cover O.J. Simpson and Michael Vick than international climate discussions.

An article in today's NYT illustrates the effects global warming is having on ducks in the midwest.  This plays into the new challenges hunters, scientists and wildlife officials are encountering in the efforts to manage waterfowl populations. 

Bloggers are calling for a science debate between the Presidential candidates.  Chris Mooney at The Intersection is taking the lead.

Quick Hits:

Gore Urges Bold Moves in Nobel Speech

A Discussion with NYT's Juliet Eilperin about the Bali Conference

More on Bali:
- Row Over 2020 Emissions Goals Sours Bali Climate Talks

- Good News and Bad News from Bali

- The U.S. is Being it's Usual Obstructionist Self

The Electric Vehicle Acid Test

U.S., China Sign Environmental Cooperative Deal

World Bank Starts Deforestation, Climate Change Funds

Climate Science Manipulation Alleged

Western States Agree on Plan to Make Water Last

Airborne Wind Turbines

Planned Climate Debate a No-Go Due to Low Republican Turnout

Finally, here is Al Gore's Nobel acceptance speech, in full.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: edfwild EMAIL: edfwild@yahoo.com IP: 70.104.103.205 URL: DATE: 12/12/2007 08:24:42 AM In response to the article above "The Electric Vehicle Acid Test" I agree there must be a discussion about this. I live in a Mid West town that generates nearly all of our power from coal. We will be buying a new car in the next year or so and I believe I would rather see a ethanol or biodiesel hybrid then a plug in hybrid. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Josh Nelson EMAIL: nelsonj@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: http://wildlifepromise.org DATE: 12/13/2007 01:42:27 PM I have pretty much the same problem. I would like to buy a new car next year, but I also want to wait until there are much more efficient options. I think I'll be waiting for the time being. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Turn the Holidays Green: Earth Friendly Gifts and Tips STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: more-green-gift DATE: 12/10/2007 11:51:19 AM ----- BODY:

To follow-up on last week's green spotlight on the holidays, here are some additional green gift ideas you may be interested in.  These ideas are courtesy of NWF's own David Mizejewski.  He is co-host of Animal Planet’s "Backyard Habitat" and "Springwatch" shows and has been seen on Today, Good Morning America, Martha, Mike and Juliet, iVillage Live! and several other national programs. 

Everyday the headlines reflect a change in the way Americans relate to the environment and the way they live their lives.  This holiday season, green is all the rage and now is the time to show your audience exciting ways to spread holiday cheer and do something good for the planet too.

Nature Friendly Gift Ideas:

  1. Bird Houses and Feeders:  These inexpensive gifts add personality to any yard and give wildlife a place to call home. Or how about a "do-it-yourself" family project like homemade edible ornaments that will make your yard look festive and feed the birds at the same time?

  2. Organic, Sustainable and Free Trade Products:  From coffee and wine to wreaths and flowers, many programs deliver "green" and environmentally friendly products to homes that will be a tasty or beautiful reminder of your holiday spirit.

  3. Magazine Subscriptions for Kids:  Get the kids away from the video games with engaging magazines like NWF’s classic, award winning Ranger Rick.   It’s fun and interactive just like Wild Animal Baby and Your Big Backyard for the younger kids.

  4. Adopt Wildlife or Wild Places:  From polar bears to plots on the great plains, symbolic adoptions offer gift givers and recipients the knowledge that the donations are being used to help protect imperiled wildlife and habitat across America.

  5. Experience Nature:  Technology can help you experience nature.  Take the new I dentiflyer  on a nature hike to identify the calls of 216 birds and frogs.  For the less tech savvy, field guides are a traditional way to connect with nature.  Both make great gifts!

  6. Recycled Products:  From fashions to tableware to yard art, there is new life from what was once headed to the land fill. 

Green Holiday Tips:

  1. Christmas Trees and Lights:  Buy an organic, locally grown Christmas tree.  Trees provide habitat for wildlife and absorb carbon dioxide while they are growing.  A better idea is buy a living tree in a pot, plant it and enjoy it for years.  New generations of affordable and stylish LED holiday lights are safe and use less energy than ever.

  2. Save Paper:  Holiday cards and wrapping paper are two paper-heavy holiday traditions.  Green your holiday this year by using cards and wrapping paper made out of recycled materials.  Get the kids to make your own wrapping paper or cards. Have some fun and use recycled paper decorated with colorful holiday stamps, stickers or freehand designs or a personal touch.

  3. Entertaining:  Make your holiday party earth-friendly by serving organic and locally produced foods.  Visit local farmer's markets or natural grocery store for heritage breed turkeys, or really have an impact by going totally vegetarian for the holiday. 

  4. Holiday Decorating:  Buy an ornament and a portion of the cost goes to wildlife conservation or to plant a tree.  That’s a simple way to "green" your tree.  Don’t forget about the classics like popcorn, cranberries and ginger bread men to give your tree a nature friendly, homey and nostalgic look.

Have a Green Christmas!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: smith EMAIL: dismissedreality@gmail.com IP: 202.163.215.88 URL: http://www.flowerstogoonline.com/events-occasion-holiday-c-23_88.html DATE: 12/10/2007 10:19:34 PM thanks these seems like great holiday ideas. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Countdown to Change STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: its-december-al CATEGORY: News DATE: 12/06/2007 02:28:27 PM ----- BODY:

It's December already, and voting in the presidential primary/caucuses is beginning in some states in less than a month. Do you know when you will be voting? Scroll down to see when your state will be voting.

If you live in an early primary state, and haven't yet, please consider asking a presidential candidate a question about global warming. It is important that we make sure global warming continues to be an important part of the dialogue throughout the course of the campaign.

And while you're thinking about the upcoming election, please take a few minutes to sign a pledge stating that you will only vote for candidates who support the 2% solution to global warming.

Republican Primary Calendar (subject to change)

1.3.08:  Iowa
1.5.08:  Wyoming
1.8.08:  New Hampshire
1.15.08:  Michigan
1.19.08:  Nevada, South Carolina
1.29.08:  Florida
2.2.08:  Maine
2.5.08:  Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia
2.9.08:  Kansas, Louisiana, Washington
2.12.08:  District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
2.19.08:  Wisconsin
3.2.08:  Hawaii
3.4.08:  Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont
3.11.08:  Mississippi
4.22.08:  Pennsylvania
5.6.08:  Indiana, North Carolina
5.10.08:  Wyoming
5.13.08:  Nebraska, West Virginia
5.20.08:  Kentucky, Oregon
5.27.08:  Idaho
6.3.08:  South Dakota, New Mexico

Democratic Primary Calendar (subject to change)

1.3.08:  Iowa
1.8.08:  New Hampshire
1.15.08:  Michigan
1.19.08:  Nevada
1.26.08:  South Carolina
1.29.08:  Florida
2.5.08:  Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah
2.9.08:  Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington
2.10.08:  Maine
2.12.08:  District of Columbia, Maryland, Virgina
2.19.08:  Wisconsin
2.26.08:  Hawaii
3.4.08:  Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Texas
3.8.08:  Wyoming
3.11.08: Mississippi

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Green Spotlight on the Holidays STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: spotlight CATEGORY: Energy DATE: 12/06/2007 11:29:30 AM ----- BODY:

Compact fluorescent light bulbHoliday decorations don't have to be an energy drain. Nowadays you can deck the halls with boughs of organic holly and string up eco-friendly lights. You can even toast your friends and family with green wines.

When it comes to gift-giving, there are all sorts of green options, like Gavin Hudson's 12 gifts of Christmas. One of our super-activists, Frank Zaski, sent us some great ideas about how we can incorporate giving compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLS) during the holiday season. Hey, it isn't festive, but it's useful! Here's Frank's advice:

"We know that compact fluorescent fight bulbs (CFLs) are a no-brainer when it comes to saving electricity, money and the environment. However, most people are slow to adopt them and CFLs account for only a small percent of US residential lighting. 

One way it increase CFL usage is to encourage the giving of CFLs for Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, house warming, birthdays, parties, etc. In addition to the many environmental benefits, an $8.00 three-pack of CFLs can actually result in a $120 "gift" of savings spread over five years."

So let's remember while shopping for the new-fangled green gifts that going with the traditional CFL is still doing a load of good, both for your pocket and for wildlife.

Got any other green gift ideas? We'd love to hear them!

NWF Field Guide to BirdsInterested in shopping for gifts through NWF? Here's a quick list of options:

Do you have any green gift ideas? Add a comment!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gina EMAIL: ginabuss@gmail.com IP: 130.13.29.20 URL: http://www.protectingourenvironment.com DATE: 12/07/2007 12:18:50 PM Every year I adopt an endangered animal for each of my nieces and nephews. The kids love them, they start to learn about wildlife conservation and I feel great that I'm contributing to a wonderful cause and that I didn't buy them "just another toy." ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dee EMAIL: rd52b3g@msn.com IP: 72.95.167.115 URL: DATE: 12/07/2007 03:37:23 PM I am doing several things. I am buying my kids Sigg bottles to replace their plasic water bottle habit. I'm also buying some relative Get Clean kits (cleaning supplies) because I started using them and I love them. Those are 2 easy changes people can make to make a little difference. I am also not sending Christmas cards. I will call my friends personally and wish them a Merry Christmas. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: wayne wasson EMAIL: redwingswjw@hotmail.com IP: 75.18.2.217 URL: DATE: 12/07/2007 05:59:56 PM I found the small flourscent bulbs at lowe's a while back, three to a package, I bought 5 packages, @ one dollar apiece. They're evrywhere in and out of my house. They're brighter, too. Wayne ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Natalie EMAIL: natiger28@sbcglobal.net IP: 71.136.238.39 URL: DATE: 12/07/2007 06:47:48 PM For christmas, i bought an activist t-shirt for my sister, and resusable tea/coffee cups for my parents (the kind where you insert a design) and made a collage with words, phrases and pictires that represent animals and the environment. I am also addopting animals for my friends as well as doing an envrionmentally friendly basket for the "white elephant" style present at an annual christmas party ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sherry EMAIL: Sherclint@tampabay.rr.com IP: 72.185.238.101 URL: DATE: 12/09/2007 10:20:19 PM I replaced all the light bulbs in my house with flourscent bulbs. The old bulbs put off to much heat, in which you had to run the air conditioner at a lower setting. Now everyone is cooler and I save engery with a lower electric bill. I also hang my laundry on the clothes line, using free sun power which also irons them at the same time. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol EMAIL: hohumhills@yahoo.com IP: 207.101.76.45 URL: DATE: 12/10/2007 07:03:58 PM I'm giving tire guages with a note about how much gas they will save if they keep their tires properly inflated. Also canvas grocery shopping bags. We use reuseable decorated Christmas totes and boxes to give presents in instead of using all that gift wrap. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gail EMAIL: recycling@lakewoodoh.net IP: 70.168.180.18 URL: DATE: 12/11/2007 11:30:23 AM Reusable, recycled content totes for the grocery, a snake made from rice to put under the door to prevent drafts, a box of baking soda (baking soda cleans everything!), vitamin E oil, a bar of Lava (pumice stone soap, borax, a big bag of beautiful lemons or organic fruit all make wonderful gifts. Merry Christmas~~ ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: edfwild EMAIL: edfwild@yahoo.com IP: 70.104.103.205 URL: DATE: 12/12/2007 08:45:55 AM Well, I've changed thirty plus bulb's but still have 14 to go(My wife put me on a budget). I have also set or plasma to turn off rather then go in standby. Our builder did a lousy job on our crawl insulation and after 3 years I had that redone. I of course caulked the windows and insulated the wall outlets. I have to give kudos to Menard's for those of you who know who they are. There CFLs and Christmas LEDs are the prodominent displays. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: PlanetThoughts.org EMAIL: IP: 96.224.243.208 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/PlanetThoughts/ DATE: 12/13/2007 04:56:30 AM All these ideas are excellent! If the majority of people started participating like this (yes, having a majority participate still seems long way off) the national and international conversation would be one of finding better ways to help the planet and each other, rather than a conversation of how to get gifts that are often a burden for the recipient and the planet. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Midwest Greenhouse Gas Accord STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: midwest-greenho DATE: 12/05/2007 03:17:22 PM ----- BODY:

9 Midwestern governors and the Premier of Manitoba yesterday signed an historic greenhouse gas accord.  This has powerful implications not just for state and regional progress, but for global warming policy nationwide.

In addition, it lays out a detailed road map of supporting policies and regional partnerships to acheive the following, amongst other things:

Six governors, the premier of Manitoba, and the UK minister of environment attended in person, as did a who's who of state, industry and NGO energy players.  

The full signers of the accord are:  MN, WI, IL, MI, IA, KS, and Manitoba with OH, IN and SD signing on as observers.  There was a strong bipartisan message, and a strong message particularly from IA governor Culver about how important it was for Presidential candidates to address this issue.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Susan EMAIL: blairsm@hiram.edu IP: 70.60.53.54 URL: DATE: 12/07/2007 03:30:40 PM In November, I sent an email to Governor Strickland from Ohio asking about the conference and his office has yet to send me anything but an automated response. Exactly what is signing on as an "Observer?" ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Historic Times for the Conservation Movement STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: an-historic-mom CATEGORY: Current Affairs DATE: 12/04/2007 02:45:06 PM ----- BODY:

The momentum right now in the conservation movement is really incredible.  Not only are we on the eve of mandating an increase in fuel efficiency to 35MPG, but we are also just hours away from seeing the first comprehensive global warming legislation to ever pass through a full Senate committee.

Part of this momentum can be attributed to all of the exposure conservation and environmentalism have had over the past several months.  Whether it was Live Earth or The Nobel Prize, global warming and other environmental issues have dominated the headlines in 2007.

Regardless of the many victories we've already seen this year, the real magic is about to take place. On Wednesday, the House will vote on an energy bill with several great provisions.

  1. Protects wildlife and public lands from oil and gas development.
  2. Includes a Renewable Electricity Standard of at least 15 percent by 2020.
  3. Includes a fuel economy standard requiring cars to go at least 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

Tell the House to pass the energy bill with the above provisions.  This will be a great first step toward a comprehensive solution to climate change.  Stay tuned, because the Senate will be voting next week.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the Senate Energy and Commerce Committee will vote on the Climate Security Act.  This strong piece of global warming legislation has the bipartisan support necessary to get further than any global warming bill has before.

On Saturday, the National Wildlife Federation is hosting an awareness-raising fundraiser called Turn the Tables on Global Warming.  This event, featuring several popular DJs, is taking place at Fur Nightclub in Washington, DC.  You can learn more on the myspace page.  If you don't live in the area you can still take the 2% pledge.  This pledge says that you will only support candidates who support the 2% solution (pdf) to global warming.

Next week, thousands of NGOs, government officials and policy experts will meet to discuss climate change in Bali.  As an NWF employee in our international department points out, if we don't establish and join international carbon emission agreements, our domestic progress will do little good.  Hopefully we can see some progress coming out of the discussions in Bali.

Thank you to all of the activists who have worked to make such progress possible.  It is more important now than ever that we keep fighting to protect wildlife and our planet.  I ask that you take action now to protect wildlife for our children's future.

Technorati Profile ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Seven Easy Things You Can Do For Wildlife STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: seven-easy-thin CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 12/03/2007 10:46:45 AM ----- BODY:

Here are 7 things you can do to quickly and easily take action for wildlife.  As NWF President and CEO Larry Schweiger says, "This is not a matter of left or right, it’s a matter of right or wrong."

Is Your Representative one of the Final 50?

Find out if your representative is one of the 50 who need to cosponsor strong global warming legislation today. Help move the House toward passing a bill that protects wildlife and reduces global warming pollution 2% per year.

Help Protect Endangered Plants and Animals!

Congress has a great opportunity to help at-risk wildlife, with a bill called the Endangered Species Recovery Act (S. 700/H.R. 1422). Help reshape how endangered species are managed in the U.S. by speaking up today.

Make Sure the Senate Passes a Strong Farm Bill

Biofuels like corn are a contentious part of the farm bill.  The House passed their version of the Farm Bill. Now it's the Senate's turn. Encourage your senators to support more funding for conservation programs and protect the Conservation Reserve Program from efforts to weaken its value for fish and wildlife.

Speak Up for Clean Water Legislation!

Help restore Clean Water Act protections for America's wetlands, streams, lakes and ponds! Urge your representatives to cosponsor and vote for passage of the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007.

Protect Orcas from Global Warming!

Global warming is threatening Washington's Puget Sound, home to one of America's most amazing orca pods. Urge Congress to support strong global warming pollution reductions and make sure wildlife is protected from a changing climate.

Protect Waterfowl in the Chesapeake Bay

Global warming is threatening America's Chesapeake Bay and the millions of ducks, geese and waterfowl that call it home. Urge your representatives to take strong actions to reduce global warming and its impacts on ducks.

Protect Florida's Everglades from Development

Five development projects--including two massive golf course communities--threaten an estimated 1,140 acres of wetlands in the Western Everglades, hurting prime wood stork habitat. Voice your concerns with the federal officials in charge.

Click here to learn about other ways you can speak up for wildlife.  With your help we can succeed in protecting wildlife for our children's future.

Thank you.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Protect Salmon, Feed Orcas STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: protect-salmon CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 12/02/2007 12:16:32 AM ----- BODY:

Hundreds of scientists say the only way to restore salmon to the Columbia and Snake rivers is to remove four costly dams. But federal agencies aren't listening. Instead, NOAA just released a recovery plan that's more "same ol', same ol'," wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on recovery efforts that don't work.

To make matters worse, prominent orca scientists agree that Puget Sound's endangered orcas won't recover without a lot more salmon to eat--and those salmon must come from the Columbia and Snake Rivers.

Help protect salmon--and orcas too.

NWF is gathering as many messages from the general public during the federal comment period to help protect the iconic salmon of the Pacific Northwest and the orcas that depend upon them. The time is now for us to show NOAA and our elected leaders that wild salmon and orcas are national treasures that must be protected and restored.

If you can, please forward this link to friends or post it on your blog or website to help spark as many actions as possible!

TAKE ACTION: http://online.nwf.org/protectsalmon

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Green News 11/30 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: green-news-1130 CATEGORY: News DATE: 11/30/2007 10:36:16 AM ----- BODY:

NWF has just released a new report (pdf) called Climate Change and Great Lakes Water Resources.  According to the Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives Coalition: 

A considerable portion of the report by Noah D. Hall, professor of law at Wayne State University and Bret B. Stuntz a Michigan attorney and geologist, focuses on a quickly shrinking ice cap in the Rockies and the melting of Greenland and the polar caps. These simultaneous events will significantly deplete the available fresh water.

In case you weren't already aware, coal is over.

Delegates from around the world will meet in Bali next week, to begin negotiations on a successor agreement to the Kyoto protocol.  In advance, over 150 global business leaders have signed the Bali Communique, which calls for:

The Bali negotiations even have their own theme song.

Japan and China have just reached an agreement under which Japan will offer technical assistance to China in their efforts to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Naomi Klein explains how guns are beating green on Wall Street.

Bernies Sanders:  Global Warming is Reversible:

As the nation at last confronts global warming, it is no time for denial, greed, cynicism or pessimism. It is a time for vision and international leadership. It is a time for transforming our energy system from the polluting and carbon-emitting technologies of the nineteenth century into the unlimited and extraordinary energy possibilities of the twenty-first. When we do that we will not only solve the global warming crisis; we will open up unimaginable opportunities for improving life all over the planet.

A new assessment from Mckinsey and Company, a leading management consulting firm, details more than 250 measures which would get us close to where we need to be in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  The NRDC Switchboard has more.

Quick Hits

Study Details How US Could CUt 28% of GHGs

When Biofuel is Bad for the Environment

EPA Concerns Slow Fuel Economy Talks

EPA Notifies BP of Major Clean Air Violations

Skyrocketing Use of Off-Highway Vehicles has Officials Scrambling to Protect Public Land from Overuse

Everglades Stagnation

RFK Jr:  Off the Cuff

Green School

What are you reading today?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Warming to Cause Flock Shock STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: warming-to-caus DATE: 11/29/2007 03:22:12 PM ----- BODY:

Westernmeadowlark_2According to the Daily Green, "there are more birders than Baptists". With one in six Americans assumed to be a bird lover, birds have got a serious fan club. Like all wildlife, birds are susceptible to changes in the environment such as habitat loss, global warming and invasive species.  However, our flying friends are imperiled to the point that one in four birds in America is on Audubon's WatchList.

Global warming is also changing the migratory patterns of birds. Take a gander at this state map to see if your state bird is flying the coop.

Want to help our feathered friends? Here's a list of things you can do:


(Photo of a Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), the State bird of Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming © Rod Planck / Photo Researchers, Inc.)      

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Beth EMAIL: leodlere@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 11/29/2007 03:57:48 PM This is awesome! I especially like the crafty word choices for the title. It makes a catchy read for a very important topic. We must save the birds!! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: No need for blues, here's some green news STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: no-need-for-the CATEGORY: News DATE: 11/28/2007 10:00:36 AM ----- BODY:

Oil Spill...Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: With the Cosco Busan Oil spill to clean up, the San Francisco Bay volunteers have been using a not-so-technical solution. In fact, the clean up strategy is completely organic. That's right, a combination of hair and mushrooms has been the preferred tactic in sopping up this wildlife hazard. Mats of human hair provided by Lisa Gautier, who runs the non-profit Matter of Trust, are working as sponges to absorb the oil. Oyster mushrooms are then placed on the mats and as they grow, they soak up the oil. Read the article and check out what the ecogeek and inhabitant blogs have to say about this inventive and eco-friendly technique. Make sure to watch the YouTube video too!


Google's Turning Over a Green Leaf: Google is a large culprit for energy consumption but they are looking to be more energy efficient. Green GoogleThey plan on expanding their alternative energy usage by designating hundreds of millions of dollars toward the cause (they might outspend the government!). They plan to start with solar thermal and wind energy. Read how Google plans to invest in energy solutions from the Wired Magazine.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Green News 11/27 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: green-news-1127 CATEGORY: Current Affairs DATE: 11/27/2007 09:52:30 AM ----- BODY:

See anything interesting today?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Turkey Facts for Turkey Day STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: turkey-facts-fo CATEGORY: Wildlife DATE: 11/22/2007 11:51:35 AM ----- BODY:

Eagle vs. TurkeyAs you gobble down your Thanksgiving feast, here are a few turkey tidbits for the dinner table conversation...

Wild Turkey Facts:

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Power Shift on YouTube STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: power-shift-on CATEGORY: Spotlight on Congress DATE: 11/20/2007 01:41:07 PM ----- BODY:

Check it out and comment!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: "The Quiet Generation" No More STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-quiet-gener CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 11/15/2007 07:04:28 PM ----- BODY:

NWF Campus Field Director Lisa Madry just emailed around a great recap of Power Shift 2007 that I had to share...

It was amazing to have the opportunity to experience the energy of 6,000 students converging at the University of Maryland at Power Shift 2007 to demand action on global warming--but even better has been to see the ripples that are spreading.

For those that couldn't experience it firsthand, the NWF Campus Ecology staff wants to share some of the great stories and images that are emerging. When you need a shot in the arm, just click on one of these links for some inspiration...

Immediate Impact

Power Shift made some folks awfully nervous--the right wing attack machine was brought out in full force:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Ed Markey, Chair of the House Select Committee on Energy and Climate Action addressed students and responded positively to chants of, "We want more!" (as in stronger climate action). In a follow up letter to Power Shift, Speaker Pelosi pledged, "Combating climate change and working toward energy independence are flagship issues for my Speakership and top priorities of this Congress."

News Highlights
(For a full media round up, check out the Power Shift newsroom.)

Pictures and Video

Hundreds of pictures have already been uploaded to FlickR with the "Powershift07" tag. Also, the "I Shot Power Shift" project put video cameras in the hands of more than 100 students and the footage is just starting to come in. They include:

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of Power Shift 2007!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Introducing the Final 50 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: introducing-the DATE: 11/13/2007 10:19:17 AM ----- BODY:

If the Final 50 members of the House of Representatives endorse the Safe Climate Act or the Climate Stewardship Act, we'll surpass 218--enough to pass a bill in the House that cuts global warming pollution by 2% per year.

Today, the National Wildlife Federation placed an ad in Roll Call listing the Final 50 and explaining the campaign.  The other side of the ad thanks the 170 current cosponsors of strong global warming legislation in the House.

How did we choose the Final 50?

Each of these representatives have supported some solutions to global warming--but they have yet to endorse a bill that measures up to the challenge. For example, many of the Final 50 supported the recent Energy Bill, which is an important step to start reducing global warming pollution. However, Congress needs to build on this with a complete solution that finishes the job. We urgently need legislation that reduces global warming pollution in the U.S. by 2% each year till mid-century. Firm limits for reducing pollution will inspire investments in new technology, promote new green jobs and protect wildlife from the impacts of global warming.

The Final 50 can make this happen!

The Final 50:  Go to www.final50.org to see the profiles and take action.

Jason Altmire
Joe Baca
John Barrow
Melissa Bean
Judy Biggert
Mary Bono
Ginny Brown-Waite
Vern Buchanan
Jim Cooper
Tom Davis
Charles Dent
Joe Donnelly
Mike Ferguson
Vito Fossella
Rodney Frelinghuysen
Jim Gerlach
Gabrielle Giffords
Charles Gonzalez
Bart Gordon
Tim Holden
Darlene Hooley
Bob Inglis
Tim Johnson
Marcy Kaptur
Dale Kildee
Carolyn Kilpatrick
Peter King
Tim Mahoney
John McHugh
John Murtha
James Oberstar
Collin Peterson
Tom Petri
Todd Platts
Ciro Rodriguez
Mike Ross
John Salazar
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
David Scott
Chris Smith
Vic Snyder
Zack Space
John Spratt
Bart Stupak
Betty Sutton
Tom Udall
Fred Upton
Melvin Watt
Heather Wilson
Frank Wolf

With your help we can make strong global warming legislation a reality.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: NWF's Take on America's Climate Security Act of 2007 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwfs-take-on-am DATE: 11/02/2007 02:38:51 PM ----- BODY:

There has been some confusion lately over where the environmental community stands on America's Climate Security Act of 2007. To clarify, here are two letters which should provide a better understanding of where the National Wildlife Federation stands. The first is from NWF President and CEO Larry Schweiger.  It was originally addressed to NWF board members, staff and supporters, but it seems appropriate here.

When I returned to National Wildlife Federation three years ago, we were all alarmed by what was happening around us.  The conservation movement was mired in scores of defensive battles to prevent rollback of the bedrock laws that have protected our wildlife and our environment. As we were fighting those important battles, the greatest single threat to wildlife and our children’s future was being ignored and neglected by politicians everywhere. 

That issue is global warming.  Scientists’ warnings - and the warning signs we began to witness in the natural world - were being ignored by politicians and the media.  Global warming still had the baggage of multi-million dollar misinformation campaigns from oil companies and other polluters  that were casting this as a partisan issue. 

There are some who will question our support of the Lieberman-Warner bill until we get all the changes we would want to make it a perfect bill.  I welcome the questioning because it means that the dialogue about global warming has risen to a new level.  People are angry that we have gone so long without acting.  They should be.  I am angry too.

However, we also need to listen carefully to what scientists are telling us about solving this problem.  We are facing a planetary crisis with a firm deadline and there is no time for delay.  Every day we wait, the risks grow and action becomes more difficult.  Why?  Our emissions are going up when they need to be going down.  According to the Bush Administration, our emissions of greenhouse gases in the United States will actually increase by one-third by the year 2030 if we don’t turn things around fast. 

Scientists are warning us that we must act within the next few years to cut our emissions by two percent every year.  We need to hit that pivot point - the time when our emissions go down instead of up, as soon as possible. We need strong legislation that reduces global warming pollution and we need it now. 

That’s why I am optimistic about America’s Climate Security Act.  Unlike past votes in Congress for measures that would have merely stopped emissions from growing, this bill actually puts us quickly on the downward trajectory of cutting emissions from large emitters by two percent per year from current levels.   And, it is the first bill to include all large emitters, not just power plants.

What’s more, this is the first legislation with specific measures to address impacts on consumers, particularly low- and middle-income families.  The bill devotes an estimated $350 billion through the year 2030 from polluter payments to help consumers reduce their energy consumption through efficiency.  We need to make sure legislation does not put the burden on those least able to carry it.  And we need to make sure that everyone has access to the economic opportunity created by this clean energy revolution.

The bill also includes essential provisions for protecting America’s fish and wildlife, great waters, and other natural resources from the climate changes that can no longer be avoided.  Healthy wetlands and other habitat are critical for wildlife and serve to protect our communities from the impacts of storms, droughts and other climate extremes brought on by global warming.  A rapidly changing climate is adding additional pressures to ecosystems already stressed by development, pollution and invasive species.   The Lieberman-Warner bill requires polluters to pay into a fund that devotes more than $160 billion through the year 2030 to protecting wildlife and America’s great waters.

Despite the many benefits of this bill, National Wildlife Federation has been seeking improvements. Some we have achieved, such as stronger goals in the coming fifteen years for reducing pollution.  We must get moving quickly, and not postpone the heavy lifting decades into the future.

National Wildlife Federation has fought hard for many of the strongest pieces of the bill and worked with the sponsors to improve this bill at each stage of the process.  And we have done it by building support and encouraging leaders like Senators Lieberman and Warner to step forward. 

I am convinced that we will not meet the urgency of the climate crisis if we allow criticism to block progress.  We must focus on what unites us and not on what divides us.  By acting now we can re-adjust our aim as we go forward.  It is easier to turn the wheel of a car that is rolling than one that is sitting still.  Movement begets movement.

Additionally, getting a Senate vote on a substantive global warming bill will help raise the profile of the issue nationally as voters turn their attention to what candidates are saying about global warming.  As long as there is no action on global warming, it is very difficult to tell where candidates stand on this issue.  The climate crisis must become one of the top tier issues for Americans in this presidential campaign.

Read the full letter here.

The second,  is from seven environmental groups, to the Members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.  The seven groups signed onto the letter are:  National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense, National Environmental Trust, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Nature Conservancy, Union of Concerned Scientists and The Wilderness Society.  This letter shows the strong support the bill has.

Dear Members of the Environment and Public Works Committee,

We are writing to highlight the mounting urgency of action on global warming and encourage prompt action by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences warns that the global buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has accelerated unexpectedly rapidly in this decade. Similarly, recent evidence from the Arctic demonstrates that the greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere are changing our climate far more rapidly than scientists have predicted.

These and other findings underscore the need for prompt action to reduce the pollution that is causing global warming. Time is running out for effective action, and we need to get started now. The Department of Energy is forecasting that U.S. greenhouse gas emissions will increase by more than 30% by 2030 without action. The longer we delay action, the greater the impacts and risks, and the more dramatically we will have to cut emissions in future years to achieve the same results.

Consequently, we applaud Senators Lieberman and Warner for their leadership and the subcommittee for debating S. 2191 with the goal of reporting a bill to the full committee. We further applaud Chairman Boxer for seeking to expeditiously report a bill out of the full committee this fall. We would also like to thank Senator Baucus for his expressed support of S. 2191.

We acknowledge and thank the sponsors for making important improvements in the bill from their August outline. We also thank Senators Sanders and Lautenberg and other members of the subcommittee and committee who are working to strengthen the bill as it moves through the process.

It is vitally important that the Senate have a full and open debate on global warming action. We therefore ask all members of the Environment and Public Works Committee and its subcommittee of jurisdiction to work together to deliver a strong, bipartisan bill to the full Senate this year.

Read the full letter here.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Diane M. DeGirolamo EMAIL: envirobabe1@aol.com IP: 71.162.100.153 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 01:32:06 PM Remember: We only have one Earth, lets not destroy it and extiction means gone forever and we cannot bring them back! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Arlene Gottfried EMAIL: arlenegottfried@earthlink.net IP: 69.86.35.237 URL: http://www.arlenegottfried.com DATE: 11/05/2007 09:20:24 PM Please love and respect our planet, it is precious and cannot be replaced. We need our animals,plants, water and air believe it or not they are sacred. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Power Shift 2007 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: power-shift-200 CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 11/01/2007 04:15:02 PM ----- BODY:

The shift of power begins this weekend as more than 5,000 college students from every state in the U.S. unite to discuss global warming. Power Shift 2007 is the first and largest youth climate summit in history. National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology program is providing students with workshops that will help organize support on campus.  NWF staff will also have a booth there to talk about programs students can engage in.


Looking for more information?

Find out more on www.powershift2007.org. Also check out what NWF's Campus Ecology is up to and read the Gristmill's take on the weekend.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: GreenMeansGo EMAIL: akasakitis@gmail.com IP: 68.55.154.246 URL: DATE: 11/01/2007 05:13:54 PM This looks like an amazing opportunity for students! Thanks for sharing the info! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pat EMAIL: pdonlan@energybill2007.us IP: 69.116.90.50 URL: http://energybill2007.us DATE: 11/01/2007 06:58:09 PM That is such a great idea to mobilize the youth. I hope they take some time to focus on the energy bill that is currently in congress. I'm working with a group to try and make sure the current provisions of a 35 mpg fuel economy standard by the year 2020 and renewable electricity sources remain in the energy bill. There is a petition at http://energybill2007.us if anyone wants to sign it. Bravo to the college students that are involved in power shift. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: kathy dyas EMAIL: dyasbrock@aol.com IP: 205.188.117.143 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 06:23:28 PM keep up the good work. have a great Lobby Day on Monday, and pay attention to Derek! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeanie Kilgour EMAIL: sharksweetie@snominx.com IP: 75.133.73.178 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 06:36:40 PM Congratulations to the college students for realizing the importance of the Global Warming challenge. Their enthusiasm and vigor should really help to slow down the soaring thermometer. Hopefully, they will be even more successful than we "oldies"! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathleen EMAIL: kmsandpoint@verizon.net IP: 71.161.8.69 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 06:48:29 PM This is so encouraging! It takes me back to my college days....our youth CAN change our world. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ann Rehmert EMAIL: Tutuann@msn.com IP: 72.72.238.157 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 07:11:39 PM The college students who are attending Power Shift are our key to the future. They will undoubtedly come up with new and innovative ideas that are not even in our present global warming dictionary. Most people think that college kids are not interested in the environment, global warming, etc. but try talking to them sometimes and see how they feel about stores staying open 24 - 7 using too much energy. You'll be surprised. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: lonajoyce EMAIL: lonajoyce@msn.com IP: 96.234.5.189 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 07:29:09 PM I'm very proud of all of you participating Power Shift. You will definitely be making the world a better place each and every day. God Bless you, and take care of you, LJ ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Greg Murray EMAIL: gmurray@hope.edu IP: 97.84.3.77 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 07:38:51 PM Thanks to all of you students who took the time to go to PowerShift '07 - it's not easy in the middle of the semester! Let's hope you guys can do what your grandparents' and parents' generations have been unable to do - make the hard decisions that your grandchildren and great-grandchildren will revere you for! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Verlee A. EMAIL: toady@tds.net IP: 69.131.69.71 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 07:45:07 PM The destruction of our mountains, with the use of windmills, multiplies the loss of clean air, clean water, geese, birds, bats, insects, plants, animals, trees and the true life and beauty of Nature. Hopefully you can open their eyes.......Good Luck.. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bob EMAIL: bertrand_dodge@sprynet.com IP: 66.169.239.150 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 07:48:25 PM Remember, if we don't get this right, no other issue matters. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Debi Slawson EMAIL: troubles@lvcta.com IP: 69.63.20.154 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 07:49:37 PM I am very proud of you young people for doing something about the wrongs of this world that should have been addressed a long time ago. Keep up the good work! I have a certified wildlife habitate in my yard and I proud to do my part! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: power shift EMAIL: wellis77@sbcglobal.net IP: 65.68.183.30 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 07:49:39 PM thank you that was way to cool i hope you get 100% send us more so i can do more please add me to your e-mail contacts thanks way to go ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: StevenAK EMAIL: gbh65@verizon.net IP: 141.151.138.185 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 07:52:16 PM Awesome! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laura J EMAIL: jobe_l@sbcglobal.net IP: 69.153.198.55 URL: http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/465787/22962546 DATE: 11/03/2007 07:55:31 PM We need the young people to take this challenge forward for they are our future. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: martha triplett EMAIL: o4wings2fly@aol.com IP: 64.12.117.143 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 08:34:15 PM Thank you young people of our future, i pray that your efforts will not go unnoticed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carolyn B EMAIL: barcomb@peoplepc.com IP: 4.155.15.48 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 09:13:08 PM Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for taking action today to stop further destruction tomorrow. You are our future. I strongly believe you CAN correct past mistakes, change the world, and make it a better place. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gwyn Williams-Stanton EMAIL: stonesong@vom.com IP: 67.150.252.80 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 09:28:10 PM Together we may be able to change this world for the better. Thanks for being part of it. Bless you all and keep on pushing! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kate B EMAIL: knbj12@sbcglobal.net IP: 70.241.22.67 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 09:32:06 PM Thank you for being so involved in the preservation of our planet! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: CJ EMAIL: cherimooney@aol.com IP: 67.102.77.187 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 09:38:22 PM Thank you for being involved. Our future depends on great young people like you. Hang in there and keep up the good work. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: lisa EMAIL: sanfranlip@yahoo.com IP: 71.224.212.26 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 10:01:03 PM thank you for your involvemnt in this important work ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: diane adams EMAIL: shadywolf513@yahoo.com IP: 65.27.152.13 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 10:03:15 PM EVERY IMPRESSIVE, THAT MAKES ME PROUD TO SEE OUR NEXT GENERATION UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING BUT R DETIRMED TO CHANGED THINGS . THANK YOU APPLAUSE APPLAUSE ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bonnie Watson EMAIL: bwatson573@aol.com IP: 64.12.117.143 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 10:14:41 PM You should be commended for caring enough to get involved in this critical issue! You are the future, and I rest easier knowing that you're committed to helping solve this crisis that will eventually determine the fate of our planet. THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION...you're an inspiration! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Georgia Weatherhead EMAIL: gawdlee@yahoo.com IP: 63.88.58.254 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 10:37:30 PM I have gotten too lame and old to even enjoy the outdoors, but I thank you for trying to save the wilderness for my grandchildren. I remember the joy of it and wish you success in maintaining it.I will try to teasch them to continue your work. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michelle EMAIL: captmicha@gmail.com IP: 71.163.128.165 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 10:49:16 PM Thank you from all of the world for your efforts! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: SteeleHeaD EMAIL: steelehead@gmail.com IP: 66.67.223.176 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 11:26:27 PM Thank You to all who will participate. Stick together and you shall conquer. Remember there is strenght in numbers. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: eileen loro EMAIL: eloro55@yahoo.com IP: 207.59.122.178 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 11:38:09 PM i am so proud of all of you - it is your future at stake and i for one feel we can as a world reverse the negative energy that is occurring - you are on the right track - keep up the good energy and thank you so much - a proud american eileen loro ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lauren EMAIL: lfulner@gac.edu IP: 63.138.201.2 URL: DATE: 11/03/2007 11:44:58 PM I am presently at the Power Shift conference in DC, and I wanted to thank everyone who left comments. It means a lot to all of us college students to know that others are behind us. Get ready for some amazing activist work to come out of this weekend! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kent Salazar EMAIL: kentsala@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.204 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 12:37:16 AM I know the power you have to change the world and am proud of you. I hold you all in my heart as you strive address the global crisis we all have created but can't seem to face as political nations. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patricia Phillips EMAIL: sewuph2@aol.com IP: 64.12.117.143 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 07:08:39 AM The future of this planet is in your hands. As we all do what we can, I'm sure the strength of our youth will fight for the changes that will make this world a much better place. Thank you and may God Bless each and every one of you. Make your voices be heard!. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Woodrow Albin EMAIL: walbin2@cox.net IP: 72.192.11.74 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 08:30:42 AM It is really awesome that you future leaders and citizens are taking the time to serve our country and world by fighting for what is smart and right, the fight for sane energy policy. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David R. Couto EMAIL: DRIBEROCOUTO@HOTMAIL.COM IP: 68.192.200.137 URL: http://www.freewebs.com/birdsrox1415nature/ DATE: 11/04/2007 08:36:13 AM It is great to know that through these troubled times which our earth and its inhabitants are undergoing, there are people who are making a diffrence. Like Dr. Jane Goodal once said,"Every individual makes a diffrence". No imagine a whole lot of college students! GO POWER SHIFT! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Diane EMAIL: dq40@starpower.net IP: 209.6.177.109 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 09:11:22 AM Thanks to all you committed students who have renewed my faith in the power of numbers to effect change. We did it in the 1960s -- now it's your turn to make your voices heard. GOOD LUCK! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Renee Still Day EMAIL: ojibwawife@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.204 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 09:16:56 AM This is phenominal!! It was becoming a huge concern for me that for a while I believed the youth of America were living behind a video game, but this has confirmed how wrong I was. As an activist from the 60's I thought the days of activism were long since past, unless us "old folks" continued to pick up the banner and hobble across the country with it. I am so proud to see what these young people are doing. Continue to keep us informed and how we can support you. You have made us all so proud!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: JP Dodson EMAIL: pauljdodson@yahoo.com IP: 66.137.227.77 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 10:08:41 AM If not your generation, then who? My generation has destroyed the planet in so many ways. Please be relentless in your resolve to save our planet, wildlife and enviroment. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jean Lewandowski EMAIL: jlewando@hotmail.com IP: 209.191.208.109 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 11:50:02 AM As an activist baby-boomer, teacher, and parent, I am thrilled to see you mobilize and put your optimism, creativity, and youthful energy to work for this cause. Rescuing the environment is the great task of our day, and I'm proud of you for taking it on. You're giving us all hope for the future of our planet. Please let all of us old rabble-rousers know how we can help. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Scottie A. Kenyon EMAIL: crowmorgan@netscape.com IP: 172.165.164.125 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 01:41:02 PM good show!you make me hopeful for the future. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carole EMAIL: olde.buzzard@att.net IP: 66.82.9.92 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 02:51:38 PM You give me hope. When I hear people all around me in total denial about global warming, it gives me faith that you, the up and comers in our world, will take up the hard tasks before us all and save this earth - hopefully before the non-believers destroy it all. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jane Kober EMAIL: birdluvr2@aol.com IP: 205.188.117.143 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 03:56:03 PM My thanks and praise to all of you who are willing to take time out of your busy lives to converge on our nations capitol and make your statement for a better enviroment. "You are the world; you are the future." ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dusty Stepanski EMAIL: rprim432@comcast.net IP: 76.98.162.133 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 04:55:58 PM Thanks to all of you the envirnoment is getting the champions it needs. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lynn Wray EMAIL: jistofjuggling@yahoo.com IP: 216.204.234.9 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 05:09:21 PM On a personal level -if every person hung their jeans up to dry we could save tons of fuel and it wouldn't be that difficult !!! so--let's make it a mission! starting NOW !!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dave Lockman EMAIL: fulfillment@thoughtOffice.com IP: 67.160.186.211 URL: http://www.thoughtoffice.com DATE: 11/04/2007 06:07:26 PM Thanks for standing up to be counted. It's a shame that we, as a people, have to continue to fight for the obvious - that good stewardship of the land ensures a future for everyone, and that raping the Earth is just a quick ticket to racial oblivion. Keep up the good work! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Gregg EMAIL: jrgregg@sbcglobal.net IP: 71.139.46.105 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 08:10:51 PM Thank you for your dedication to this important work ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rick Plecha EMAIL: rickplecha98@yahoo.com IP: 71.238.5.6 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 08:31:05 PM Thank you for your work and representing those millions of us who support you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cedra & Eric EMAIL: elnced@cox.net IP: 68.2.168.232 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 08:35:20 PM We're all in this together. Never give up or let them tell you it can't be done! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dr. Deborah Hopkinson EMAIL: ddhopkinson@yahoo.com IP: 69.153.251.216 URL: http://www.myokrealestate.com DATE: 11/04/2007 09:13:47 PM My service dog and I are in the above picture from Washington, DC (in the side "frame" part, by the lower part of the "8"). That was a powerful week, and we visited with many senators, congressmen/women, and other leaders. It was a lot of work, at at times discouraging, but we made a positive difference. It was certainly worth it, and we will be going back to do it all again next year. Thank you for keeping this going. You are making a difference just by being there. Keep in mind the millions of people you represent, who can't be there, but support you in their hearts. You give us all hope. God bless you! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Brita Daemgen EMAIL: BDaemgen@aol.com IP: 74.65.253.166 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 09:32:56 PM I am proud of you. You take care of our and your future and if you wouldn't do it, who will. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Evelyn Rivera EMAIL: jbusinesseve@yahoo.com IP: 69.121.177.166 URL: DATE: 11/04/2007 09:42:42 PM We need global warming to end I thank you all for your effort and time. This issue is very important for this generation and future generations to come. Wildlife is a part of us once they cease to exist, then we will cease to exist. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lorie Miller EMAIL: miller.lorie@byramschools.org IP: 209.50.183.170 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 07:19:02 AM As a middle school environmental club advisor, it is wonderful to see college students taking up the call to improve our environment. Bravo!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bob Harrington EMAIL: bob@miconews.com IP: 24.32.235.170 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 08:19:34 AM I suggest you hailers of global warming doom read your history and study a little geogolgy. You will find that the earth's climate has been a continual change and there is nothing you can do about it. But, we do need to keep our trash in perspective. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Frank Star EMAIL: fstar87@bellsouth.net IP: 68.215.173.221 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 08:55:14 AM My generation has screwed up the environment for which I apologize to You. I am glad your generation has the guts to repair it. Tune out the negative comments from those who profit from environmental destruction. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Craig Himelright EMAIL: himelct@verizon.net IP: 63.138.201.89 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 08:55:32 AM You folks are great. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication. You are going to be the ones who make a real difference. And history is going to remember you as the new "greatest generation"...the one who saved earth. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Frank Star EMAIL: fstar87@bellsouth.net IP: 68.215.173.221 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 08:57:01 AM My generation has screwed up the environment for which I apologize to You. I am glad your generation has the guts to repair it. Tune out the negative comments from those who profit from environmental destruction. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Bramlet EMAIL: john.bramlet@bp.com IP: 129.230.236.1 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 09:44:31 AM I'm so proud of you all. Just another example of how our youth of today cares for the environment and is willing to step up and make a difference. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: THERESA SISKIND EMAIL: siskind8@msn.com IP: 71.99.133.134 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 10:36:45 AM TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES AND THEIR HABITATS...THANKS TO ALL OF YOU TRYING TO SAVE THEM! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nori Lane Bishop EMAIL: norilane1949@yahoo.com IP: 216.57.114.135 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 10:55:38 AM I cannot thank you enough for your efforts, and have a couple of small facts to keep in mind: when people grow up with no contact with "wild" nature, they won't miss it when it's gone (species going extinct, loss of vast forests with ancient trees hundreds of years old, natural rivers moving freely through natural landscapes, etc.); this suggests that the more we can get our younger citizens outdoors and well-acquainted with those areas that haven't yet been too drastically degraded, the more they will see the value in it, and how we depend on it for our lives and well-being. My own joy is so centered in the natural world that I worry for urban children who fear nature or simply never consider it at all. My love and best wishes for unprecedented success in your work and your lives in the real, natural world. You will be, by the timing of your birth, the saviours of our Earth's natural processes, which is our sacred life support system and manifestation of the energy inherent in the existence of life and the universe, of which we are each a part (the living, working mind of God, if you will). You can inform people and encourage change by approaching opposition with loving kindness. Be the change you want to see. (Yes, we can do this!) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gwenda Vinkler EMAIL: gwenda74@sbcglobal.net IP: 69.149.78.193 URL: http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/465787/22962546 DATE: 11/05/2007 12:52:52 PM Outstanding!! You are making history. Thank you for your efforts in caring for our environment. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: richard marranca EMAIL: Rmarranca@pccc.edu IP: 130.156.38.11 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 01:06:29 PM It is about time that we got serious about stopping the wholescale destruction of the planet. this is a good start. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: MK EMAIL: mkvazquez@yahoo.com IP: 68.20.219.60 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 01:08:31 PM It has taken several generations of young people to get this far... some say it may be too late. Too many people who believe that this is all a "natural" cycle, duh! But if college students keep going like you all, then possibly the world has a chance. Thank you for your efforts. And what are we all to do... not just shop at Whole Foods I mean -- Do something to change the world! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Susan Watts-Rosenfeld EMAIL: susanmwr@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.204 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 01:35:07 PM It warms my heart and gives me hope for the future to see college students standing up and being heard for the environment! Keep up the good work. There are many Americans behind you! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dawn EMAIL: revdawn@sbcglobal.net IP: 70.233.166.160 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 01:55:29 PM I am so proud of you and your concern for our world. I am also sorry that we and generations before us have taken resources for granted and not been good stewards. May God empower us all to clean up the mess we have created. Dawn ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: regina madsen EMAIL: rmadsen@brakesplus.com IP: 63.224.68.9 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 02:57:34 PM Hope you all can work it out so you can send a strong message to congress that something needs to be done. after all, you are the future and this planet will be your future homes. It's time to make the current generation stand up and listen. Keep up the good work. It can only get better from here, thanks to conscientious leaders such as yourselves. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jim lang EMAIL: lang.sc.oak@hotmail.com IP: 198.111.166.19 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 03:05:22 PM YYYYEEEEESSS!!! Organize, organize, organize! Victory is within our grasp! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: JANET CURTIS EMAIL: JAN2CURTIS@AOL.COM IP: 207.200.116.204 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 04:00:25 PM I remember when I was only 14 yrs old and I said save the planet, save the environment, I used to even draw pictures of bands on stages..I called it band-aid..its happened now and I can't say enough about how worried I have been that our youth has no vision. Bu they do. Stay informed. Its a new world. thanks for all you do. Keep doing it. Tell your stores to inform the public about paper or plastic, most have a plan that pays you for reusing or using canvas, but they do not tell people about it. We have got to get away from plastic and plastic bottles should be reused if we are ever going to stop the massive waste destroying our planet and marine life suffering from our garbage. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Teresa Divis EMAIL: spiritranch@frii.com IP: 4.225.212.166 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 06:57:14 PM When you consider the options it is imperative that we not let up on preserving and yes fighting to protect mother earth. All the creatures including man are designed so that we can support and weave and incredible tapestry of life together. We must pay attention to the signs and sounds of this incredible planet if any of it will survive. She has taken a lot of abuse that is has become even more obvious under the current leaderships around the globe (Not just the U.S. ) remember that. This has to be a world wide commitment to really make an impact on all leaders. Reach out to people and friends in foreign lands. Ask them to become informed, make changes in there own lives and begin there. Actively walk your talk, don't weaken, recycle everything don't tolerate abuse. Believe in the fact YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Listen to your heart and work with those of like mind to develop a plan that works with each element so that it can prosper and live a fulfilled life. God gave us such a precious gift I pray we do not squander it. Life is beautiful live it breath it,and love it all. May God bless each and everyone of you today tomorrow and always. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rhona Sabatchi EMAIL: rhonasabatchi@yahoo.com IP: 75.11.162.83 URL: DATE: 11/05/2007 10:15:21 PM Good Job! You guys are AWESOME! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Alison Robinson EMAIL: amrobinson@ispcorp.com IP: 204.115.208.38 URL: DATE: 11/06/2007 08:36:31 AM Older generations are always the slowest to buy into new ideas and American people are slower than many to get motivated with anything that goes beyond their home, car and family activities. Good luck and many thanks indeed for making this special effort ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kim EMAIL: kimwemer@iowatelecom.net IP: 69.66.241.93 URL: DATE: 11/06/2007 10:59:46 AM THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS>YOUR CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN WILL ALSO THANK YOU!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Diane S. EMAIL: dslau@iastate.edu IP: 129.186.198.252 URL: DATE: 11/06/2007 11:01:29 AM Thank you for being a vital part in the creation of a new world of harmony and love for our planet. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: c fuqua EMAIL: fuqua24@gmail.com IP: 208.49.146.50 URL: DATE: 11/06/2007 11:14:44 AM We must do all that we can to protect the Earth and all living things! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tierney S.B. EMAIL: tierney_breedlove@yahoo.com IP: 208.104.230.208 URL: DATE: 11/06/2007 09:12:29 PM I think it is so cool how everyone is finally standing up for what we believe in and protecting our earth. We have to live here and we don't allow our houses to be 105 degrees. So why should we let our earth. Thank you so much for all that you are doing, thanks for saving our planet and animals. Though I may be young I think I might get something going in South Carolina. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carolyn EMAIL: cjbomar2@comcast.net IP: 75.64.90.6 URL: DATE: 11/07/2007 12:12:33 PM Way to go! In the 60's the youth of our country pushed for some positive changes and helped to perpetuate many of them. This issue will affect everyones future...and was created by many and can be solved by each of us. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Linda Lanham-Summitt EMAIL: lsummitt@rscsite.com IP: 71.80.39.102 URL: DATE: 11/07/2007 12:16:13 PM It restores some faith in the younger generation to see so many take a stand for our world. All of us thank you for caring enough to take action peaceful action to show your concern. That knowledge can sway the government who cares which way you will vote. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Leah Culkar EMAIL: soccerfrog929@verizon.net IP: 71.99.165.67 URL: DATE: 11/07/2007 03:14:21 PM I think this is such a good opportunity for students because in 2020 they are going to be the ones in charge so they should get involved now. This sounds like a great program way to go guys! I wish you luck! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Skye Black EMAIL: blacksky@msu.edu IP: 35.10.61.118 URL: DATE: 11/09/2007 03:40:30 PM Wow, thanks for the support from everyone! I was a campus coordinator for this event and got 54 students from Michigan State University to join me along with 6,000 students from across the US. It was an amazing, inspiring, historical weekend. I had the privilege to meet with John Dingell's aides to tell him that we are tired of his rhetoric and gradual changes he is making, he has the power to pass legislature that will put a screeching halt to the catastrophic effects of global warming. He needs to take drastic steps immediately! My generation is not a "quiet" one and we will not back down until we get what we want! Here are some more links to media hits for the weekend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPuQz49-GME Billy Parish @ Power Shift Congressional Hearing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxbbncHKCeU Brittany Cochran @ Power Shift Congressional Hearing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lEBZBTrfpo Charlee Lockwood @ Power Shift Congressional Hearing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMQblirp_xY Katelyn McKormick @ Power Shift Congressional Hearing http://youtube.com/watch?v=CYBfHHwCdGg End of the Rally http://youtube.com/watch?v=BrLa5yqOt-E Lets Raise a Million - CFL bulbs for low income communities. http://dsc.discovery.com/video/?playerId=203711706&categoryId=859974516&lineupId=1173351593&titleId=1293608994Discovery Channel covers Power Shift http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-US&brand=msnbc&vid=58024f6d-89a7-443c-942b-ef68ce848539- Hard Ball http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1573645&vid=186997 - MTV - Revolution Starts Now http://understory.ran.org/2007/11/05/climate-youth-movement-convergences-on-powershift-then-citibank/- RAN No Coal Action ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Len Patterson EMAIL: speedloafer@yahoo.com IP: 71.207.71.208 URL: DATE: 11/10/2007 04:49:28 AM Remain steadfast and determined in your activities to protect this precious planet. As the planet we all live on 'goes', 'so goes' the future of the human race. Keep getting the message out there and whenever possible become physically active in the cleanup and reclamation of the land and waterways. I wish you much success. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sandra Zastrow EMAIL: zluvdogs@sbcglobal.net IP: 4.245.93.165 URL: DATE: 11/10/2007 11:27:38 AM I applaud all of you for your interest in global warming and taking a stand to halt it. You are definitely the future of mankind and wildlife. Hopefully you will be able to rectify some of the problems our past generations have created. Keep Up The Great Work! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Help Counteract Global Warming Deniers on Youtube STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: help-counteract DATE: 10/18/2007 03:28:44 PM ----- BODY:

On Monday, a video produced by the National Wildlife Federation was featured on the front page of Youtube.  Just three days later, the video has close to 200,000 views.  Of particular interest is the fact that the video has generated nearly 3,000 comments.  Unfortunately, most of the comments are juvenile, and a majority of them are coming from global warming deniers who don't have their facts straight.

Please go to this video and leave a comment to refute the deniers.  Don't let them use the right wing tactic of talking louder and faster to drown out our message.

Here is the video in question:

Here are some resources to inform your comments:

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group 1:  The Physical Science Basis of Climate Change

NWF Global Warming

Many thanks to the reality-based community for doing your part to refute the deniers.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Alisha Fowler TITLE: Gore: A tireless voice from the wilderness, for the wilderness STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: gore-a-tireless DATE: 10/12/2007 01:00:46 PM ----- BODY:

It's official - a rumor that Al Gore would be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize has become truth today!

Al Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today, along with the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), for their work to alert the world about global warming.

Al Gore's work has helped educate the world about this enormous challenge, and his commitment to environmental issues runs very deep. His book "Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit," published in 1992, is certainly worth a read for a primer on global warming.

NWF is thrilled that Al Gore's tireless efforts to tackle global warming and devotion to environmental issues are being recognized by the Nobel committee.

Read about what NWF's staff has to say about this exciting announcement!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kristina Richardson EMAIL: KristinaMRichardson@gmail.com IP: 208.48.147.66 URL: DATE: 10/16/2007 09:34:55 AM Everyone can make a difference! If you are passionate about stopping global warming and the environment you should check out this website http://www.nvisioncfl.com . Changing to CFLs is a great way for individual people to really make a difference! You should also check out this site http://www.youtube.com/user/helpourworld for more ideas on how to help our world! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: PlanetThoughts.org EMAIL: IP: 96.224.243.208 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/PlanetThoughts/ DATE: 10/30/2007 03:09:33 AM Hats off, and car motors off, to Al Gore and to the UN panel. Thank you both for making strong statements in an effort to get us moving ahead. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Corps Reform Measures Included in WRDA STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: corps-reform-me DATE: 10/03/2007 05:06:20 PM ----- BODY:

The Water Resources Development Act, which has passed both the House and Senate, includes key reform measures that would help better protect and mitigate for the loss of wetlands and requires the corps to update and modernize its environmental and fiscal practices. We intend to fight for further reforms in future bills including a measure that Senator Kerry offered gaining 51 votes on the Senate floor earlier this year requiring the Corps to confront the realities of global warming and promote non-structural solutions where possible.

WRDA also included major new authorizations to advance Coastal Louisiana, Everglades and Great Lakes restoration. President Bush has threatened a veto over the bill's price tag.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Charlene Arts EMAIL: cmartam@aol.com IP: 138.210.219.8 URL: DATE: 10/11/2007 05:15:49 PM Would advise your cataloge to refer to the wildlife totes for use as shopping and/or grocery totes to save paper and do away with the use of plastic bags. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Amendment Forcing FEMA to Address Global Warming Passes House STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: amendment-forci DATE: 10/03/2007 04:49:11 PM ----- BODY:

NWF worked with Representatives Blumenauer, Gilchrest and Welch to enact an amendment to the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act that requires that maps used as part of NFIP incorporate the best available climate science. Accurate floodplain maps will ensure that citizens are aware of the flood risks in their community and help prevent the loss of human life, property, and important wildlife habitat as we face more global-warming powered weather events. This policy goal was a major part of our Protecting Wildlife from Global Warming initiative.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Biofuels, Farm Bill and "Green Dreams" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: biofuels-farm-b CATEGORY: Energy DATE: 09/30/2007 12:14:43 AM ----- BODY:

Things are getting bogged down with the 2007 Farm Bill in the U.S. Senate, meaning the bill might not be reauthorized this year. Then what? The existing 2002 Farm Bill gets extended, with potentially all important wildlife conservation programs zeroed out.

Speak up for the Farm Bill's wildlife programs today.

Biofuels have been a major part of the Farm Bill debates, as demand for and production of the crops continues to...well...grow.

While cleaner alternative fuels are key in the battle to reverse global warming's impacts on wildlife, the crops could also threaten thousands of acres of habitat. Farmland once set aside for wildlife is now at risk from being used for monoculture biofuel crops. Not to mention, production of many crops still uses more greenhouse gases than it counters.

National Geographic took a look at biofuels in it's most recent issue. Check out "Green Dreams" by Joel K. Bourne, Jr., and don't miss the interactive feature comparing the carbon footprint of different biofuels.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bonnie Walter EMAIL: buddybon@Yahoo.com IP: 24.11.5.151 URL: DATE: 10/10/2007 11:25:18 AM Take pride in our country! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: MD env planner EMAIL: svjcr@earthlink.net IP: 63.147.48.242 URL: DATE: 10/15/2007 10:56:30 AM A marine mechanic friend tells me that he and others at his marina find that fuels that contain ethanol (which is hydroscopic) collect significant amounts of water in the fuel tank if left to sit more than about 2 weeks. The water quickly gums up fuel injectors and ruins other engine parts (It's the first thing they now check when an inboard or outboard engine is brought in for repair). The bad fuel must be pumped out of the tanks and disposed of--the fuel/water mix often has so much water in it you can't light it on fire-apparently they tried it as a test. This particular marina apparently now has drums full of bad fuel and no good way of disposing of it properly. Since the majority of boats sit for many weeks between uses this poses a potentially huge disposal and engine maintenance issue. Apparently the same thing will happen in other vehicles if left to sit for several weeks long periods. Is anyone looking at this as a issue to be addressed? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: The Chesapeake Bay and Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-chesapeake- CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 09/25/2007 11:33:09 AM ----- BODY:

The National Wildlife Federation just released a report on the impacts of global warming on one of America's most cherished regions, "The Chesapeake Bay and Global Warming: A Paradise Lost for Hunters, Anglers and Outdoor Enthusiasts?"

Learn more:
www.nwf.org/chesapeake

The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure for hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts. But this could be a paradise lost due to global warming, which poses a very real threat for fish and wildlife in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Over the past quarter century, billions of dollars have been invested in restoring the Chesapeake Bay watershed. These major investments could be lost due to global warming.

Download the full report:
www.nwf.org/sealevelrise/pdfs/chesapeake_bay_final.pdf

Fish and wildlife are being affected by climate changes:

Fortunately, there are solutions:

Shed sinking due to coastal erosion.

Speak up today and urge your representatives to protect the wildlife and waterfowl of the Chesapeake Bay.

Do you know of any other solutions?  What do you think about the report?

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----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Judi EMAIL: Jdms538@aol.com IP: 205.188.117.143 URL: DATE: 10/10/2007 06:30:56 PM I'm wondering why the magnolia trees here in SE PA are blooming now and why I have no birds at my feeders. I was filling those feeders twice a day all summer. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: India, Republicans, the SEC, Carmakers and Larry Schweiger STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: india-republica CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 09/21/2007 10:59:30 AM ----- BODY:

The Economic Times is reporting that India's economy may be among the hardest hit by global warming.

Politico thinks it is time for the Republican party to pay more attention to the environment.

Oregon treasurer Randall Edwards is pushing for the SEC to require companies to disclose how they could be affected by climate change.

A global warming complaint against carmakers has been dismissed.

A recent study shows that global warming may be linked to an increase in infectious disease.

NWF President and CEO Larry Schweiger comments on the loss of arctic sea ice and it's implications.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sanjay Kumar Maithani EMAIL: skmaithani@gmail.com IP: 117.201.80.62 URL: DATE: 11/16/2008 11:34:14 AM Dear all i am working in Henwel Ghati in Uttaraakhand before some time we are noting that the wild animal's frequency of attacking again and again. The farmers is in this area is killing the wild animal and animal is also attacking on farmer what is the reason for that. the farmer is doing unlawful the reason is wild animal is finished crop. the mane cause of that one is the wild fruit is going to finished and the such type of wild tree is fineshed. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Our Children Deserve Environmental Education STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: our-children-de DATE: 09/13/2007 03:27:35 PM ----- BODY:

The Problem:

According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation:

A recent study found that children today spend an average of 6 hours each day in front of the computer and TV but less than 4 minutes a day in unstructured outdoor play, leading researchers to discover a new condition specific to this current generation that they have called “nature deficit disorder”. This extreme emphasis of indoor time spent in front of screens versus outdoor play and discovery has been correlated with negative psychological and physical effects including obesity, loneliness, depression, attention problems and greater social isolation due to reduced time with friends and family.

Our children deserve much better.

An unintended consequence of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) emphasis on math and reading is that more and more schools are leaving environmental education behind. Many schools have abandoned environmental education programs to invest more time and resources in math and reading instruction.




The Solution:

Fortunately, a new bill in Congress seeks to address this.  The No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 amends the No Child Left Behind law (NCLB) in the following ways:

These measures will go a long way toward giving environmental education the standing and attention it deserves in our schools.




What you can do to help:

1.  Urge Congress to PASS the No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 (H.R. 3036 / S. 1981):

2.  Email your friends and let them know about the lack of environmental education our children are receiving.  Be sure to give them the link to write their congressmen.

Additional Resources:

Young and Wired
Media Use and Obesity among Children
Effects of TV on Kids becoming Less Remote

Do Today's Kids Have Nature Deficit Disorder?

Images courtesy of Charlie Archambault

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kirsten EMAIL: kpomer@bapper.net IP: 64.126.178.122 URL: DATE: 09/14/2007 08:47:20 AM Fantastic! I will be forwarding this to friends & family. Kids need to be outside! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kim Ethridge EMAIL: IP: 199.72.210.98 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/kimbere/ DATE: 09/14/2007 09:34:01 AM Josh - Thanks for giving CBF a plug. You know how much we value NWF's support of the No Child Left Inside Coalition efforts. Best! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Josh Nelson EMAIL: nelsonj@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: http://wildlifepromise.org DATE: 09/14/2007 10:20:21 AM Thanks Kirsten. Kim, We appreciate everything you do as well. Keep it up! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Cardiovascular Disease, U.N., Democracy Now and the GAO STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: cardiovascular- DATE: 09/06/2007 02:58:00 PM ----- BODY:

Doctors in Sweden have determined that higher temperatures caused by global warming could lead to an increase in cardiovascular disease.

The U.N. has launched a web portal to spur a market driven trading service designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

From Democracy Now:

The Society of Environmental Journalists is holding its seventeenth annual conference at Stanford University this week. We take a look at how the issue of global warming is being covered in the media with two leading environmental journalists, Tim Wheeler of the Baltimore Sun and Jim Motavalli of E, The Environmental Magazine.

Listen to the segment.

The Government Accountability Office has released a report (pdf) on Climate Change.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Danielle Brigida TITLE: Bloggers Unite for the Environment Oct. 15 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bloggers-unite- CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 08/31/2007 01:45:24 PM ----- BODY:

Blog Action Day

"For just one day, we'd like to unite as many of the millions of bloggers around the world and speak about one issue - the environment," said Collis Ta'eed a cofounder of Blog Action Day.

On October 15, bloggers are encouraged by Blog Action Day to center topics around a common theme: The Environment. By uniting thousands of blogging voices, this international initiative is all about stimulating a discussion that can hopefully bring about helpful change. Not to mention you've got tons of topics to choose from. To name a few: impacts of global warming, wildlife and habitat protection, pollution and countless others.

To participate in Blog Action Day, you may either post about the environment or donate your blog's proceeds to a specific environmental charity (scroll down to see National Wildlife Federation!). It's wonderful to know that the potential for uniting under such an important cause is well-received and its urgency respected. This gives you a chance to write about an issue that concerns you and impact a huge audience.

Don't have a blog? Check back and comment on Wildlife Promise.

Want to learn more? Here are some resources:

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: stefan wrench EMAIL: stefan_wrench@yahoo.com IP: 209.142.143.196 URL: DATE: 09/05/2007 09:21:54 PM dude, i believe that you all are doing the world a whole lot of good by educating everyone about enviromental issues, anyway keep on rocking and save the worlds ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Schroeder EMAIL: schroeder915@yahoo.com IP: 68.11.52.57 URL: http://peoplegetready.jockamofeenanay.com DATE: 09/06/2007 09:44:05 AM The front line of the global warming crisis is New Orleans: It's now acceptable to wear white after Labor Day. http://peoplegetready.jockamofeenanay.com/?p=1699 ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Letter-to-the-Editor Campaign Delivers Strong Global Warming Message STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: letter-to-the-e CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 08/31/2007 12:16:18 PM ----- BODY:

Recently, NWF activists went the extra mile, writing letters to the editor of their local newspapers to help raise awareness about global warming and the need for action. So far we've had report of 31 published letters in papers across the country. The letters hit newsstands right in the middle of Congress' August recess--perfect timing with many Members in their home districts. Here are quotes from just a few:

"The loss of biodiversity on this beautiful planet could potentially negatively impact all of us. I am particularly concerned for the quality of life we are leaving to our children." -- Larry H.

"I am asking Congress to show leadership and tackle the global-warming issue head on. Congress needs to pass the two bills that will make a difference: the Safe Climate Act and the Climate Stewardship Act." -- Teresa F.

"Many states now offer options for homeowners to buy electricity from clean, renewable sources such as wind, solar and biomass that produce little or no global warming pollution. Green energy can also be purchased through the National Wildlife Federation by visiting www.nwf.org/energy." -- Christina A.

Visit www.nwf.org/cosponsor for tips to help you write your own letter to the editor. Together we can move Congress to pass strong global warming legislation that reduces greenhouse gas emissions 2% per year.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Links 8/27 STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: links-827 DATE: 08/27/2007 02:20:46 PM ----- BODY:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2156728,00.html

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Katrina Report Card STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: katrina-report- DATE: 08/23/2007 11:39:40 AM ----- BODY:

Two years after Hurricane Katrina, much has become clear. We know that the devastation in New Orleans and surrounding areas was less a natural than a man-made disaster. Katrina's surge into New Orleans was the direct result of poorly constructed levees, an ill-conceived navigation channel and the destruction of millions of acres of coastal wetlands. Furthermore, the storm's intensity itself was fueled by unusually warm waters in the tropical Atlantic due, in part, to global warming pollution.

How have Congress and the Administration responded to these lessons of Katrina and addressed the chief causes of its tragic aftermath? Read NWF's report card on the federal government's response to global warming, reforming the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and restoring the wetlands along the Gulf Coast that act as a natural buffer to storms.

ADDRESSING GLOBAL WARMING

Congress Grade:  C

Congress has shown significant improvement since its failing grade last year. Both the House and Senate passed energy bills, each taking first steps toward a new energy future. However, Congress has yet to send the final bill to the President's desk because the energy bills must be conferenced (planned after Labor Day, when Congress reconvenes). Serious committee consideration is only beginning on cap and trade legislation to place mandatory limits on global warming pollution from major emitters. Such legislation is needed to promptly begin reducing global warming pollution by two percent every year--20 percent per decade--to achieve the pollution reductions scientists say are needed. Congress could pull its C grade up to an A in the next few months by finishing the energy bill, and accelerating work on cap and trade legislation.

Greatest Success:
Passage of stronger vehicle efficiency standards (Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE) in the Senate and a Renewable Electricity Standard in the House.

Greatest failure:
Congress has yet to deliver final global warming and clean energy bills to the President's desk.

Administration Grade:  F

Recently, the President acknowledged global warming is real, humans are causing it and something needs to be done. The Administration will host an international summit on climate change in Washington, D.C. in September. But the Administration continues to oppose comprehensive legislation that would cut U.S. global warming pollution from today's levels. We can't solve global warming without reducing the pollution that causes it. The United States has a responsibility to take action ahead of other countries that have contributed less to the problem, and should pursue the economic opportunities in having American businesses lead the way to solving the problem.

Upcoming events present an opportunity to change course. After more than six years of delay, the Administration needs to be a leader, not an obstacle, on the fight to reduce global warming pollution.

Greatest Success:
Acknowledging in the 2007 State of the Union the need to "confront the serious challenge of global climate change” and convening an upcoming climate change summit in Washington DC.

Greatest Failure:
Remains opposed to mandatory cuts in pollution from today’s levels and clean energy policies such as a federal standard to bolster renewable electricity sources. The Administration has 17 months before the President leaves office to change course.

“Many American coastal communities may face more intense storms as the oceans continue to warm and coastal sea levels rise in the decades ahead. We can and must do better to prevent the worst impacts of global warming and restore wetlands and barrier islands along our shores that serve as buffers against these storms.”  – Larry Schweiger, president and CEO, National Wildlife Federation

The full report, which is available at www.nwf.org/hurricanes, includes sections on:

Learn more about the science behind hurricanes:  www.nwf.org/hurricanes/hurricanescience.cfm

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sandra Zastrow EMAIL: zluvdogs@sbcglobal.net IP: 4.245.94.121 URL: DATE: 09/04/2007 07:09:21 PM The Federal Government and the Corps of Engineers need to take drastic measures to undo the problems they have created. They also need to pay more attention to academics and naturalist groups which have been warning of the problems for some time. One of the first things to be done is to let the Mississipi River return to a natural state and let sediment build up at the delta so that the buffer zone will return and lessen the strength of hurricanes in New Orleans. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Grandmothet EMAIL: mistermm@sbcglobal.net IP: 71.143.135.218 URL: DATE: 09/04/2007 07:09:52 PM There has been so much money donated to the Katrina victims. Just our church donated over a million dollars. So much of the money has been wasted. A person from New Orleans just shot and killed a great football player from Spring Westfield High School. There is a lot of money somewhere. Is it in the pocket of Louisiana politicans? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Schroeder EMAIL: schroeder915@yahoo.com IP: 68.11.52.57 URL: http://peoplegetready.jockamofeenanay.com DATE: 09/06/2007 09:40:35 AM Oh God Grandmother. You don't sound much like any grandmother I know. Thank you for the donation of a million dollars by your church, but who exactly did you donate it to? If you don't know, you can hardly complain about how the money is spent. A significant part of the problem is that people are doing the same things they've always done, when what's needed in New Orleans is something different. Criticized for his lack of concern for New Orleans, in particular, President Bush keeps saying the nation has already spent over $114 billion. But of that amount, about $60 billion was for Louisiana. The majority of that went to major military contractors to remove debris, which leaves us with what? Still broken levees and levee walls, a broken sewer and water system and broken streets due to subsidence. You'll see broken empty houses for miles. You can't just throw money at a problem like this. It requires leadership, something lacking from every level of government. So who's getting screwed? The people you thought you were helping, because the money goes through an inverted funnel where a gatekeeper decides how it gets spent. Corruption? Sure, New Orleans officials are being prosecuted left and right thanks to vigorous US Attorney and FBI offices here -- can you say that about your own community? Every place has corruption. We're cleaning it up. By the way, not one dollar of money allocated to local officials has lined anyone's pockets. Every instance of money misspent was money allocated by FEMA -- a federal agency. Don't give up on us. We continue to need the help. Come down here and help build a house. Help teach in a classroom. Help stop historic homes from being demolished. Help give hope to children fighting to survive in an environment of depravity. Help with the worst mental health crisis this nation has ever experienced thanks to the hopelessness exacerbated by comments like the one you made. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Keith EMAIL: Keith@bizxch.com IP: 74.61.9.244 URL: DATE: 09/11/2007 07:26:09 PM What is your point that "..every instance of money misspent was money allocated by FEMA.." If true, lets just turn all the money over to the great State of Louisiana and the great City of New Orleans and let them spend the money directly. I am sure that New Orleans will be returned to former greatness in just a couple of years! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: World Bank, Hurricane Dean, Draughts and the Biggest Security Challenge STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: world-bank-hurr DATE: 08/21/2007 03:05:54 PM ----- BODY:

News came last week that Paul Wolfowitz tried to censor the World Bank on climate change issues.

Amanda Staudt, one of our global warming scientists, has just released a statement on hurricane Dean. 

Chris Mooney has a fascinating take on Dean as well.

A severe drought is killing deer in Tennessee.

A British climate change expert calls climate change the biggest security challenge since the cold war.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Heat, Hurricanes, Merkel, Arctic Sea Ice, and Blog Action Day STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: heat-hurricanes DATE: 08/17/2007 03:35:11 PM ----- BODY:

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany was in Greenland yesterday to discuss global warming with her counterparts.

Record high temperatures and heat waves in: JapanAlabama, South  Korea, Missouri, and elsewhere.

Hurricane Dean promises to be very dangerous.

According to researchers at the University of Colorado, Arctic sea ice may reach a record low by September.

Finally, we'll be taking part in Blog Action Day, will you?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: The U.N., Wolves, and Moose. STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the-un-wolves-a DATE: 08/15/2007 05:52:39 PM ----- BODY:

Experts are preparing for a U.N. Conference on Global Warming, scheduled for December 3rd-14th in Bali, Indonesia.

Global warming is threatening the livelihood of Wolves and Moose in Michigan's Isle Royale National Park.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Bollywood, Greenhouse Gas Reductions in Britain, and an Interactive Timeline STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bollywood-green DATE: 08/13/2007 04:56:33 PM ----- BODY:

Newsweek has an excellent interavtive timeline on global warming developments.

Bollywood actress Biapsha Basu is now speaking out on global warming.

Unfortunately, it looks like Britain may be backing away from their ambitious carbon reduction targets.

Australia has opened its first Climate Change Research Centre. What have you been reading today?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Temperature Changes, HRC, GPS and Dingell STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: temperature-cha DATE: 08/10/2007 05:26:31 PM ----- BODY:

British scientists have developed a model to predict how ocean currents and human activities will effect temperatures over the next decade.

Grist has a fascinating interview with Hillary Clinton.

Learn how GPS can be used to track global warming.

U.S. Rep. John Dingell wants to fight global warming by taxing mansions and gasoline.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Step it Up, Biofuels, Sea Level Rise and Gardening STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: step-it-up-biof DATE: 08/09/2007 12:56:15 PM ----- BODY:

Bill McKibben wants you to Step it Up.

A report on biofuel potential in the midwest was presented today to the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming on Wisconsin.

A new study indicates that the Fraser River delta could lose up to one-third of its tidal marshes as a result of rising sea levels due to global warming.

Three fourths of gardeners experience the effects of global warming, according to new research.  Be sure to check out our Gardener's Guide to Global Warming. what's getting your attention today

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Deniers, Gravel and 100 Miles per Gallon STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: deniers-gravel- DATE: 08/08/2007 04:12:38 PM ----- BODY:

Kudos to Al Gore for continuing to fight the good fight.

Former U.S. vice-president Al Gore said some of the world's largest energy companies, including Exxon Mobil Corp., are funding research aimed at disputing the scientific consensus on global warming as part of a campaign to mislead the public.

Newsweek is also taking on global warming deniers in an excellent cover story, despite some controversy over the design they used on the cover.

Democratic Presidential candidate and former U.S. Senator from Alaska Mike Gravel discussed his environmental views with Grist yesterday.

And finally, this is fascinating:

The Automotive X PRIZE will provide a multi-million dollar purse to the teams that can design, build and bring to market 100 MPG or equivalent fuel economy vehicles. The competition is expected to culminate in a Tour de France-style road race traveling through multiple cities while broadcast to a global audience in 2009 and 2010.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: 170 Miles per Gallon? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 170-miles-per-g DATE: 08/08/2007 10:20:25 AM ----- BODY:

Want to travel in style while you are reducing your greenhouse gas emissions?  Check out these 170MPG hybrid scooters from Piaggio.

The maker of the popular Vespa family of scooters, Piaggio, is set to release a new series of scooters called "HyS" which will feature hybrid engines. The bikes will be electric plug-ins, and will boast 85% stronger acceleration. The parallel hybrid engine is remarkably small, requiring no visual modifications to the Vespa LX, Piaggio X8 or MP3 (seen here), while hugely improving the gas mileage of all three. Capable of recharging from a standard 220v European outlet, the scooters can travel up to 12 miles on electricity alone. The underseat batteries can be recharged on the fly by the engine or through regenerative braking.

You can see pictures here and the press release here. Have you seen anything cool like this lately?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Energy Bill Passes House--Details, Next Steps and More STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: energy-bill-pas CATEGORY: Energy DATE: 08/07/2007 12:06:09 AM ----- BODY:

As promised, here's a breakdown of the energy package passed by the House of Representatives Saturday, Aug. 4.

VICTORY: A Renewable Electricity Standard passed, 220-190, which would require electric suppliers to provide 15 percent of their electricity using renewable energy resources by the year 2020 (with 4 percent able to come from electricity efficiency measures). A year ago we were beating back bills and policies that were further entrenching the U.S. in dirty fossil fuel economy. Today we're celebrating a major step toward a clean energy future and solutions necessary to confront global warming.

VICTORY: The bill includes a "Global Warming Wildlife Survival Act" to develop a national strategy to help wildlife populations and their habitats adapt to the impacts of global warming. It even provides modest new funding to states to assist wildlife in adapting to global warming. Also, the bill directs Federal agencies that manage our public lands to consider existing and future impacts from global warming as they make decisions about managing fish, wildlife and other natural resources.

VICTORY: The Solis amendment, requiring an assessment of needs of developing countries in adapting to climate change, and how the U.S. can help them, passed by voice vote (i.e. general agreement, not a roll call vote).

VICTORY: The Welch amendment, which establishes a grant program for colleges and universities to invest in sustainable and efficient energy projects (up to $1 million for efficiency and $500,000 for sustainability).

VICTORY: The Wu amendment, which requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program for universities to research and develop renewable energy technologies; also authorizes $25 million for the total program.

What Next?

The bill isn't law yet. Now the Senate Energy Bill and the House Energy Bill get "conferenced together"--meaning a small number of senators and representatives will decide what goes into one final bill that will be sent back to the House and Senate for vote on final, final passage. If this it passes, it gets sent to the President's desk, who can either sign or veto.

For those concerned with moving the U.S. toward a clean energy future to help protect wildlife from global warming impacts, the final bill needs to include both the improvements to mileage standards from the Senate bill and the Renewable Electricity Standard from the House Bill.

The House and Senate have now left town for summer recess, but stay tuned for news on the final bill in early September. Thanks so much to everyone who contacted their representative!

Overall, this is a great step toward passing comprehensive global warming legislation in Congress.

Check out www.nwf.org/cosponsor for more on the campaign to pass a strong bill in the House of Representatives.
 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: House Passes Energy Bill, Renewable Electricity Standard STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: house-passes-en CATEGORY: Energy DATE: 08/04/2007 11:11:53 PM ----- BODY:

Most of us left work Friday unsure of whether the House of Representatives would vote on their energy package because of the craziness that happened the day before. But they pulled it out in the end, passing the Energy Independence Bill by a vote of 241-172.

Also, good news on the Renewable Electricity Standard--it passed 220-190! This is a great step in moving toward comprehensive global warming legislation. Check in Monday for more details and analysis from NWF's legislative team as it comes through my email inbox.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Meg Moses EMAIL: jrmoses@shol.com IP: 64.181.30.235 URL: DATE: 08/05/2007 10:52:19 AM Oh Joy! More windmills on our ridgetops!! 1000's of them acting as cuisinarts; Fragmenting forest habitat, splatting migrating bats, butterflies, dragonflies & birds. How much more pesticides will we use & need when all our insect controllers are gone and our crops are overrun and dying? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Matt Graham EMAIL: mgraham10@ec.rr.com IP: 66.56.219.133 URL: DATE: 08/05/2007 04:16:39 PM Every action has consequences, which is not to say we should sit on our hands and do nothing. Not every hilltop is a source of wind energy and not every wind turbine will have dire environmental consequences. I for one applaud the folks that got this bill rolling because any step in the direction of more renewable energy has to be viewed as positive step. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Congress to the RES-cue! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: congress-to-the CATEGORY: Energy DATE: 08/03/2007 11:00:05 AM ----- BODY:

The House Energy Bill will begin floor debate this morning, with amendments--including a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES)--voted on this afternoon. But if they like to talk as much as the Senate, this could go late.

We hear that the Renewable Electricity Standard has been changed to allow states to meet 4 percent of the 15 percent standard through efficiency. This weakens the bill, but is hopefully enough of a compromise to get it passed.

A 15 percent federal Renewable Electricity Standard with strong definitions is an important step forward in energy policy and solving global warming. NWF still strongly supports this bill and a strong show of support from Members will set the stage for a global warming bill in the fall.

Cool Fact! Using 15 percent renewables by 2020 will save 180 million metric tons of global warming pollution annually--the same as taking more than 32 million passenger cars off the road. By 2020, that adds up to $16.4 billion that consumers will save on energy bills.

Send one last message to your representative today!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Energy Vote Tomorrow STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: energy-vote-tom DATE: 08/02/2007 11:33:23 AM ----- BODY:

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to start voting on a number of pieces of their energy package Friday. One part we're really keeping an eye on is the Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). This vote is the key to whether or not the 2007 House Energy Bill can be chalked up in the victory column in our opinion.

Without a Renewable Electricity Standard, the underlying energy bill has a lot of nice provisions, but ultimately does virtually nothing to reduce our global warming pollution. To make this a 21st century energy bill, we NEED to pass a Renewable Energy Standard, and to do that we need YOU.

We need every Member of Congress hearing from you all day today--if their phone numbers aren't busy all day, we're not getting enough calls in! There are about 50 critical Members, mostly moderate Democrats and Republicans, who we need to support this bill. If you can make calls into congressional offices, if you can encourage others to make calls, please do so.

How to Call Your Rep: Just dial the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and the operator will help connect you to your House Representative's office. Then, let the receptionist in the Member's office know your name, where you live and that you want your representative to vote yes to a Renewable Electricity Standard in the House energy package.

After a fuel economy (CAFE) victory in the Senate, an RES victory in the House would pave the way to a good cap-and-trade global warming bill this fall...

Other things to note:

Email your representative to support a strong "Energy Independence Package."

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: torture EMAIL: yjpfzsd@hotmail.com IP: 69.147.76.102 URL: http://userpages.umbc.edu/~a24/augera/torture.html DATE: 09/05/2007 05:09:34 PM Nice site. Thank you! http://userpages.umbc.edu/~a24/augera/torture.html torture ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Las Vegas Casinos EMAIL: uxzda@hotmail.com IP: 83.18.28.130 URL: http://www.friendster.com/websearch.php?search=1&filter=network&q=site%3Anadia.greatnow.com%2F DATE: 09/05/2007 08:27:30 PM Very good site. Thank you:-) http://www.friendster.com/websearch.php?search=1&filter=network&q=site%3Anadia.greatnow.com%2F Las Vegas Casinos ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: House Energy Vote Approaches STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: house-energy-vo CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 07/31/2007 08:04:46 PM ----- BODY:

A few weeks ago, the U.S. Senate passed their version of an Energy Bill, drawing up a blueprint for America's energy use in the coming year. Now the House of Representatives is working on their Energy Independence Package, and staffers are burning the midnight oil to pass a bill before they leave for August recess.

The House Energy Bill has a number of moving parts to it, but here are the things NWF's policy wonks are watching:

Send a message to your representative to make sure the House passes a wildlife-friendly Energy Bill.

And stay tuned to Wildlife Promise for updates on the Energy Bill.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dr. Terry Doran EMAIL: doran71@verizon.net IP: 71.245.189.226 URL: DATE: 08/01/2007 03:16:49 PM Hello, Please remember that the construction of large numbers of wind turbines on the ridges of the Allegheny Mountains will destroy the environment and allow the construction of turbines that are inefficient, generate expensive energy and will be supported by federal and state tax subsidies. We need desperately proper siting regulations before the development of wind energy in the states of New York, PA , WVA, Virginia and Tennessee. North Carolina already bans wind development along the ridges of the state. Wind power may work in some areas but a blanket approach will destroy our forested ridges. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Derek Brockbank EMAIL: brockbankd@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 08/02/2007 12:09:20 PM The House Energy Bill includes a provision to establish a "Wind Turbines Guidelines Advisory Committee" to make recommendations to help minimize impacts to wildlife from wind generating facilities. It also authorizes $2 million to research impacts of wind energy on wildlife. But also remember over 470 mountains have been literally cut down for coal. This is far, far worse for wildlife than wind turbines. And in many cases, there is less regulation of stip top mines, than wind turbines. Check out www.ilovemountains.org for more information. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: a-new-study-rel CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/30/2007 04:09:09 PM ----- BODY:

A new study released yesterday has confirmed the link between sea temperature rise and increased hurricane activity.

MIAMI (Reuters) - The number of Atlantic hurricanes in an average season has doubled in the last century due in part to warmer seas and changing wind patterns caused by global warming, according to a study released on Sunday.

The new study, published online in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, said the increased numbers of tropical storms and hurricanes in the last 100 years is closely related to a 1.3-degree Fahrenheit rise in sea surface temperatures.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Boxer Sees Global Warming up Close STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: boxer-sees-glob CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/30/2007 12:00:19 PM ----- BODY:

Check out this article on the trip Senator Boxer recently took to Greenland:

WASHINGTON Leading a bipartisan delegation of 10 colleagues to Greenland, Sen. Barbara Boxer said today she saw first-hand the effects of global warming and received a plea from the country's officials to do something to change it. "I think everyone who has seen this is changed,'' Boxer, D-Calif., said in a telephone interview from Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. "Imagine flying in a helicopter and seeing this massive glacier that's five miles wide and 500 miles long...following it as it's crashing into the sea.'' The glacier they flew over is the fastest moving one in the world, she said.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Christine Dorsey TITLE: Iowa, it's been real! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: iowa-its-been-r DATE: 07/29/2007 01:04:29 PM ----- BODY:

Hey everyone. We made it! Our Team NWF rode from Rock Rapids to Bellevue, IA in 7 days - 477 official miles, but more like 500 when you count getting to campsites and a few detours.

Saturday was our last day of riding, 56 miles from Dyersville to Bellevue, on the Mississippi River. We ran into the 3 Romney brothers, sons of presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. They rode the last day with matching t-shirts with their names and '08 on the back.

I saw Josh and Craig Romney on the road and passed them, yelling out the biking etiquette "On your left!" as I went by ;-) Later, they caught up with me at a roadside stand selling fresh watermelon. I said hello and got Josh talking about global warming. He said his father accepts that global warming is real, though thinks the jury is still out on how much human activity is to blame. Regardless, however, he said Mitt believes there needs to be a global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. When I asked him why his dad pulled Massachusetts out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) at the 11th hour (despite his administration having been a big part of creating it) he didn't have an answer and launched into the need for other countries like China to be mandated to cut emissions.

He did say the US needs to do it's part in reducing emissions, but that his father wants to be sure we use all available technologies, including nuclear power. I asked him if we had time to build the number of plants it would take to really address the problem and he acknowledged that nuclear is not the silver bullet and that other technologies like wind and solar need to be part of the mix.

Bottom line - He had many stock answers we hear from politicians and didn't have detailed responses, not that I would have expected that from the son of the candidate in the middle of a bike ride across Iowa. I urged him to ask his father to make global warming a priority, and he claimed that Mitt talks about it "in every speech." Really?

So, our wee has come to an end. I'm in the Dubuque airport on my way to Chicago, then Albany, NY and then Burlington, VT. Our team is all on our way to our perspective homes to rest up. It's been an incredible week. We've spoken personally to at least 1,000 people, most of whom live (and vote) in Iowa. Our global warming message was seen via our jerseys by thousands of others. We signed up about 250 new activists and have a minimum of 100 people eager to buy a "Cycling Against Global Warming" jersey (if we ever decide to sell them!).

Mission accomplished! Thanks for reading, and stay connected to NWF as we mobilize our networks to bring meaningful global warming legislation passed and signed by a president who will make confronting global warming a priority.

As they say along the bike route when a cyclist leaves the road: Rider Off!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dan Mascal EMAIL: mascal.dan@iccsd.k12.ia.us IP: 64.198.193.78 URL: DATE: 08/05/2007 05:10:54 PM Please make that 101 people who want to buy the "Cycling Against Global Warming" jerseys. I saw your presentation at the fairgrounds in Spencer and would really love to spread the word and wear that jersey. I do ride to school every day I can and I think my 7th grade science students would really dig the jersey. We are actually thinking of starting a Cycling Club at our Jr High with hopes of getting a large group on RAGBRAI next summer. If you do decide to sell them, please contact me and I will purchase one or two. Thank you and keep up the good work. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: 24 Plans to put the Hurt on Climate Change STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 24-plans-to-put CATEGORY: News DATE: 07/27/2007 11:18:35 AM ----- BODY: Via Treehugger:
"24," the Emmy Award-winning series from Imagine and Twentieth Century Fox Television, will strive to become the first television production ever to save enough energy and reduce enough carbon emissions over the course of a season to render its entire season finale "carbon neutral,"....."When appropriate, [24 will] incorporating the issue of global warming and the importance of carbon emission reduction into storylines"
Kudos to the team at "24" for their bold leadership. NewsCorp has been placing an increasing emphasis on combating climate change lately, as evidenced by statements like this made by CEO Rupert Murdoch.
We need to push ourselves to make as many reductions as possible in our own energy use first.. and that takes time. But we must do this quickly.. the climate will not wait for us.
You can see a video of "24" star Kiefer Sutherland doing a PSA on global warming here. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Christine Dorsey TITLE: Hi from Lamont, IA! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: hi-from-lamont- DATE: 07/27/2007 11:09:50 AM ----- BODY:

Team NWF's cycling team is moving through Lamont, IA this morning, on our way to Dyersville tonight, about 65 miles from last night's campsite in Independence. We had quite a little storm move through, so a few of us were a little soggy at the campground this morning. Oh well, all part of the experience.

Yesterday, I took a break in Fairbank and took a spin around town in a horse and buggy, compliments of a local Amish farmer. He and two of his 10 brothers and sisters were giving buggy rides. The Amish live such interesting lives (at least I think so). This older teen, Freeman, farms for a living. They grow nearly all their own food and sell the rest to the local community. They use horses to plow their fields, grow diversified crops and for the most part don't use motorized vehicles or equipment. While some may see this as an "old-fashioned" way of life, I think we can learn a lot from the Amish. Their carbon footprints are negligible. As we all try to adjust the way we live to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, we may want to think about just how independent we can be of fossil fuel based energy - by using less electricity, using alternative modes of transportation when we can (like biking to work if it's feasible!) and growing more veggies & herbs. You don't need to be an Amish farmer to do these things, but they sure do exemplify what's possible!

It's on to Dyersville today. A little rain along the way, but so far no storms. I'm liking the cooler weather (80s as opposed to 90s), but I'm still drinking lots of water and gatorade - about 60 ounces of water and maybe 30 ounces of gatorade a day. I can tell you one thing - the dry, cracked ground in the corn fields is getting a little help from the thousands of cyclists who don't want to wait in line for the portalets! Oh, and I had my first "Walking Taco" yesterday. It's a bag of doritos and taco fixings heated up that you can eat on the go - yummy! More tomorrow...

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Time to Start Building an Ark, Seattle? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: time-to-start-b CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/26/2007 08:46:14 PM ----- BODY:

NWF's latest and greatest report, Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Habitats in the Pacific Northwest, is getting news hits all over the place, including the Seattle Times, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Tacoma News Tribune, The Olympian and many other regional papers.

The report says that it is likely the Pacific Northwest coast will see a significant rise in sea-level--anywhere from 20-56 inches by 2100 if global warming is left unchecked.

"But wait," you say, "20-56 inches that doesn't sound bad."

"But wait," I say, "That is 20-56 inches of vertical rise, which translates into many many feet when you talk horizontal loss of land."

Check out more about the report at www.nwf.org/sealevelrise--and don't miss the cool Flash animation of how sea-level rise will impact habitats!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Two New Cosponsors Bring Count to 165 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: two-new-cospons CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/26/2007 07:24:01 PM ----- BODY:

Two U.S. Representatives have hopped on board strong global warming bills this week, bringing the "Cosponsor Countdown" up to 165!

Rep. Yvette Clark (D-N.Y., 11th District) is now a cosponsor of the Safe Climate Act (H.R. 1590), which calls for a reduction of global warming pollution by at least 15 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.

Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash., 8th District) is now a cosponsor of the Climate Stewardship Act (H.R. 620), which calls for a reduction of global warming pollution by at least 15 percent by 2020 and 75 percent by 2050.

Find out where your representative stands on these two bills by visiting www.nwf.org/cosponsor today.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Christine Dorsey TITLE: Hey from Denver, IA! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: hey-from-denver DATE: 07/26/2007 10:23:28 AM ----- BODY:

We're more than half way across Iowa! Yesterday was a tough day - it was in the mid-90s for much of the 70-mile ride. Don Hooper took a header when another biker fell in front of him. Don's fine - just a few scrapes and a popped tire, which got fixed by a good samaritan cyclist. The other biker is fine as well. But it can be a bit dicey out there - there were about 15,000 cyclists on the road in blazing heat. We've all witnessed a few doozies.

OK, back to politics. We never did see Sen. Edwards on the road with Lance. But we saw some small Biden '08 posters, a couple of kids with Rudy '08 signs, and some big Ron Paul for President billboards out in some fields. The prevailing question from cyclists going passed the Ron Paul signs was: Who is Ron Paul?

But Edwards was on the road with Lance for a few miles, according to news reports.

Some news reports say Democrat Joe Biden's wife, Dr. Jill Biden, was scheduled to ride today, and Republican Mitt Romney's sons are riding tomorrow.

Kate Hofmann spoke with Christy Vilsack, wife of former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. She was volunteering at a Clinton campaign booth. Kate said Mrs. Vilsack was very eager to discuss global warming, and asked Kate some probing questions that she said she would relay to Sen. Clinton. The message - make global warming a priority in the campaign!

Our team has spoken to so many local and state politicians this week, as well as hundreds of Iowans and others on RAGBRAI. The overriding theme - Iowans really get the issue of global warming, and want some action from political leaders.

We're headed to Independence, IA today. Three days to go! Send me some comments or questions, will ya?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marilyn EMAIL: mcl.paris@yahoo.com IP: 71.190.36.182 URL: DATE: 07/26/2007 02:15:34 PM Go, Chris! We are thinking of you and rooting for you. Great effort for a great cause! Love, Marilyn & the gang ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ari EMAIL: barkan@gmail.com IP: 66.92.239.176 URL: DATE: 07/26/2007 11:08:40 PM Hi Chris!! Fantastic work you're doing, thanks for keeping us posted on the progress. You get to push for political change while getting a serious workout plus the bonus of an Iowa tan. Keep up the great effort - I'm sure it's an amazing experience!! How many liters of water do you drink a day?!?! Hugs, ---ari ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: An Arctic Tale STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: an-arctic-tale CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/25/2007 11:26:58 AM ----- BODY:

In theatres today, July 25th 2007, Arctic Tale.

From National Geographic Films, the people who brought you MARCH OF THE PENGUINS and Paramount Classics, ARCTIC TALE is an epic adventure that explores the vast world of the Great North. The film follows the walrus, Seela and the polar bear, Nanu, on their journey from birth to adolescence to maturity and parenthood in the frozen Arctic wilderness. Once a perpetual winter wonderland of snow and ice, the walrus and the polar bear are losing their beautiful icebound world as it melts from underneath them.

Check out the trailer below and be sure to visit the website as well:  http://www.arctictalemovie.com/

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Senator Chris Dodd on Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: senator-chris-d CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 07/25/2007 09:55:11 AM ----- BODY: Democratic Presidential Candidate and Senator Chris Dodd spoke to the New Hampshire Sierra Club last week about his plan to address global warming. His plan is supported by the environmental leaders such as Al Gore and former Senator Bill Bradley. You can read about his plan, and the New Hampshire event, here. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Christine Dorsey TITLE: Getting the message out STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: getting-the-mes CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 07/24/2007 11:25:52 PM ----- BODY:

Hey - just saw that our interview with the CBS affiliate in Cedar Rapids aired tonight. Check it out here:

http://www.kgan.com/players/news/ragbrai/video.shtml

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Christine Dorsey TITLE: Hey from Hampton, IA STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: hey-from-hampto DATE: 07/24/2007 11:08:15 PM ----- BODY:

Today was a busy day in Iowa. After leaving Eagle Grove, we rode east through more farm towns. In one town, I ran into a Clinton '08 campaign booth. I stopped and spoke to one of Sen. Hillary Clinton's Iowa campaign staffers. Clinton, of course, has signed on as a co-sponsor of one of the leading global warming bills in the U.S. Senate, the Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act. But I asked her campaign aide to ask Sen. Clinton to make global warming a priority in her campaign. I wrote that same message on her sign in book for riders.

Later in the day, we ran into Sen. Barrack Obama's campaign, which was set up as riders rode into Hampton. Clinton's staff set up shop there as well. Obama, too, has co-sponsored the Lieberman-McCain bill. His staff was less receptive to our NWF team. Not rude, but not interested in talking to us. Neither, really, was Clinton's staff. Apparently, if you're not an Iowa caucus voter, they don't want to take the time to talk. Not very savvy, but I suppose it's to be expected.

Tomorrow, former Sen. John Edwards, D-NC, will be riding with Lance Armstrong. Armstrong invited all presidential candidates - of any party - to ride RAGBRAI with him. Edwards was the only candidate to take him up on it. Lance wants to talk to all candidates about cancer. His Livestrong charity is front and center for him on this ride.

Ranger Rick made an appearance at camp this evening. He was a big hit with the kids, of course. But adults wanted their photo taken with him, too. We got a few more activists to sign up with us thanks to Ranger Rick!

More requests for our bike jersey...More on Wednesday, when we ride to Cedar Falls (68 miles). Until then, ride on!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Darlene EMAIL: Darchris@optonline.net IP: 69.121.139.88 URL: DATE: 07/25/2007 08:23:05 PM Have you seen the C.F. Payne print on the back cover of the recent Reader's Digest? It is a picture of a cyclist drinking water. The title is "Alternative Fuel". It could be you guys!! Ride on.... ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: NWF CEO and President Larry Schweiger Visits Greenland STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: nwf-ceo-and-pre CATEGORY: Larry Schweiger DATE: 07/24/2007 11:27:48 AM ----- BODY: NWF CEO and President Larry Schweiger has just returned from a trip to Greenland to witness global warming firsthand. Check out the three short videos below which were recorded on the ground in Greenland. More videos will be coming in the next few days.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Christine Dorsey TITLE: Hello from Eagle Grove. IA STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: hello-from-eagl DATE: 07/24/2007 10:51:27 AM ----- BODY:

What a trip so far! I'm at the Eagle Grove library getting online for a few minutes. I didn't get a chance to get to a computer Monday, so here's the quick re-cap: people LOVE our "Cycling Against Global Warming" bike jerseys. All nine of our riders have gotten tons of requests to buy them, and they are great conversation starters on the road. So many cyclists have said hi and asked us about our team and what we're doing - and we love telling them!

We rode from Spencer to Humboldt on Monday - about 80 miles. We stopped in Laurens to meet with the Laurens Sun publisher - he took our picture and the paper will do a story about our effort. Turns out the publisher is a longtime member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and he was very familiar with NWF. He said he's not too up to speed on global warming, but he recognizes it's a problem.

When we got to camp Monday afternoon, KGAN-TV out of Cedar Rapids was waiting, wanting an interview with Don and Miles Hooper, who are our father-son duo from Vermont (Don works for NWF) who are riding and presenting a slide show about global warming on a couple of evenings this week. We're hoping the interview will air today (Tuesday) at noon and/or 10 p.m., and also on the FOX affiliate in Des Moines at 9 p.m. When asked what the NWF team was doing to address global warming, Miles was quick to say, "We're riding our bikes across Iowa - isn't that the best mode of transportation?"

We've spoken to several farmers in the last day or two - corn, soybeans and more corn - farming is definitely THE industry in these parts. Farmers we've spoken to say they are seeing the effects of drought - many of them are older and hoping to leave their farm to sons or daughters. They're concerned about what is in store for the future. Ethanol is popular here, though some farmers are concerned there will be too much production. I saw one filling station where E-85 was $3.26 per gallon. Regular unleaded gas was at about $3.09.

So far, no presidential candidates, but Lance Armstrong invited any and all of them to ride with him. Former Sen. John Edwards, D-NC, is the only one who has taken him up on it and will be out riding with Lance on Wednesday morning. We'll be on the lookout.

OK - the quick Lance update - I rode with him! For about 3 seconds. He and his "Livestrong" gang came past me and Kate Hofmann. He said, "Hi guys." We didn't realize it was him until he was past us. I tried to speed up to catch him...yeah, that didn't last. Miles rode with him later - he was so excited to meet him, he forgot to say anything about global warming. Ah well, he'll try again today! But we all have our jerseys on!

Today, we're headed to Hampton. Tonight, Ranger Rick will make appearances at camp. There are lots of kids doing the ride (talk about getting your Green Hour! These cycling families are amazing!), so we expect he'll be a big hit at camp. More later!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Global Warming Questions in the Youtube Debate STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: global-warming- CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 07/24/2007 10:16:57 AM ----- BODY:

A snowman's biggest question:


How will your policies reduce energy consumption?


What is your stance on nuclear power?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: English Scientists Confirm the Link Between Global Warming and Heavy Rainfall STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: english-scienti CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 07/23/2007 03:37:29 PM ----- BODY: The Independent has the story:
It's official: the heavier rainfall in Britain is being caused by climate change, a major new scientific study will reveal this week, as the country reels from summer downpours of unprecedented ferocity. More intense rainstorms across parts of the northern hemisphere are being generated by man-made global warming, the study has established for the first time ­ an effect which has long been predicted but never before proved. The study's findings will be all the more dramatic for being disclosed as Britain struggles to recover from the phenomenal drenching of the past few days, during which more than a month's worth of rain fell in a few hours in some places, and floods forced thousands from their homes.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jonathan Cowie EMAIL: j.cowie@concatenation.org IP: 86.137.147.66 URL: http://www.science-com.concatenation.org DATE: 08/01/2007 11:14:58 AM Whether you can specifically link recent floods to climate change is debatable. Certainly it is bad practice for scientists to do so solely with the benefit of hindsight. However I have just had a book published, Climate Change: Biological & Human Aspects, and with the recent floods I wondered what I said in my book (it was months since I handed in the manuscript) and found that I had concluded that this sort of thing (summer flooding in Europe) is what one would expect in a warming world. I therefore have posted the appropriate text on the web free http://www.science-com.concatenation.org/archive/uk_floods_climate_change.html . Jonathan ----- -------- AUTHOR: Christine Dorsey TITLE: Iowa, here we are! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: iowa-here-we-ar DATE: 07/22/2007 09:49:37 PM ----- BODY:

Well, we got to Iowa on Saturday. We set up at the Expo in Rock Rapids, in the northwest corner of Iowa. Before the day was out, we had 215 new activists who want to help NWF make global warming a priority! What a day. It was hot and sunny and thousands of cyclists converged on Rock Rapids to begin the trek across the state.

This morning, we were up bright and early and most of us were on the road by 7 a.m. for the 77+mile ride to Spencer. Team NWF looked swank in our "Cycling Against Global Warming" bike jerseys. We've had several requests to buy them! This was probably the best way we've found so far to get people to engage in conversation. It was incredible to see 10,000+ cyclists overtake every town we rode through. But the communities really love it - think of all the economic opportunity this sort of event brings to these small farming communities.

This evening we did our first presentation in Spencer featuring Don and Miles Hooper, our father-son duo who are riding and speaking to audiences about global warming. It was not a big crowd - we had to compete with an appearance by Lance Armstrong...but we did get a few new Iowa activists who are interested in helping get presidential candidates to make global warming a priority in the 2008 campaign.

I have it on pretty good authority that former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) will be riding with Lance tomorrow and Wednesday. We'll be on the look-out for them both. I also heard that former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) will be around - not sure if he'll be riding. I also heard that Sen. Sam Brownback, R-KS, is riding, but we haven't seen any trace of him.

Tomorrow we ride another 77 miles from Spencer to Humboldt. We're crossing a pretty conservative part of Iowa - very beautiful, and the people could not be nicer. Every community has opened its doors to RAGBRAI cyclists. We've chatted with several farmers - corn and soybeans are the crops around here - they are feeling the drought and it concerns them. We saw some giant wind turbines - and with a big head wind most of the day - I now know first-hand why Iowa has such potential to produce energy from wind! We've been pleasantly surprised at the number of farmers who agree that we need to make addressing global warming a top priority. In fact, we've come across few true skeptics - oh, they're around, and a few let us know, but for the most part folks really understand we need to take action right now.

More tomorrow!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bill EMAIL: dionb@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 07/24/2007 01:24:06 PM Roll on! and make them listen. I want a jersey too! Bill ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: -Woody- EMAIL: nbowe@us.ibm.com IP: 64.223.107.174 URL: DATE: 07/26/2007 02:55:02 PM Hi from back home Christine! Congrats on your ride so far, hope to hear all about it at the next run! You go girl! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Christine Dorsey TITLE: Almost to RAGBRAI STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: almost-to-ragbr DATE: 07/20/2007 07:46:38 PM ----- BODY:

Hey everyone. I'm in Sioux Falls, SD with my bike in a box (seems to have made it in one piece), my laptop and a big pile of electronics - cell phone, laptop, camera, Palm Pilot, walkie talkies. I'm plugging everything in tonight since beginning tomorrow I don't know when I'll see the next outlet.

I spoke to Vivian Coss, who is driving most of our gear and materials out to Iowa from Virginia with her husband, Nick. They are making good time. Georgina Price is driving the rest of our team in a minivan. They all made it by car and plane to Dubuque and Bellevue, dropped off various vehicles, and they're all on their way to Rock Rapids! We'll meet up at the RAGBRAI expo tomorrow where we'll raffle off some cool NWF global warming bike jerseys and hand out information about global warming and hype our two slide shows in Spencer and Cedar Falls. Already one of the local radio stations is airing spots about it!

It's hot and sunny and it's supposed to be in the 90s in Iowa next week. I'm savoring my comfortable hotel bed tonight.

More after the RAGBRAI Expo in Rock Rapids, IA tomorrow!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Maggie Barrett EMAIL: maggieb25@comcast.net IP: 65.97.21.36 URL: DATE: 07/22/2007 11:39:51 AM Hey Christine, Hope you are having a great time. My a** hurts just thinking about riding that far on a bike! Look for George Caudill, he is working this event! Pedal on! Mags :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Erin & Steve EMAIL: callaway@midmaine.com IP: 66.252.35.143 URL: DATE: 07/22/2007 11:58:56 AM Hi Chris! Thanks for letting us know about your latest adventure. Yeh, you're nuts, but we really do admire your dedication to causes that are important to you. All is well here in Maine. We look forward to reading more about your trip. Take care and have fun! love Erin & Steve ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mer EMAIL: fishermer@earthlink.net IP: 70.187.164.71 URL: DATE: 07/22/2007 02:07:43 PM Hey Chris! Congrats! This looks awesome! Have a great ride and a great time. Where can I buy one of those cool bike jerseys? Good luck! Mer ----- -------- AUTHOR: Christine Dorsey TITLE: Headed to Iowa! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: headed-to-iowa DATE: 07/19/2007 05:01:09 PM ----- BODY:

Hey everyone! "Team NWF" is on its way to Iowa! We're a group of 10 NWF cyclists and a couple of volunteers who are participating in RAGBRAI®--the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.

I'm team leader Christine Dorsey from NWF's Montpelier, VT office. My teammates come from our offices here and in Virginia and Colorado. I'll be posting updates on our ride each day right here on Wildlife Promise (as long as I can find wireless hot spots along the way!).

In the spirit of NWF's "founding father,'' Ding Darling, the famed Des Moines Register cartoonist who helped create NWF in 1936, we're taking our conservation message about confronting global warming to Iowa! Find out more about our great Iowa adventure.

We'll be talking to Iowans and other cyclists--and we're bound to run into presidential candidates along the way. We're going to ask them what their plan would be as president to commit the U.S. to meaningful efforts to reduce global warming pollution. I'll let you know what they say.

By the way, we're all offsetting our carbon emissions from travel to and from Iowa by investing in TerraPass, Carbonfund or Native Energy. And, of course, we're using clean pedal power to get across the state. I've checked out the 478-mile route and all I can say is, whoever said Iowa is flat is a liar.

Check back here throughout the week. Beginning Friday (if the technology gods have mercy on me), you can read our dispatches from the road.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cara EMAIL: cwcm@comcast.net IP: 68.34.50.126 URL: DATE: 07/20/2007 03:56:56 PM Christine, you need to set up a real ride...on horse back! Hope you have great weather for your bike ride! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol EMAIL: carolainslie@hotmail.com IP: 71.54.181.141 URL: DATE: 07/22/2007 02:32:01 PM Great! Good luck and Godspeed. I hope you do run into some candidates and get the message out. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ramzesramz EMAIL: ramzes1234_81@mail.ru IP: 80.237.112.2 URL: http://ourhealth-roman.blogspot.com/ DATE: 06/17/2008 01:15:43 PM Somehow time I climbed on is not present and, asking questions, found interesting and not so interesting answers. One of which was - « FailureAccident on the Chernobyl atomic power station, 4 power unit ». I became interesting and thumbing through sites was simply horrified. One I the fellow worker, in the past the meter man, has told about the friend which was the liquidator of consequences of this failureaccident, the truth or not I do not know. But spoke that - « firemen which extinguished a fire there, by turns washed in a showersoul groups, and muzhiks because of an irradiation were shone in darkness, but to live ithim remains few hours ». ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: luckymansy EMAIL: burdyksad@mail.ru IP: 213.175.196.228 URL: DATE: 11/13/2008 04:55:42 PM You can be lucky!!! http://digg.com/users/holdempokertips ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anastasiaprostia EMAIL: cccvvvxxcddd@gmail.com IP: 84.19.248.249 URL: DATE: 03/30/2009 12:43:16 PM Hey :) Amazing weight loss stories here, And here you can buy Anatrim http://www.zmeii.com/?toxaawgjgw I've always had trouble with my weight ever since I was young. Of course I tried all the "best" fat loss products, nothing helped very much. It wasn't til I tried Anatrim that I saw the pounds seriously start to melt away! Nothing helped me lose weight faster. I literally saw 15 pounds melt away within the first few weeks! There's nothing more exciting than watching pounds disappear, especially when you've tried all sorts of different methods and products before. I've since read up on Anatrim and am amazed at the number of people who have benefited from its amazing results. I'm halfway to my goal, Anatrim will get me the rest of the way ;) ----- -------- AUTHOR: Amie Kasakitis TITLE: New Tool Shows Potential for Confronting Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: new-tool-shows- DATE: 07/16/2007 02:25:19 PM ----- BODY:

Check out this cool online tool in the Washington Post that shows how we can fight global warming.  The models show how the 2% annual reduction in global warming pollution recommended by scientists will impact emissions as well as showing how all nations can work together to achieve this 2% reduction. Also, be sure to check out the map that demonstrates how much global warming pollution will be emitted if we continue with "business as usual."

What exactly is a 2% global warming pollution reduction policy and what is the science behind the 2%? Please download our factsheets: 2% Solution: National Policy Options and 2% Solution: Why and How for more information.

To see if your Representative is a cosponsor of 2% legislation please visit www.nwf.org/cosponsor.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Amie Kasakitis TITLE: Turn up the Heat in Iowa STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: turn-up-the-hea DATE: 07/16/2007 02:18:27 PM ----- BODY:

With global warming increasingly being recognized by scientists as the number one threat to wildlife in the coming decades, we here at the National Wildlife Federation are teaming up with Iowa Global Warming, a growing grassroots organization dedicated to making the issue of global warming a priority in the 2008 presidential nomination process.

The group is building a network of volunteers who have made a commitment to speak up about global warming at living room coffees, town meetings and forums or anywhere else that hosts presidential candidates.

Iowa Global Warming is a nonpartisan organization that will not endorse or favor one campaign or party over another. Their website, www.iowaglobalwarming.org has a library of candidate position statements and candidate video clips. Their goal is to create a one-stop shop for all caucus-goers to evaluate candidate positions on a variety of issues regarding global warming.

Do you live in Iowa? Are you interested in joining the corps of volunteers making global warming an issue in the Iowa caucus? Email Derek Brockbank at alerts@nwf.org with the subject line "Iowa Global Warming" to get involved.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tania Kamal-Eldin EMAIL: tkamalel@ucsd.edu IP: 71.133.151.36 URL: DATE: 07/20/2007 05:21:14 PM I know there are plans to put in a coal plant in waterloo, Iowa. There is a movement to try to stop it but they are losing to big money. Is there anything you can do to help stop it? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Daniel Kammen on Solar photovolaics STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: daniel-kammen-o CATEGORY: Energy DATE: 07/12/2007 11:54:19 AM ----- BODY:

Check out this great article in greenerbuildings.com on Solar photovolaics.

Following the OPEC embargoes of the 1970s, a wave of investment took place in the industry that, while brief, helped to bring a number of largely silicon-based technologies to niche markets. Since then scientific and materials engineering progress in the solar field has been steady, with an evolution away from silicon as the only material, to a truly exciting and promising range of plastic, thin film, nano-based, and organic cells.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Rio Live Earth Cancelled STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: rio-live-earth- CATEGORY: Current Affairs DATE: 07/05/2007 03:06:47 PM ----- BODY:

Unfortunately, the Rio de Janeiro Live Earth concert has been cancelled.

It was billed as a chance to kick back on the golden sands of Copacabana — and save the world at the same time. Organisers of the Brazilian leg of the Live Earth concerts had hoped to lure more than 1 million people to South America's most famous beach on Saturday to watch Lenny Kravitz, Macy Gray and Brazilian popstar Jorge Benjor. But today Al Gore's global crusade against climate change appeared to have fallen victim to Rio's drug-trafficking gangs after a judge cancelled the event, ruling that police were too busy to provide security at the show.

Fortunately for the other six continents, the show will go on.  If you are at the New Jersey show, stop by our booth outside and say hi.

For more information go to our Live Earth page.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Cheney v. The Environment STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: cheney-v-the-en CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 06/28/2007 10:48:37 AM ----- BODY:

Two recent articles highlight the Bush administration's tendency to favor big business over environmental concerns. 

Yesterday's Washington Post article:  Leaving No Tracks.

Last week's Rolling Stone article:  The Secret Campaign of President Bush's Administration To Deny Global Warming.

Both of these must read pieces bring plenty of new information to light.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Black v. White? Supreme Court on Endangered Species and Clean Water STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: black-v-white-s CATEGORY: Endangered Species DATE: 06/26/2007 11:10:47 AM ----- BODY:

     When I went in search of a news article about Monday's Supreme Court ruling on National Association of Home Builders v. Defenders of Wildlife, I was dismayed to find the majority of papers picked up the Associated Press story and headline "Business prevails in environmental case."

     In six paragraphs, an intricate and complicated Supreme Court case is devolved into yet another story pitting environmentalists against developers, with developers coming out on top. And this is the wire story that is going to be in the majority of newspapers across America (if it is picked up at all).

     I am an "environmentalist." I lost. They won. Really?

     Actually I think we all lose when such issues are boiled down to this simplistic equation. Ask my brother, who owns his own homebuilding company in Florida. He grew up in the same backyard, walking through the same woods, swimming at the same lake place and boogey boarding the same ocean as me. He wants those places and the wildlife we grew up with protected for his son as much as I do for my nephew. But articles like this portray us as enemies.

     As I used to say back in the days when he had control of the upstairs radio..."NOT FAIR!"

     Endangered species conservation is not about us "greenies" making it harder for developers do their job. It's about Americans--no matter their occupation--taking fish and wildlife into account, as it actually benefits all of us in the long run.

     What the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision boils down to is that the Environmental Protection Agency doesn't have to follow the Endangered Species Act when that law conflicts with other statutes (in this case the Clean Water Act). "The Endangered Species Act was designed to work in harmony with other federal laws," said John Kostyack, NWF's Director of Wildlife Conservation Campaigns. "By allowing the Bush Administration to evade the law rather than trying to harmonize it with Clean Water Act, the court has muddied the waters on which actions will continue to be subject to the Endangered Species Act's safety net."

     Yes I am disappointed in this ruling. I feel like I lost. I feel America's wildlife did as well. But I think my brother would also think he--as well as his son--lost if he were to see more than the basic wire-story headline in his newspaper.
 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Alisha Fowler TITLE: Senate Energy Bill: Done STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: senate-energy-1 DATE: 06/22/2007 01:42:08 PM ----- BODY:

Yesterday afternoon the Senate voted to end debate on the energy bill, and then after a couple more hours of debate (huh?), but no important votes, the Senate passed the energy bill shortly after midnight. In the end, we support this bill because it includes a few good things (a 35 mpg by 2020 fuel economy standard, support for biofuels with some environmental safeguards), and nothing we oppose. But the story of this bill is as much about what it didn't include, as what it did.

Below is a quick rundown on votes and issues NWF cared about on this bill:

VOTES:

ISSUES:

We now wait and see if the President will veto as threatened, and how this energy bill will get conferenced together with a House bill.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: The Cunctator EMAIL: IP: 208.69.4.18 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/cunctator/ DATE: 06/22/2007 07:42:55 PM My summary is at http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/6/22/161114/966 ----- -------- AUTHOR: Alisha Fowler TITLE: Senate Energy Bill: The Buck Stops Where? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: senate-energy-b DATE: 06/21/2007 10:17:09 AM ----- BODY:

Key Votes on Renewable Energy Standard and corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards may not happen at all. With debate on the energy bill almost defnitely ending today, and strong Republican opposition to even a comproimise Renewable Energy Standard amendment that would allow states opt out of the national renewable energy standard and would ultimately increase national renewable energy production by only 1 or 2 percent beyond what is already occurring, it seems doubtful that Sen. Bingaman's RES vote will happen today either. However, Sen. Levin and Sen. Bond's amendment to greatly weaken the CAFE standards already in the energy bill may not come up for a vote either.

Yesterday, a good biofuels amendment passed 58-34, that included a number of provisions to make sure biofuel production would remain environmentally sensible. These provisions included studies on environmental impacts of biofuels and a requirement that advanced ("next generation") biofuels have "life cycle" global warming pollution that's 50 percent less than that of gasoline.

Assuming the CAFE position stays strong, we will supportthe enrgy bill. It will put the U.S. on track to increse average average gas mileage on cars and light trucks for the first time since 1987, and it supports a responsible biofuel production. These are important solution pieces to global warming, but the lack of a national Renewable Energy Standard would be very disappointing, especially because the public overwhlemingly supports it. However, as mentioned yesterday, with Republicans threatening to filibuster the entire bill and the WHite House threatinng a veto, passing the bill is far from definite.

Back after this with the happy recap....

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Take Back America: Dem. Candidates Speak out on Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: take_back_ameri CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 06/20/2007 06:56:43 PM ----- BODY:

Several NWF staff attended the Take Back America Conference today.  Keynote speakers included Presidential candidates Bill Richardson, Barack Obama, John Edwards and Mike Gravel.  I took notes during the speeches on what the candidates said regarding global warming and climate change.

First up was former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel.  Although Gravel spoke passionately about the war in Iraq, he was the only one of the four candidates speaking today who didn't manage to mention global warming whatsoever.

Next up was New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.  He segued into the global warming portion of his speech by saying that he was "proud to be the Governor of the clean energy state."  He then went on to lay out, in some detail, his plan for a 50 mile per gallon fuel efficiency standard and 50% renewable energy nationwide by 2040.  The strongest point in his speech was the following quote:  "Maybe President Bush doesn't follow the Kyoto treaty, but my state does."  One point I think Richardson missed the mark on was with regards to our overall dependence on oil.  He said, "We have to sacrifice for the common good.  We have to get rid of our dependence on Middle-East oil.  Now perhaps it was just a slip of the tongue.  Or perhaps he threw in the 'Middle-East' to exploit voter prejudice.  But the real message of what he was saying seems to be that our dependence on oil is just fine, as long as it is not Middle-East oil.  I'm sure this isn't his position but he should probably be more careful when he is speaking to well-informed activist groups such as the one at this conference.

At noon we heard from Illinois Senator Barack Obama.  Obama gave a fiery speech, according to some one of his best yet.  He seemed unafraid to go after the auto industry, something that other candidates seem to shy away from for fear of losing votes in Michigan.  "It is time to tell the oil and auto industries they must act, because the planet is at stake," he said slowly and deliberately.  Regarding a "low carbon fuel standard" he said "We have the technology to do it, and it is time to do it."  He specifically mentioned that this wasn't popular in Detroit and said that it "doesn't matter because it is the right thing to do."  He closed his remarks on the topic by saying that it is time to tell the world "we want to work with you, not against you, on climate change."

Last but not least, former North Carolina Senator John Edwards took the stage.  As did Richardson, Edwards came out swinging on the issue and devoted a good portion of his time to energy policy and global warming.  He led off with a broad-sweeping statement that reminded me of those made by others:  "We have a crisis and that crisis is global warming."  Like Richardson before him, he also suggested we reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050.  Edwards showed his commitment to funding research by suggesting we put at least one billion dollars into funding the creation of carbon capture technologies.  He also made it clear that he did not want to see any more coal-fired power plants.

After these specific examples of policy ideas, he got a bit more abstract, and began to lose me (as well as some of the crowd.)  He said his policies would "transform America, create at least one million 'green collar' jobs."  I like that term and I think it is a wise choice of words.  He then went on to explain that on climate change we could lead the world by example and transform the middle east.  "If America leads everyone follows.  Think about the consequences, America gets off its addiction to oil and millions of African children are lifted out of poverty."  A lofty ideal without a doubt, but he didn't draw the connection clearly enough and left a lot of us wondering what exactly he was talking about.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend today to take notes on Hillary's speech.  If I can find it on youtube I'll post it here.

In the meantime, here are Edwards' comments on global warming from the speech, courtesy of the campaign.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Alisha Fowler TITLE: Senate Energy Bill: Voting.....right.....now.... STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: senate_energy_b_7 DATE: 06/20/2007 05:35:52 PM ----- BODY:

It's happening! As I write this the roll call is being read on CSPAN and the Senate should be voting soon. Hopefully on Senator Bingaman's Renewable Energy Standard - you know, the one that would mandate that 15 percent of our electricity needs are met with renewable sources by 2020.

Stay tuned...... or TUNE IN to CSPAN!

Wait... just kidding... it's not happening tonight. Until tomorrow...

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Alisha Fowler TITLE: Senate Energy Bill: I want my MPG... STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: senate_energy_b_6 DATE: 06/20/2007 09:55:24 AM ----- BODY:

The Energy Bill will be wrapped up this week one way or another, as Majority Leader Harry Reid filed a motion for cloture yesterday, signaling debate and voting on the energy bill will end tomorrow.

Yesterday, both the bad liquid coal amendment and the mediocre, compromise liquid coal amendment failed, leaving liquid coal out of the energy bill completely. This thrilled the environmental community (including NWF), but could hurt the bill's overall chances for passing since Republican leadership has said they will filibuster the whole bill if it doesn't include more fossil fuel (oil, gas or coal) production.  Talk about being stuck in the dinosaur age! (ba-dum-ching!) The bad Bunning-Domenici bill liquid coal bill failed. But, In trying to get it passed, Domenici and others had argued so strongly that the Testor compromise bill was terrible and unattainable, they couldn't turn around and vote for the compromise bill, so it lost. Voting against the compromise was a rare mix of enviro champs and anti-enviros (Boxer and Inhofe voting together at last).

Today, we're slated for more votes, including the bad Levin Fuel Economy amendment, which would weaken fuel economy provisions already in the bill. This will be a tight vote, so please give a quick call to your senators and make sure they will vote against the Levin amendment. It's unclear when or if a renewable energy standard amendment will come to the floor, and it's doubtful that it will be Senator Bingaman's 15 percent renewables by 2020 that we so desperately need.

Finally, a quick reality check that this bill may be hard to get into law anyway: Republican senators are threatening to filibuster and the President is threatening to veto. The President is threatening a veto mainly because the "NOPEC" amendment passed yesterday, essentially declaring OPEC a violation of US anti-trust laws. Many see this NOPEC amendment as merely a symbolic gesture, but the President doesn't want to upset OPEC, saying it would hurt US interests abroad.

Stay tuned for votes...

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Alisha Fowler TITLE: Senate Energy Bill: Voting Again... STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: senate_energy_b_5 DATE: 06/19/2007 10:48:17 AM ----- BODY:

The word is: the Senate Energy Bill will be wrapped up by Thursday, no matter how much is (in)complete, so the Senate can move back to immigration. That's the word out of Senate Majority Leader Harry "I used to be a Boxer" Reid's office anyway. This means we're looking at 2 full days of voting, to go along with the talk, talk, talk that the Senate seems to enjoy so much.

Two contrasting liquid coal technology amendments will likely be voted on early today. The first one is offered by Bingaman and Testor. It would subsidize the production of liquid coal. The second amendment is offered by Domenici and Bunning. It would require at least 6 billion gallons of liquid coal to be produced by 2022. The coal industry supports the Domenici-Bunning amendment.  The environmental community is a bit split on the first. We will see what happens...

In related news, most of the provisions in the House Energy Bill will be pushed back till fall, including vehicle efficiency, liquid coal, and possibly a renewable energy standard. They will be discussed as part of climate change legislation coming out of Rep. Dingell's Energy Committee (it is unclear if this will be a cap and trade bill). This means there will not immediately be a bill in the House to combine with the Senate bill, thus raising the question of whether the Senate Energy Bill may collapse and not get passed at all - especially given how much they are trying to rush it through..

Hmm.... we shall see.

More - likely much more - tomorrow...

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: pussy torture EMAIL: vurhg@hotmail.com IP: 69.107.73.255 URL: http://userpages.umbc.edu/~a24/augera/pussy-torture.html DATE: 09/05/2007 06:10:07 PM Nice site. Thanks! http://userpages.umbc.edu/~a24/augera/pussy-torture.html pussy torture ----- -------- AUTHOR: Alisha Fowler TITLE: Senate Energy Bill: Final Week (?) STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: senate_energy_b_4 DATE: 06/18/2007 10:13:35 AM ----- BODY:

The Senate begins its second week debating the energy bill. This bill has tremendous implications for global warming and wildlife. With a handful of votes this week, the Senate could begin to put us on the necessary path of reducing global warming pollution by 2% annually. Of course, no matter how this energy bill turns out, the Senate will soon need to address global warming with a cap and trade bill that sets mandatory limits on pollution - but this energy bill could take many steps toward a cleaner energy future.

Over the weekend over 100 amendments were filed for the Senate, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he wanted to wrap up debate on the energy bill this week. Hmm... something's gotta give, and it's going to be the number of amendments voted on. With no voting today, we are likely to see a glut of voting tomorrow and Wednesday - but not 100 votes - before Sen. Reid invokes a closure vote to end debate on the energy bill and moves on to immigration.

Joining the 3 big amendments yet to be dealt with (CAFE-Fuel Economy; Renewable Energy Standard; and liquid coal), is Sen. Baucus's $13.7 billion tax package to provide incentives for renewables and close tax loopholes for oil and gas leases. These 4 amendments are likely to come up this week, but could easily get waylaid if Senate leadership doesn't have the votes. Speaking of which...

The scenario surrounding the Bingaman RES (Renewable Energy Standard) vote is a bit complicated. Republican leadership has threatened to filibuster; the Democrats could let them filibuster and have a "cloture" vote - needing 60 votes to end the filibuster - then have an up or down vote, which would need 50 to pass. Or, they could accept a deal where they have an up or down vote but needed 60 to pass. The way this plays out will depend on timing, whether they have the votes, and political grandstanding. We are working to get as much support for this amendment as possible, with the added message that this is too important to play politics with and senators should oppose the filibuster.

Finally, other issues we will be watching this week: Biden-Lugar resolution to get the US to re-engage in international climate treaties (will likely need 60 votes); an Arctic drilling amendment (unclear if it will be voted on, or just debated); a Climate registry amendment to get industry to monitor their carbon emissions (this was rejected by Sen. Domenici as "non-germaine", or not relavant, to the bill; we are working to have it be allowed as an amendment).

Until the Votes begin tomorrow...

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tom Gray EMAIL: IP: 63.84.5.50 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/tomgraywind/ DATE: 06/20/2007 02:48:03 PM The U.S. Senate is likely to vote later today on the Bingaman Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) amendment, which would require electric utilities to obtain 15% of their electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass and geothermal by 2020. More info here. The inside word on the Bingaman amendment is that the vote will be very tight. If you support this first meaningful step to fight global warming, the time to weigh in is right now. You can reach any Senator's office through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 or at powerofwind.com. Regards, Thomas O. Gray American Wind Energy Association www.awea.org risingwind.blogspot.com ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Senate Energy Bill: No Voting Today STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: senate_energy_b_3 CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/15/2007 02:02:19 PM ----- BODY:

And the complications begin... Yesterday the Senate voted down, 56-39, the bad Domenici renewable bill. (you know, the one that said nuclear and some types of coal were renewable resources, and "requirements" - like the pirate code - were more like guidelines anyway).  This is good and strongly bipartisan (Republicans Snowe, Collins, Smith, Spector, Sununu, Gregg and Grassley joined the unified Democrats), but 56 votes leaves us a bit short of the 60 needed to pass the good Bingaman renewable bill now that Sen. McConnell (R-KY, Minority Leader) has threatened to veto. 

On Bingaman RES, we may pick up a couple more with some absentees from this week (Dodd and McCain) and could pick up some flip-floppers (Coleman).  But will need to hold all the Senators who voted with us on Domenici - this won't be easy - and win over at least one or two long shots (Allard (CO), Brownback (KS), Corker (TN), Ensign (NV), Murkowski (AK), Thune (SD), Warner (VA)).  So, voting was delayed on the Bingamen Renewable Energy Standard until next week.

Also yesterday, a proposal by John Warner (R-VA) to expand off-shore drilling to Virginia was defeated, 44-43.  The highlight of this debate on CSPAN was that sitting right behind Sen. Warner was former NWFer, and new John Warner staffer, Chelsea Maxwell with a giant snot bubble.  (Ok, no snot bubble, but she didn't look thrilled that in her first CSPAN appearence with Sen. Warner he was urging drill, drill, drill.)

After blocking these two bad amendments, the Senate Democrats yesterday proposed an Energy Tax bill, that would provide incentives for renewables and be paid for by repealing leasing incentives to big oil.  This is very similar to H.R. 6, which passed the House in January.  So yes, all that effort on HR6 this winter may finally come to fruition.

The last, and most pertinent, action of the day was to declare, there will be no more votes until Tuesday.  That's right, no voting till Tuesday.  I'll update you Monday with the strategy for next week, but don't hold your breath for what's happening today - it'll just be a lot of talking.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Wayne EMAIL: mccullough.wayne@gmail.com IP: 216.166.216.138 URL: DATE: 06/30/2007 12:25:57 AM What would be nice is for people to drop their political agendas in supporting particular parties and add pressure to both parties to make "green building" more affordable. It's not just about getting "your" political party into office. I like most of what your organization has to say, and I practice much of it, however, the constant political manuevering on your website is beginning to get very old. Both Parties stink at environmental issues and if you honestly think one of them really cares as much as we all do, we're in serious trouble. Please, drop the campaigning and stick with applying pressure to the folks we elected, IN BOTH PARTIES, to get the job done. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Senate Energy Bill: "The First Step" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: senate_energy_b_2 DATE: 06/14/2007 09:58:29 AM ----- BODY:

Yesterday began with the environmental community's less than favorite Senator, Jim "Hoax" Inhofe, proposing an amendment to require oil companies to build more refineries. (Nothing quite like requiring more oil infrastructure to keep us, entrenched in an oil economy). The amendment failed 52-43 on nearly exact party lines--Senators Snowe and Collins from Maine were the only Senators to break party lines by voting with Democrats against the amendment (Sens. Hagel, Coburn, Johnson and McCain didn't vote, view in HTML and click here for vote chart).

Today, renewable energy is the topic for debate and (possibly) voting. NWF supports Sen. Bingaman's proposal to require 15% of our energy to come from renewable sources by 2020, and opposes Sen. Domenici's conflicting amendment to allow states to opt out of the 15% requirement - thus not actually making it a "requirement" at all. It's still unclear how the voting will play out since both sides are threatening filibuster, both votes may need 60 to pass, but they may drop the filibuster and need only 50. Either way it looks like we could be getting votes on this major global warming amendment today!

Coming up after the RES votes, will be Sen. Klobuchar's amendment to create a national carbon registry, which would make all industries report their carbon pollution. The amendment has three Republican co-sponsors (Sens. Collins, Snowe, and Coleman), but is facing the ire of Republican leadership as the start of a Senate movement to a comprehensive cap-and-trade bill. 

"I think it's going to be assumed by too many to be the first step," [Sen] Domenici [R-NM] said in an interview. "We're not ready to take that step." (E&E Daily, 6/14/07)

Profound words, Sen. Domenici. Isn't that what Neil Armstrong said? Oh wait...he had courage. He wanted progress. He took the step. Come on, Sen. Domenici, if you're standing still, you're falling behind--and the rest of the world is looking back at us.

I'll let you know how the vote turns out as soon as I do!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tom Gray EMAIL: IP: 66.220.245.178 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/tomgraywind/ DATE: 06/14/2007 12:36:01 PM The inside word on the Bingaman Renewable Portfolio Standard is that the vote will be very tight. If you support this first meaningful step to fight global warming, the time to weigh in is right now. You can reach any Senator's office through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121. Regards, Thomas O. Gray American Wind Energy Association www.awea.org risingwind.blogspot.com ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tom Gray EMAIL: tgray@awea.org IP: 66.220.245.178 URL: http://risingwind.blogspot.com DATE: 06/14/2007 08:54:26 PM Unfortunately, Senate Republicans have threatened to filibuster against the Bingaman amendment. With the polls showing very strong, indeed overwhelming, support for clean alternative energy sources and for action against global warming, it's hard to understand this position. Nearly half of all states (24) have similar renewable energy standards already, and some have even passed new laws increasing the percentages of renewable energy required. The Bingaman Renewable Energy Standard would: Reduce global warming pollution from electric power plants; Create brand new manufacturing industries with thousands of new jobs; Revitalize rural communities through the increased tax base and payments to landowners that wind and other renewable energy projects bring; Help meet America's steadily growing electricity demand; Save consumers more than $100 billion through 2026. If you support this first meaningful step to fight global warming, contact your Senator's office through the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and let him/her know you support the Bingaman Renewable Energy Standard. Regards, Thomas O. Gray American Wind Energy Association www.awea.org risingwind.blogspot.com ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Josh Nelson EMAIL: nelsonj@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 06/15/2007 02:27:51 PM Thanks for the additional information Thomas! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Senate Energy Bill Update 6/13: Veto, HR 6, Oil Savings and Renewable Energy Standards Debate STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: senate_energy_b_1 CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/13/2007 02:04:07 PM ----- BODY:

For those of you following the energy bill closely, you may have noticed it has come up as H.R.6.  Sound familiar?  Yep, the Senate is using H.R. 6 (our first 100 hours, oil tax bill), as a vehicle for moving the energy bill.  This doesn't mean that the exact provisions of H.R. 6 will necessarily pass the Senate if the bill passes, but the Senate wants to move some tax language relating to fossil fuel and energy, and parliamentary rules require that any tax legislation must originate in the House - so the Senate is using HR6 as their energy bill vehicle.

Let the voting begin...

Yesterday we won, 63-30, an amendment on oil savings that would reduce total national oil use by 10 million barrels per day by 2031.  Why is this important?

Debate on a Renewable Energy Standard begins today at 11:30.  Voting will likely come tomorrow, when Senate Presidential candidates return from campaigning.  Please make those calls.  We can win this, but need every vote!

Finally, it's the same old drill with Sens. Stevens and Murkowski. At some point in the next two weeks they will put forward a bill to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  The details of the bill would essentially make the Arctic Refuge a "strategic reserve" for oil - that it could be drilled if there were energy shortages - but the bottom line is this amendment would allow drilling in the Refuge rather than looking to a clean energy future.  It's unclear if we have the 50 votes (we don't know about Sens. Smith, McCain, Dorgan, Conrad, Pryor) and its unclear if Dem leadership would filibuster the whole bill to stop this amendment.  If you're contacting a Senator that could be a swing - any of the above, or any previous Arctic target - please remind them that drilling is not the answer!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tom Gray EMAIL: IP: 66.220.245.178 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/tomgraywind/ DATE: 06/13/2007 06:31:14 PM Inside word on the Bingaman Renewable Portfolio Standard is that the vote will be very tight. If you support this concept, the time to weigh in is right now. You can reach any Senator's office through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121. Regards, Thomas O. Gray American Wind Energy Association www.awea.org risingwind.blogspot.com ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Senate Energy Bill: Tuesday, June 12 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: senate_energy_b CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/12/2007 09:47:12 AM ----- BODY:

     Last night the Senate voted 91-0 to end debate on a "motion to proceed" on the Energy Bill (yes, the Senate needed to vote on whether to stop debating if they should debate the Energy Bill...gotta love democracy!). With this procedural vote over, the energy bill debates will move forward as planned.
     "Lawmakers are lining up to offer amendments but it is not clear when votes could get rolling." (E&E Daily, subscription required) (my italics)
     Sen Bingaman's (D-N.M.) Renewable Energy amendment will likely come first in debate order.  We hear that Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) may propose an amendment that combines renewables and utility efficiency measures. We oppose this, as it would weaken each measure if taken alone.
     Finally, Sen. Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said on Friday that she would propose an amendment to establish a "Climate Registry" for nearly all US industry. This would require industries (including power plants) to report their carbon pollution. We support this. Why? Well, skeptic-in-chief Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) said this was a "first step" toward a cap-and-trade bill on carbon dioxide. Sen. Inhofe also said, "it will probably pass". (E&E Daily, subscription required)  Woohoo! He can deny the rising sea level, but he can't deny the changing tide....

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Microsoft and Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: microsoft_and_g CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 06/12/2007 09:43:36 AM ----- BODY:

Global warming champions are popping up in unlikely places these days.  Microsoft is hosting a contest in which video game designers can win cash prizes or an internship with the company for designing a game with a global warming theme.  The contest is the first in a series that looks promising:

We're teaming up with Games for Change, an organization that provides support to individuals and organizations using digital games for social change.  Xbox Global Marketing VP Jeff Bell is in New York to speak at the conference, and to announce a new "socially minded" global gaming competition, called the “Xbox 360 Games for Change Challenge.”  We hope it will help drive awareness for games based on social themes.

  Perhaps now we'll stop hearing about how terrible video games are for children, but I'm not holding my breath.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jeska EMAIL: planetrevolutionist@yahoo.com IP: 207.200.116.204 URL: DATE: 09/06/2007 12:45:11 PM Hi,my link did not work and I was wondering if there was a deadline or where I would go for more of the detailed info. on the global warming xbox 360 game challenge. Thanks! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: First Energy Bill of the Global Warming Era STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: first_energy_bi CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/11/2007 10:30:53 AM ----- BODY:

     Starting today, Congress embarks on crafting the first Energy Bill of the global warming era. Every couple of years, Congress guides the future of energy production and usage in what's called an Energy Bill. Through taxes, tax subsidies, laws, guidance to agencies and more, these federal energy bills determine whether the country will use more oil, gas, nuclear or solar and wind power to light our homes; they help determine how much we'll pay at the gas station; and--ultimately--they determine how much global warming pollution goes into the atmosphere.
     The Senate is first to take up the Energy Bill this year, so, coming out of Washington for the next couple days, we'll be hearing about issues like renewable energy, biofuels and "liquid coal." Some of these have clear benefits to reducing global warming pollution, some have benefits but need to be promoted responsibly, and some will push us backward in stopping global warming.
     So the National Wildlife Federation is calling on the Senate to make sure stopping global warming is the number one deciding factor on all the energy issues that come up.

Some issues we think will come up include:

     1. Renewable Energy Standard (RES): this would require at least 15 percent of our energy come from renewable sources by 2020. NWF supports.
     2. Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS): this would require the US to lower our total electricity use by 10 percent by 2020. NWF supports.
     3. Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standard (CAFE): this would require cars to have an average fuel economy of at least 35 miles per gallon by 2020. NWF supports.
     4. Sustainable Biofuel production: this would support the production of crops grown for fuel that are far less polluting than gasoline and are grown in a wildlife friendly manner. NWF supports.
     5. Liquid Coal Provision: this would support coal being turned in to liquid that you can use in your car, but would be twice as polluting as gasoline. NWF opposes.

     Look for daily updates on what energy issues are happening each day and don't forget to let your senators know where you stand on these energy issues.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nancy Lee Trihey EMAIL: nltrihey@columbiasc.net IP: 167.7.188.254 URL: DATE: 06/11/2007 03:12:10 PM I am disappointed not to see that the number one way to save on energy is conservation. I have great fear of an even greater threat to forests, habitat, and biodiversity by switching from a focus on gasoline to biofuels that will replace existing forestland and other wild habitat. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Cathleen Brockamp EMAIL: mysticmarycat@mac.net IP: 67.168.97.103 URL: DATE: 06/12/2007 05:00:13 PM I am supportive of efforts to produce sustainable biofuels, crops grown in a wildlife friendly manner, and am concerned about the loss of genetic diversity in flora and fauna. Loss of polinators is a threat to forests, farmers fields and to the wild life indiginous to the biome. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Adam Kolton EMAIL: Kolton@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 06/12/2007 05:56:18 PM Nancy and Mary make really good points. We did work to get a provision in the underlying bill that would require any new ethanol facilities to improve upon the carbon impacts of conventional fuels by 20%. When factoring in land use practices this could help ensure new lands are not broken out for biofuels. We are seeking additional language for advanced biofuel facilities to secure at least a 50% improvement from conventional fuels. We are also working with the House for a number of other land use safeguards. Again, great comments. Thanks, Adam Kolton Director of Congressional Affairs NWF ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Representative Ramstad Supports Strong Global Warming Legislation! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: representative_ DATE: 06/08/2007 11:03:21 AM ----- BODY:

Congressman Jim Ramstad has just signed on as a cosponsor of the Climate Stewardship act of 2007.  This is great news, thank you Representative Ramstad!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Center for American Progress Report on Global Warming and the Future of Coal STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: center_for_amer DATE: 06/01/2007 01:34:35 PM ----- BODY:

The Center for American Progress has just released a great new report on Global Warming and the Future of Coal.

Ever-rising industrial and consumer demand for more power in tandem with cheap and abundant coal reserves across the globe are expected to result in the construction of new coal-fired power plants producing 1,400 gigawatts of electricity by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency. In the absence of emission controls, these new plants will increase worldwide annual emissions of carbon dioxide by approximately 7.6 billion metric tons by 2030. These emissions would equal roughly 50 percent of all fossil fuel emissions over the past 250 years.

These two videos of the authors discussing the report will give you a better idea of the substance:



You can read the full report here(pdf).

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Check out these Electric Cars STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: check_out_these_1 DATE: 05/31/2007 09:51:57 AM ----- BODY:



----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Quote of the Day: GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: quote_of_the_da DATE: 05/29/2007 03:41:53 PM ----- BODY: ENN:
"Green is now becoming pervasive. It is becoming universal. Work on energy efficiency, working on emissions reductions, conservation, clean water is simply good business.
Well said Jeffrey.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Moratorium on Ocean Going Ships in the Great Lakes STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: moratorium_on_o DATE: 05/24/2007 04:14:16 PM ----- BODY:

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition today is calling for a moratorium of ocean-going ships in the Great Lakes until Congress stops the introduction of aquatic invasive species.

“Our call for a moratorium stems from the fact that the Great Lakes are under attack and Congress has yet to respond,” said Jeff Skelding, campaign director for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We have solutions. It is time to use them. Congressional delay is exacerbating the problem and costing citizens more money. It is time for elected officials to pass legislation that will slam the door shut on new invasive species in the Great Lakes.”

The call for a moratorium comes as the latest non-native pathogen in the Great Lakes—a deadly fish virus—spreads throughout the region, prompting state legislators in Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York and Ohio to consider bills to curb introductions of non-native species from ballast water—the No. 1 way invasive species enter the Great Lakes and possible source of VHS introduction.

You can view the full press release (pdf) here.

Please also visit the Restore the Lakes homepage.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Amie Kasakitis TITLE: Celebrating Endangered Species Day and Biodiversity STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: celebrating_end DATE: 05/21/2007 02:48:37 PM ----- BODY:

Bioblitz 2007 Danielle and AmieExcitement and anticipation filled the air. Despite the cool and dreary weather spirits were high and no amount of rain would ruin our day. People of all different ages and backgrounds had gathered at Rock Creek Park for one reason: the love of science. The 2007 National Geographic BioBlitz was about to begin and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate Endangered Species Day.

My co-worker Danielle and I had been dreaming about this day for weeks. Our backpacks were filled with water bottles, snacks and I of course brought not one, but two insect field guides. We had signed up for the aquatics insect team, not my specialty per say (I always managed to catch more grasshoppers than anything), but I was certainly ready to learn.

It’s probably best that we weren’t on the bird or mammal teams because the animals would have heard us coming miles away. But our non-stop enthusiastic chatter wouldn’t bother our aquatic friends. Nets in hand, plastic containers in our pockets and armed with new pairs of forceps the group set off for the first shift of the day around noon.

Hunting was not going to be easy today. Hardly any sun and a few drizzles here and there posed a challenge for the team. We did manage to find a few caddisfly, damselfly and dragonfly larvae along with the tiniest rove beetle that I have ever seen. True to my grasshopper-locating background, I managed to catch a pygmy grasshopper camouflaged in the small muddy sections of the river’s shoreline. Not exactly what we were supposed to be looking for but we would pass it along to the terrestrial insect team. Even the ferocious tiger beetle couldn’t be bothered to make an appearance along the sandy shores of the river.

Pickings were slim in the river so Danielle and I headed towards dry land in search of fallen tree branches and logs. Turning over one ancient looking log we had found our prize. A plump, lazy millipede slept curled in a tight little coil. Our excited squeals and slight poking with the forceps couldn’t rouse this gentle arthropod from its slumber. A light brown centipede quickly crawled under the decaying leaves and wood probably in search of its next meal. A shy wood cockroach ran for the comfort and safety of the dark underside of the log. After noting our findings we gently rolled the log back into position.

The distant call of songbirds, the gentle rushing river, the deep emerald green of the forest…I truly couldn’t imagine a better way to celebrate biodiversity and Endangered Species Day.

If you haven’t done so already, I’d like to invite you to send your Members of Congress a special message in support of the Endangered Species Recovery Act and also fair funding for endangered species management. The official Endangered Species Day may be over, but we can still take action to protect the wildlife and wild places that we cherish for future generations.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Derek Brockbank EMAIL: brockbankd@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 05/22/2007 01:30:55 PM mmm... buggy... Sounds like a good time, you crazy larval entomologist. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Check out these Great Blogs! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: check_out_these DATE: 05/21/2007 11:19:09 AM ----- BODY:

This post is to thank all of the bloggers who linked to the Gardener's Guide to Global Warming.  If you haven't done so yet, check out these great blogs:

Garden Voices
In the Garden Online
Calendula and Concrete
Sign of the Times
Treehugger.com
Docuticker
Jurisdynamics
Garden Rant
Keep Taylor Beautiful
Gardening Tips 'N' Ideas
Clearly Ponds
Warwick Village NWF Backyard Habitat
Estell Studebaker
Recycle California
Suburban Wildlife Garden
Flower Perennial
This Time, This Space
Carbon Planet
Bifurcated Carrots

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Stuart EMAIL: scrobins@westnet.com.au IP: 220.235.5.98 URL: http://www.gardeningtipsnideas.com DATE: 05/21/2007 07:27:32 PM Thanks for the linkback Josh. Your article was worth linking to and it's great to highlight the importance of what global warming is doing to our gardens and our plants. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Colleen EMAIL: colleen@inthegardenonline.com IP: 69.216.121.114 URL: http://www.inthegardenonline.com DATE: 05/22/2007 07:57:42 AM Hi Josh, Thanks! If every gardener adopted just one or two of your suggestions, it would make a tremendous difference. Thank you for compiling such a great list of suggestions for gardeners. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Eileen Trainor EMAIL: blogger@cooladz.com IP: 207.119.20.221 URL: http://endangeredspaces.blogspot.com DATE: 05/22/2007 11:55:35 PM Great blog. I have added it to my Earth Friendly Spaces on my blog Endangered Spaces. God bless ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Josh Nelson EMAIL: IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/josh_nelson/ DATE: 05/24/2007 04:30:03 PM Thanks for the kind comments. Colleen: The guide itself and the suggestions were developed by our Senior Global Warming Specialist, Patty Glick. She deserves all of the credit for this. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dave Sag EMAIL: dave.sag@carbonplanet.com IP: 59.167.59.208 URL: http://www.carbonplanet.com DATE: 06/16/2007 01:49:43 AM Hi Josh, thanks for the linkback. cheers Dave Sag CEO - Carbon Planet ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Anglers and Boaters, Take the Clean Angler, Clean Boater Pledge Today! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: anglers_and_boa CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 05/18/2007 02:11:37 PM ----- BODY:

  The Federation of Fly Fishers has just announced a new program that targets anglers and boaters in the prevention of invasive species spread.    The pledge asks you to take the following steps:      * Inspect your gear for any plants, or dirt.     * Clean your gear with clean water.     * Thoroughly dry your gear.     * Never transport any fish, plants or animals       from one body of water to another.     * Tell others to do the same! 
.

 

Please join the Federation of Fly Fishers and countless dedicated anglers in the fight againt invasives by taking the Clean Angling Pledge today  Individuals can take the pledge by visiting cleanangling.org.  If you are interested in becoming an organizational partner, contact the Federation of Fly Fishers at convserve@fedflyfishers.org or 406.222.9369 ext. 102.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Amie Kasakitis TITLE: Honey Bees: What's the Buzz About? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: honey_bees_what DATE: 05/18/2007 10:16:01 AM ----- BODY:

My first encounter with a bee probably went along the same lines as the majority of people's encounters: the buzz, the flash of yellow and black and then the painful sting. But despite their bad reputation and occasional sting, bees are vital to ecosystems and to us. According to The Pollinator Partnership website, nearly 80% of our world's crop plants require pollination. Bees as well as birds, butterflies, beetles, flies and bats transfer pollen between plants. Plant reproduction hinges on this vital task. With honey bees taking the center stage in the media recently we wanted to provide some information about the National Wildlife Federation's role in protecting these pollinating power-houses.

NWF promotes pollinator friendly gardening and habitat management techniques by encouraging everyone to reduce their use of pesticides in addition to planting native wildflowers and other flowering plants in their yards and businesses. Native plants are especially important because they provide most of the foods that the vast majority of bee species need to survive. We also recommend that organic produce and other products should be bought whenever possible.

It is important to note that the majority of bees that have been in the media lately are the introduced honey bee. Most native bees are solitary and under-researched, so there wouldn't be an easy way to know if their populations are being affected by the same problem as the honey bee. However, we do know that pollinators overall are being affected by very similar issues.

The latest news on pollinators can be found at http://www.pollinator.org (mentioned previously). This website is run by the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, a network of pollinator enthusiasts of which the National Wildlife Federation is a partner. If you are a pollinator enthusiast like me, be sure to check out their information about National Pollinator Week in June!

For more information about NWF's gardening and habitat management programs, please visit http://www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife/.

Also, please check out our newest report The Gardener's Guide to Global Warming for information about how non-native plants negatively affect your backyard.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: First Senate Vote on Global Warming this Session STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: first_senate_vo DATE: 05/16/2007 11:02:55 AM ----- BODY: Unfortunately, the global warming amendment to the Water Resources Development Act failed to pass in the Senate yesterday. On the bright side, it did have the support of a majority of Senators. For more information on the vote, check out this Associated Press article:
Senate Defeats Climate Change Measure
By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The Senate, after one of its first full debates on global warming, on Tuesday defeated a proposal requiring the Army Corps of Engineers to consider the impact of climate change in designing water resources projects.

The vote was 51-42 in favor of the amendment to a water projects bill, falling nine short of the 60 votes needed to approve it under the rules set for the debate.

Read the entire article...
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Protecting Levees in New Orleans STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: protecting_leve DATE: 05/15/2007 10:28:02 AM ----- BODY:

Levees.org, a new member of our Corps Reform Network, just launched a public service announcement featuring actor John Goodman.  Check it out below, then go to levees.org to learn more. They also have a great fact sheet on levees that is a good starting point to educate yourself on the subject.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Better Late Than Never STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: better_late_tha CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 05/14/2007 03:44:37 PM ----- BODY:

Good news from The White House:

President George W. Bush ordered his administration today to write new rules on fuel economy and emissions for cars and trucks based on a Supreme Court ruling that found that the government had the power to regulate greenhouse gases. Bush said the ruling gave officials the power to accomplish much of his “20 in 10” proposal to cut U.S. gasoline demand by 20% in 2017, but added that Congress should still pass new legislation to meet the goals. “It makes sense to do what I proposed, and we’re taking action, by taking the first steps toward rules that will make our economy stronger, our environment cleaner, and our nation more secure for generations to come,” Bush said today. He said he wants federal agencies to find a way to begin regulating vehicle emissions by the time he leaves office.

NWF President and CEO Larry Schwieger released a statement almost immediately:

"I welcome President Bush's continued shift on global warming, which was announced this afternoon.

After six years of inaction, the president's new calls for regulations to boost fuel economy are a welcome sign - it's better late than never.

We eagerly await more details from the administration on how quickly and boldly they will move on fuel economy standards to make up for lost time. In the meantime, Congress should promptly advance plans to boldly bolster fuel economy through legislation."

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: 10 Simple Ways to Reduce your Carbon Footprint STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: 10_simple_ways_ CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 05/10/2007 05:33:58 PM ----- BODY:

Buy a fuel efficient car. - Up to 2400 pounds of CO2/year.

Recycle. - Up to 2,400 pounds of CO2/year.

Wrap your water heater in an insulating jacket. - Up to 1000 pounds of CO2/year.

Reduce your garbage output by 2% - Up to 1,000 pounds of CO2/year.

Air dry your clothes during the spring and summer - Up to 700 pounds of CO2/year.

Insulate and weatherstrip your home. - Up to 650 pounds of CO2/year.

Keep your water heater thermostat no higher than 120 degrees. - Up to 550 pounds of CO2/year.

Don't wash your laundry in hot water. - Up to 500 pounds of CO2/year.

Keep your tires inflated properly. - Up to 460 pounds of CO2/year.

Clean the filter in your HVAC system monthly. - Up to 350 pounds of CO2/year.

Install a low-flow shower head. - Up to 350 pounds of CO2/year.

Run your dishwasher only with a full load. - Up to 100 pounds of CO2/year.

By taking these ten simple steps you can offset your carbon footprint by more than 10,000 pounds of CO2/year.

For extra credit, two bonus solutions:

Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. - Up to 1300 pounds of CO2 per CFL over the course of it's lifetime.

Walk, instead of driving. - 20 pounds of CO2/year per mile.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patricia Nastasi EMAIL: yeepat@gmail.com IP: 70.111.216.145 URL: DATE: 05/11/2007 02:25:23 PM Any idea what impact not "idling" your vehicle would have? I have taken note lately of more of this occurring than ever in suburban areas. The parents at mid morning pick up for Kindegarteners. The drop and wait in front of the grocery. The big diesel everything. The trash trucks while they wait for start time. Buses in terminals and at rest stops. Delivery trucks of all types from parcel to freight. Multiplied by how many schools and communities? Not to mention the safety and theft issue of leaving a running vehicle unattended. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Bollywood on Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: bollywood_on_gl CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 05/08/2007 03:42:30 PM ----- BODY:

Daily India:

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan on Tuesday urged India to collectively combat global warming and make the world a better place to live in. Speaking at a news conference in Gurgaon ahead of the eighth International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards to be held in the UK in June, Bachchan lauded the academy for its stand in bringing forth issues of global warming and climate change.

Also, Lighter Footstep has Five Ways to Green Your Child's Classroom.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Gardener's Guide to Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: gardeners_guide CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 05/01/2007 10:15:08 AM ----- BODY:

The National Wildlife Federation has just released a comprehensive Gardener's Guide to Global Warming (40 pages, pdf).  Below, I've linked to some of the highlights of the report as well as a few useful tools.

State Flowers and Trees

Plants across the nation are affected by global warming. You have probably seen that many plants in your backyard are blooming earlier. Global warming will mean that many native and iconic plants may no longer find suitable climate conditions in major portions of their historic range.

Check out this interactive map that shows whether or not the state flower or tree in your state will be affected by global warming.

Invasive Plants: America's Most NOT Wanted

While weeds and pests in the garden can be frustrating and time consuming to control, in nature invasive species can wreak absolute havoc.

By definition, an "invasive" species is a nonnative plant, animal or other organism that, once introduced into a new environment, outcompetes native species for habitat and food. Although not all exotic species are invasive, those that are can cause tremendous problems.

Particularly troubling is the fact that a number of nonnative plants that people have brought into their gardens as ornamentals (such as those listed below) have turned out to be some of the most damaging species when introduced into natural habitats. With global warming, many of these species are expected to gain even more of a foothold.

Check out this interactive guide to some of the most disruptive invasive species.

Take the Gardener's Pledge

Pledge to choose at least three of the actions to help fight global warming. We'll send you bonus information about how you can follow through with those actions in your garden.

Compost my kitchen and garden waste.

Contact my elected officials.

Develop a rain garden.

Establish a "green roof" by planting trees around my house.

Reduce the threat of invasive species by using native plants in my landscape.

Improve my energy efficiency.

Limit my water consumption.

Reduce the use of gasoline-powered yard tools.

Take The Gardener's Pledge today!

Plant the Seeds for Global Warming Action

America needs to take significant action to reduce global warming pollution, or else gardens across the country and world could face the following impacts:

    * More frequent and severe weather extremes, including heat waves, droughts and floods.
    * The expansion of harmful invasive species, pests and diseases.
    * The disruption of ecosystems.
    * The extinction of thousands of species--all of which are disasters for nature, let alone gardeners.

This link enables you to contact your Congressmen urging them to support legislation that reduces global warming pollution by 2 percent per year and about 80 percent by 2050, such as Rep. Waxman's "Safe Climate Act" (H.R. 1590) or Reps. Olver and Gilchrest's "Climate Stewardship Act" (H.R. 620).

Please take action today.

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A MAJOR international climate meeting opened today in Bangkok to discuss how the world can best take action now to avoid global warming. At least 400 scientists and experts from about 120 countries are attending the one-week, third session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN's leading authority on global warming. The delegates will work to finalise a report on how the world can mitigate rising levels of carbon dioxide, methane and other heat-trapping gases.
The previous reports can be found here. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Edwards on Michigan's Role STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: edwards_on_mich CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/25/2007 01:49:47 PM ----- BODY: John Edwards, in a speech in Detroit on Saturday articulated a bit about the role he sees Detroit playing in the fuel efficient car industry.
Edwards suggested Detroit and Michigan could functions as a center for the development of environmentally-friendly fuels for automobiles in the future.

"I don't want to see the fuel efficient cars in the world built someplace else," he said. "They ought to be built right here in Detroit and the United States of America by UAW workers."
This sounds like a great idea to me. What is currently stopping American automakers from taking the lead on fuel efficiency standards? ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Island in Greenland 'Created' by Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: island_in_green DATE: 04/24/2007 04:19:44 PM ----- BODY: We are beginning to see the impact of global warming more clearly:
NUUK, Greenland April 24 (UPI) -- An island has separated from mainland Greenland because of global climate change. The Independent reported that the melting of Greenland's ice sheet caused what was once thought to be the tip of a peninsula on Greenland's east coast to separate from the mainland. U.S. Geological Survey satellite photos confirmed the island's existence. American explorer Dennis Schmitt discovered the mass and named it Warming Island, the Independent reported. Satellite photos show that the island was part of the coast in 1985, linked to the mainland by an ice bridge in 2002 and completely separate by the summer of 2005, the newspaper said.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: ABC Global Warming Polling STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: abc_global_warm CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/20/2007 10:24:15 AM ----- BODY: ABC News has just released a ton of fascinating global warming related polling (pdf). The associated article is worth checking out as well.
After a year of increasing scientific alarms, public concern about global warming has risen dramatically. The number of Americans identifying it as the world's single biggest environmental problem is double what it was a year ago.
The article continues:
This ABC News/Washington Post/Stanford University poll also finds a 10-point increase in the belief that global warming is caused mostly by human activity (to 41 percent, up from 31 percent last year); and a significant decline — the first in a decade — in the belief that many scientists disagree on whether global warming is happening.
Also in the news today:
Sen. Barbara Boxer said Wednesday she sees a bipartisan consensus developing on her Environment and Public Works Committee in favor of legislation to curb global warming emissions.

"There will be an electoral price to pay if they do nothing," Boxer, chair of the environment committee, said in a speech to the National Press Club.

"I think the margin in Congress is at stake, I think the presidency itself is at stake," she said. "The people of this country want action."
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gordon Carlson EMAIL: cliconstruction@yahoo.com IP: 216.152.189.143 URL: DATE: 04/22/2007 01:41:10 AM I wonder what type of car Barbara Boxer drives I bet it is a big SUV most of those people in Calif. that scream about global warming all drive big cars, yet they try to tell us how to live in Alaska ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: The Fight Against Aquatic Invaders STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: the_fight_again DATE: 04/19/2007 03:39:20 PM ----- BODY:

From today's press release:

What do scientists, auto workers, and surfers have in common? They all want Congress to pass legislation to fight aquatic invaders.

In a letter delivered to Congress today, over 120 groups nationwide called for strong federal action that would help prevent the introduction of new invasive species.

“Non-native species such as the zebra mussel are costing America’s economy millions of dollars annually, and the damage they cause is not acceptable to anyone,” said Corry Westbrook, a legislative representative of the National Wildlife Federation – one of many national groups to sign the letter.

The letter calls for provisions that would enact uniform standards for ballast water discharge; screen organisms for invasiveness before they are imported; support education and outreach programs to reduce the potential for harmful introductions; and create a “rapid response” system for containment, control, and eradication of initial invasions in aquatic systems.


CONTACT:
Corry Westbrook – 202-797-6840
Lindsay Graham – 281-622-8536

Some of the other organizations involved include:  Defenders of Wildlife, Union of Concerned Scientists, National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Center for Food Safety, National Resources Defense Council and many others.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Find out Why 'Coal is Coal is Coal' STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: find_out_why_co DATE: 04/18/2007 01:48:32 PM ----- BODY: by reading this article.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Global Warming News for the Day STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: global_warming_ CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/17/2007 06:13:01 PM ----- BODY: Earth Times:
Pressure increased on President George Bush to act on global warming after 11 former US military leaders warned that climate change could trigger security threats to the US military.
Monsters and Critics:
For the first time in its 60-year history, the UN Security Council Tuesday discussed how climate change could trigger increasing conflicts and famine - but not all participants agreed it was an important debate. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that anticipated global warming could present a danger for peace and security in the world.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Personal Global Warming Solutions STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: personal_global DATE: 04/13/2007 01:21:47 PM ----- BODY:

A few weeks ago, we asked people to take three simple steps to reduce their carbon footprint.  Similar to the concept in the post below, we want to harness the wisdom of this crowd to build a resource on personal global warming solutions.

What are some personal solutions to global warming that you use?  What are some others you are aware of and would like to try?


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lisa Beyer EMAIL: slotsmail-advocate@yahoo.com IP: 68.96.250.87 URL: DATE: 04/13/2007 06:22:28 PM I have: 1-purchased the Honda Civic hybrid vehicle which has been averaging 35 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, 2-wrapped the water heater with an insulating blanket, 3-signed up to have junk mail eliminated from my mailbox with Green Dimes at http://www.greendimes.com/ and 4-I have reduced my driving by consolidating trips to the store as much as possible. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lynn Sovell EMAIL: sovelllynn17@bevcomm.net IP: 206.146.89.204 URL: DATE: 04/14/2007 01:31:29 AM Every time a light bulb burns out, I replace it with a fluorescent bulb. I am more aware of turning off lights that aren't needed. The thermostat is set to 60 degrees at night, and 66 or 68 degrees during the day. If I can avoid making a trip out of town, I don't go. I purchased a new environmentally friendly electric hot water heater. I am planting as many trees and shrubs as I can. I will only use the air conditioning on the most hot humid days. I have been and continue to recycle everything I can. I teach my children to do the same. I get as many people as I can to watch the "An Inconvenient Truth" movie. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Connie B EMAIL: cbejger@verizon.net IP: 70.105.113.175 URL: DATE: 04/14/2007 07:23:06 AM I have replaced the majority of my light bulbs with fluorescents. I keep my furnance at 65 all the time, I do not have a/c. I have 5 acres and have left 3 of it untouched, I am a gardener so I have a bunch of trees, shrubs, pines, also do not use any pesticides,or chemicals in my gardens. I have always left lights turned off when not in use (my dad's habit from growing up with him!!) I have always recycled everything that I can also. I hate doing multiple trips back in forth to town so I plan everything for a one time trip to stores, if I forget something and it is not extremely important I wait until next time. My mom is using the dvd "An inconvenient truth" at her garden club meeting to help pass the word. I hope more people will change their mind on this issue. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Julie Parks EMAIL: julie_bork_parks@yahoo.com IP: 70.236.203.136 URL: DATE: 04/14/2007 09:42:13 AM I purchased a Toyota Prius and I'm averaging 58 MPG. I lowered the thermostat by 4 degrees and set it to 62 degrees when we are sleeping. We have a "paper recycling bin" at work (elementary school) and I take all my paper (junk mail, envelopes, fliers, used paper) from home and place it in the bin. I contiue to add trees and shrubs to my property. I have mhy students participate in Service Learning and we are planting trees on the school grounds to encourage water infiltration due to the HUGE loss of Ash trees in our area from the Emerald Ash borer. I continue to pass the "Inconventient Truth" around. I will continue to spread the word and "walk the walk" that I speak of. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pam Woicicki EMAIL: dzrtwilo2@yahoo.com IP: 205.242.32.247 URL: DATE: 04/14/2007 08:04:46 PM My husband and I have replaced the majority of our light bulbs with compact fluorescents. We have a solar preheater for our water heater. Our windows are all low E. We have a sun room attached to the South East corner of the house the floor of which is concrete. We recycle paper, aluminum, and glass. We hosted an "An Inconvient Truth" party and are planning to show it again to other friends. When we left home for a week recently, we unplugged all unnecessary items. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Yolanda Rosales EMAIL: yoravenwings2@yahoo.com IP: 4.242.234.104 URL: DATE: 04/15/2007 11:50:18 PM My boyfriend and I, along with the help of 13 of our loyal friends completed a 1,000 Ponderosa Pine TREE planting project on our land! It took us two whole weekends but it's done and we feel so fantastic. We also hosted "An Inconvenient Truth" party in congunction with the Nation Wide showing....20 people came to it and we had great feedback. We keep all lights off when not in use and recycle everything we can! Let's keep it up! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Matt Johansen EMAIL: matthew.johansen@ubs.com IP: 161.15.26.195 URL: DATE: 04/16/2007 10:05:17 AM I have been working with several local environmental groups to try and get the mayor of my city to sign on to the Cool Cities campaign that the Sierra Club is sponsoring. After I changed my lightbulbs, installed a energy efficient product called the 24/7 utility shield in my attic, and several other small things- I wanted to do something bigger that involved my community. I encourage everyone who has done their part already and wants to do more to check it out. www.coolcities.us- join together with your community to make our cities clean and free from pollution! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Josh Nelson EMAIL: IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/josh_nelson/ DATE: 04/16/2007 11:52:14 AM Thanks for all of the great suggestions and ideas so far. Keep it up! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Adam Brown EMAIL: adam.j.brown@wmich.edu IP: 141.218.93.208 URL: DATE: 04/16/2007 01:38:26 PM Switced very light in home to a compact fluorescent. I recycle all that I can, and eat much less meat than I used to. All faucets and showerhead are low-flow in my home. Just removed plastic insulation on windows to conserve heating my home. My source of energy is now coming from a grid of renewable resources through my current energy company(consumer energy-Michigan). The program is is called Green Generation, and is wonderful. I bike or take the bus to campus WMU(go Broncos!) Our entire fleet of buses in Kalamazoo, Michigan soon to be running on Biodiesel! Educating others about the effect of global climate change, passing "AN Inconvenient Truth" Around(thanks Al!) Working on my B.S. in Environmental Studies and Earth Science at Western Michigan Universitiy! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sandra Wearne EMAIL: actg-NationalWildlifeFed@unety.com IP: 71.57.55.104 URL: http://www.keylessentrylocks.com DATE: 04/18/2007 08:05:05 PM Here are some of the things I have done: 1.) built and regularly use a large composting bin and stepped up my recycling and reuse thereby reducing my landfill waste to 10% of my total waste. 2.) reprogrammed the thermostat 3.) moved into an office at home and no longer drive to work. 4.) set up an email alert mailing list among my friends to inform them about green issues. 5.) purchased the Al Gore movie and am lending it to anyone who will watch it. 6.) made sure to hold off on car trips until I have 3-6 errands in the same direction. 7.) started mailing deposits to the bank instead of driving them. (This required scanning but not printing them in first so I had a record of the check in case it got lost). 8.) been teaching the kids about global warming and turning off lights and conserving water and energy. 9.) been using my south facing solarium as a heat collector in winter, spring, and fall during day light hours to help heat the house and I close it off in the evening to avoid heat loss. In summer, i do the reverse. 10.) planted ground cover instead of grass, as it needs no mowing, no watering, and no chemicals and I plan to collect seedlings from my silver maples this spring, transplant them into pots, and give them away to friends to plant in their yards. 11.) planted evergreens and shade trees, set out water and food for squirrels and birds, and registered my back yard as a certified wildlife habitat. 12.) replaced the windows in my house with triple pane glass with a insulating coating to reduce heat penetration in summer. 13.) washed all clothes with cold water only for the last 10 years. 14.) talked to friends and acquaintances about the seriousness of global warming 15.) contacted my congressional representative and stated that doing something about global warming is my highest priority and should be hers as well. 16.) bought things in bulk and things with less packaging. 17.) cut down on the amount of household chemicals I use. 18.) gotten 1 dozen 55 gal drums that used to be used by Cocoa Cola to store their syrup and converted them into containers to store rainwater I collect from my gutters and use in my garden. Since I live on a gentle hill, I can use gravity to get the water from the drums to my flowers. 19.) collect coffee grinds from local coffee shops and mix them into the soil around my azaleas and rhododendrons to lower the Ph in the highly alkaline soils. 20.) stopped burning or giving to brush pickup all leaves, twigs, and branches in my yard and instead compost them or break them up by hand and use as mulch. 21.) buy locally-produced food in season as much as possible. 22.) reduced my intact of meat especially beef, and instead substituted vegetables, being careful to balance amino acids so that I have the needed proteins. 23.) collect and print on both the front and back side of every piece of paper instead of only the front side. 24.) read through this site for more ideas. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: What are Your Favorite Environmental Movies? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: what_are_your_f CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 04/13/2007 01:02:37 PM ----- BODY:

The National Wildlife Federation recently organized several house parties around Al Gore's documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. Several hundred party hosts volunteered their time and effort, inviting their friends and family members over to watch and discuss this movie and what things they could do to help change the forecast for wildlife when it comes to global warming.

But An Inconvenient Truth isn't the only movie or documentary fitting for a movie night. We considered trying to put together a list ourselves but realized that readers of this blog would be able to come up with a much better list than we could. What are some other environmental movies you enjoy? Please leave your ideas and suggestions as comments.


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: GreenMeansGo EMAIL: akasakitis@gmail.com IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 04/13/2007 01:21:54 PM Hey guys! I'd recommend the Buyer Be Fair movie at http://www.buyerbefair.org/ It's a really great film (especially for those of us who need our daily cup o' joe). ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lisa Beyer EMAIL: slotsmail-advocate@yahoo.com IP: 68.96.250.87 URL: DATE: 04/13/2007 06:25:56 PM I don't know that it qualifies in the environmental category, but the documentary Why We Fight was very informative. www.whywefight.com I am also looking forward to seeing Leonardo DiCaprio's documentary the 11th Hour when it is released later this year. http://11thhourfilm.com/ ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Adam Brown EMAIL: adam.j.brown@wmich.edu IP: 141.218.35.131 URL: DATE: 04/16/2007 09:45:27 AM I would definitely host another DVD watching party. -I think "Who killed the Electric Car" or "Fast Food Nation" would be excellent choices for the next event. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Juliana EMAIL: noemail@email.net IP: 75.131.172.173 URL: http://www.kilowattours.org/ DATE: 04/16/2007 08:40:13 PM I have already hosted Kilowatt Ours and definately recommend it especially for individuals in the South East. We changed all our light bulbs in the house after seeing it. I have also seen who killed the electric car. It is worth a watch as well. http://www.kilowattours.org/ ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Stephen EMAIL: swgunta@aol.com IP: 67.62.232.122 URL: DATE: 04/18/2007 02:59:32 PM The Lorax by Dr. Suess. No question about it. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: U.S. PIRG: The Carbon Boom STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: us_pirg_the_car CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 04/12/2007 02:15:57 PM ----- BODY:

U.S. PIRG released a report today entitled, "The Carbon Boom: State and National Trends in Carbon Dioxide Emissions Since 1990."

From  the executive summary:

The early effects of global warming are already evident across the United States and worldwide. The past nine years have all been among the 25 warmest for the contiguous United States, a streak unprecedented in the historical record. If emissions are left unchecked, temperatures will continue to rise, and the effects of global warming will become more severe. This report examines trends in U.S. global warming pollution nationally and by state and concludes that the failure to limit emissions nationwide has allowed global warming pollution to grow out of control.

You can read the full report, here. (pdf)

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Step it Up for Global Warming on April 14th! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: step_it_up_for_ CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 04/10/2007 12:07:41 PM ----- BODY:

"I'm going to be a human postcard!" my friend Kelly declared yesterday. She's headed to the Capitol Lawn, April 14 for the big Washington, D.C. Step it Up! event, where she will be part of a giant message to Congress to cut global warming pollution 80 percent by 2050. Join tens of thousands of people across the U.S. who are standing up, stepping up and making global warming a top priority.

There are over 1,000 events taking place nationwide, find one here.

What are you doing for Step it Up?  Attending an event?  Hosting an event?  We'd love to hear from you in the comments here.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: kally Abrams EMAIL: kabrams@stonyfield.com IP: 204.118.21.90 URL: DATE: 04/11/2007 02:41:30 PM I am co-coordinating the Step It Up 2007 Concord, NH event. Beginning at New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI) 31 College Drive and ending at NH State House 107 Main Street. Noon: NHTI - Bring a picnic, your friends, your kids, to the Little Dining Hall lawn at on Saturday April 14th. 1:00PM - Begin walking to the State House along scenic Horseshoe Pond and down North Main Street, accompanied by African drummers. We will be greeted by SongDrummers at the State House lawn. 2:00PM - Rally with various speakers, music There will be Segway rides, three hybrid cars from Grappone to test drive, opportunities to make signs for the walk and rally and vendors of green products as well as a large clothesline project to represent how much impact small changes like air-drying clothes can help reduce emissions. NH indy rock/jazz group AmPm and Carolyn Parrott, displays of green-products and environmental organizations, information on what we can do as individuals and collectively to make this change (reduce greenhouse gas emissions), end of rally raffle items from environmental organizations and environmentally friendly products. Kally Abrams Step it Up Concord Co-Coordinator stepitup2007@laundrylist.org ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Blogger Bioblitz STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: blogger_bioblit CATEGORY: Weblogs DATE: 04/09/2007 10:42:25 AM ----- BODY:

Voltage Gate at Science Blogs has initiated a fascinating project:

In honor of National Wildlife Week, April 21 - 29, I am inviting bloggers from all walks to participate in the First Annual Blogger Bioblitz, where bloggers from across the world will choose a wild or not-so-wild area and find how many of each different species - plant, animal, fungi and anything in between - live in a certain area within a certain time.

Pick a neat little area that you are relatively familiar with and is small enough that you or the group can handle - a small thicket, a pond, a section of stream, or even your backyard - and bring along some taxonomic keys or an Audubon guide, or if you're lucky enough, an expert in local flora and fauna. Set a time limit. Try to identify the different species of organisms that you find as well as the number of each species that you find. Take pictures if you have a digital camera, compile your numbers, make observations, set up your post however you wish as long as you include your numbers in a digestible fashion (I'll have more details on that later) - then submit it to me and I'll include it on the list. We will also be tallying total numbers of each species found, and then a grand total. There has also been talk of coding an interactive Google Map with distribution information, geotagging regions with a blogger's submitted information.

As of the last update this morning, Jeremy already has 41 bloggers participating.  If you would like to know more, or would like to participate, head over to Voltage Gate for the 411. 

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Timber, Car Emissions, Refugee Crisis and NWF Cell Phones STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: timber_car_emis CATEGORY: News DATE: 04/02/2007 11:24:36 AM ----- BODY:

Corruption Stains Timber Trade

Some of the largest swaths of natural forest left on the planet are being dismantled at an alarming pace to feed a global wood-processing industry centered in coastal China.

Court: Feds Can Regulate Car Emissions

The Supreme Court ordered the federal government on Monday to take a fresh look at regulating carbon dioxide emissions from cars, a rebuke to Bush administration policy on global warming.

Global Warming Expert Fears 'Refugee Crisis'

Within two or three decades, there could be one and a half billion people without enough water, according to a new report on the impacts of global warming. Such droughts would produce "refugee crises like we've never seen," as one of the study's lead authors told ABC News.

Do-It-Yourself Wireless

A host of groups, from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to the Chicago Bandits women's softball team, are about to get their own brands of wireless services—all thanks to a new company called Sonopia, founded by Juha Christensen, the former Microsoft (MSFT) executive who helped launch that company's wireless software efforts.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Endangered Species Act Rewrite Could Change Wildlife Protections STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: news_broke_rece CATEGORY: News DATE: 03/30/2007 11:09:35 AM ----- BODY:

     News broke recently that the federal government is considering a major rewrite of one of America's most important conservation laws, the Endangered Species Act, with all indications pointing to a drastically weakened interpretation.

     NWF's own John Kostyack stopped by NPR to give an example of just how this could affect wildlife such as Northwest salmon:

"Rewrite Would Weaken Endangered Species Act"
by Elizabeth Shogren

     Morning Edition, March 28, 2007 - "...John Kostyack, of the National Wildlife Federation, says a lawsuit filed by his group probably inspired one of the proposals. The case was about whether the government should require dam operators to protect endangered salmon in the Pacific Northwest.

     "'The administration lost because they were arguing that they were not responsible for the very endangered condition of the salmon,' he says. 'And as long as their project didn't worsen that very endangered situation, then they had no responsibility. The court said no.'

     "The judge ordered the government to find ways to better protect the salmon, but Kostyack says under the new proposals that obligation would disappear. The government could keep giving industries permission to do things that harmed species, even on public land.

     "'As long as you weren't worsening an already bad situation, you have no responsibility,' Kostyack explains."

LISTEN HERE

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: CLCV Launches a Blog STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: clcv_launches_a CATEGORY: Weblogs DATE: 03/29/2007 11:14:22 AM ----- BODY: The California League of Conservation Voters has just launched a blog. From the e-alert:
Our blog gives anyone interested in environmental politics a lively forum to learn more and converse about what's going on behind the scenes, in the media, at the polls and more. Members of CLCV's staff, as well as visiting guest bloggers, will be posting our impressions of what's going on in California and national politics, particularly but not exclusively in regard to the environment.
Looking forward to reading this regularly and joining the conversation. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Press on An Inconvenient Truth House Parties STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: press_on_an_inc CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 03/28/2007 03:47:50 PM ----- BODY:

The Staunton, VA News Leader ran a great story today highlighting one of our An Inconvenient Truth house parties.

Between mouthfuls of popcorn and sips of beer, partygoers noted that they have friends who reported that they nearly cried while watching the movie in theaters last spring. For some, the film's message has been a life-changing experience. Guests agreed that seeing the jeremiad in the company of others softened the blows. One couple has planned a "family talk" with their kids to discuss the scarier images and grim scenarios that the plot predicts. They also will discuss conservation action they're already taken, and the hopeful recommendations for individual and collective action promoted in the movie.

Please take the time to read the whole story.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Links for the Day: Global Warming, Wildlife and the ESA STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: links_for_the_d DATE: 03/27/2007 01:18:58 PM ----- BODY:

Planetsave

EU Energy Commissioner Adris Piebalgs said the European Union supports the Bush administration as it tries to reduce reliance on foreign oil by increasing the use of biofuels including ethanol. He said he discussed EU cooperation with U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman Monday and came away optimistic.

Examiner:

ome climates may disappear from Earth entirely, not just from their current locations, while new climates could develop if the planet continues to warm, a study says.
Such changes would endanger some plants and animals while providing new opportunities for others, said John W. Williams, an assistant professor of geography at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

PR Newswire:

A coalition of the nation's leading sporting groups and conservation organizations will publicly request the Navy to move a proposed jet landing field away from one of the nation's most important refuges for waterfowl and wildlife. Groups will brief media representatives on the extreme risks posed by the Navy's proposed Super Hornet landing field on the Albemarle Peninsula of eastern North Carolina. The outlying landing field, or OLF, is proposed in an area that is home to over 100,000 swans, geese, and ducks. State and national officials have expressed grave concerns about the proposal.
    WHEN:   Thursday, March 29, 2007, 10:00 AM
    WHERE:  National Press Club, Murrow Room, Washington, DC

KTVA:

Kodiak, Alaska lawmakers are moving forward with plans to set aside 46,000 acres on Narrow Cape for recreation and a wildlife preserve. Both state Senator Gary Stevens and Representative Gabrielle LeDoux are introducing bills in the Senate and the House to create the Kodiak Narrow Cape Public Use Area. The Kodiak City Council will consider a resolution this week urging passage of the bills.

Wired:

Online magazine Salon has uncovered a secret 117-page draft proposal currently circulating at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that would strip the Endangered Species Act of its most important provisions. The proposal would make it harder for species to be listed as endangered, restrict the range of available habitat, put states in charge of enforcement and make it easier for developers, loggers and mining companies to exploit land.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: John Edwards Speaking Today on Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: john_edwards_sp CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/26/2007 02:20:41 PM ----- BODY:

Via CBS:

Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards will be in San Francisco Monday where he's expected to speak about global warming. Edwards is scheduled to discuss his global warming policy at the Palace Hotel at 10:30am. (Right about now)

If I can find a transcript of his speech, I'll post it.  Please leave a comment if you see it anywhere.  In the meantime, let's take a look at some of Edwards' forward-thinking ideas on global warming and energy conservation.

----- EXTENDED BODY:

From the official Edwards blog:

"Global warming is not an issue for the future," said Edwards.  "It is a crisis that demands action from us today. We have the chance to create an energy revolution in our country, but if we're going to have that happen, we have to be willing to take action now.  We need to be smart and responsible about how we use coal, so we can leave our children and grandchildren a safer and cleaner planet."

John Edwards gets it.  Perhaps that is why the League of Conservation Voters released this statement:

"Senator Edwards has outlined the most comprehensive global warming plan of any presidential candidate to date. We look forward to other 2008 presidential candidates outlining their plans to address this pressing issue."

Here is Edwards' Energy Plan, in short:

The Edwards Plan halts global warming, achieves energy independence and jumpstarts a new energy economy by:

    * Capping greenhouse gas pollution starting in 2010 with a cap-and-trade system, and reducing it by 15 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, as the latest science says is needed to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.

    * Leading the world to a new climate treaty that commits other countries—including developing nations—to reduce their pollution. Edwards will insist that developing countries join us in this effort, offering to share new clean energy technology and, if necessary, using trade agreements to require binding greenhouse reductions.

    * Creating a New Energy Economy Fund by auctioning off $10 billion in greenhouse pollution permits and repealing subsidies for big oil companies. The fund will support U.S. research and development in energy technology, help entrepreneurs start new businesses, invest in new carbon-capture and efficient automobile technology and help Americans conserve energy.

    * Meeting the demand for more electricity through efficiency for the next decade, instead of producing more electricity.

----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Public Opinion on Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: public_opinion_ CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/23/2007 02:35:14 PM ----- BODY:

With the recent attention raised by Al Gore's Oscar-Award winning documentary and testimony, the findings of the IPCC, and widespread media attention, global warming is clearly one of the hottest (ha) issues of 2007.  The big story that isn't getting attention on this issue is the fact that public opinion has taken a major turn on the debate.  While skeptics and non-believers still remain on the fringes of American politics, their numbers are dwindling, and their tactics are increasingly desperate. 

----- EXTENDED BODY:

Below I've listed a sampling of recent polls that indicate the extent to which the facts of climate change are no longer a subject of political debate.  Americans, as well as people all over the world, are fully aware of the need for comprehensive legislation to address global warming.

Polling:

Source:

Almost four in five Canadians — 77 per cent — are convinced global warming is real. "This is the biggest study that has been done on Canadians and their opinions and attitudes towards global warming," Angus Reid poll researcher Ellie Sykes told CBC News Thursday.

Source:

Fully 83 percent of Americans now say global warming is a “serious” problem, up from 70 percent in 2004. Most dramatically, the survey of 1,000 adults nationwide shows that 63 percent of Americans agree that the United States “is in as much danger from environmental hazards, such as air pollution and global warming, as it is from terrorists.” The survey indicates that while 70 percent of Americans believe that President Bush doesn’t do enough for the environment and should do more, many citizens are ready to act on their own.

Source:

Ninety-two percent of Australians favoured measures to combat global warming. China, whose environmental policies are often criticised, and Israel were the next most inclined to favour such measures, with 83% of their populations in favour of immediate actions to reverse trends in global warming.

Source:

One recent poll showed 81 percent of Alaskans “are convinced that global warming is happening.”

Source:

70 percent of American evangelical Christians see global warming as a "serious threat" to the future of the planet.

Source:

A new Gallup poll finds that a majority of Americans are worried about the effects of global warming, including more powerful hurricanes (69 percent), more common flooding/droughts (67 percent), and rising ocean levels (63 percent).

Source:

In New Hampshire, Ninety-six percent of Democrats and 82 percent of Republicans said the United States should take action now to reduce emissions.

Source:

Nine out of 10 Americans think it's very important for the government to take action to achieve a national goal of 40 mpg.

It is important to remember what Napoleon once said about public opinion:

Public opinion is a mysterious and invisible power, to which everything must yield. There is nothing more fickle, more vague, or more powerful; yet capricious as it is, it is nevertheless much more often true, reasonable, and just, than we imagine. - Napoleon Bonaparte

Now is the time, 2007 is the year.  Public opinion within the U.S., as well as worldwide, is clearly in favor of immediate legislation to curb the effects of global warming.  The only two questions that remain are: 1)  When will Congress catch up to the will of the people? 2)  What form will the legislation take?

----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Climate Crisis Action Day STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: climate_crisis_ CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/20/2007 02:30:51 PM ----- BODY:

I just got back to the office from the Climate Crisis Action Day.  The event, which took place today from 11am-1pm on the west capitol lawn, had a great turnout and we couldn't have asked for better weather.  The speakers included some political heavy hitters, such as:  Sen. John Kerry, Sen. Barbara Boxer, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ed Markey, Rep. Henry Waxman, and Rep. Mike Honda.  Other speakers included a 3rd grader, Molly, who started the Save the Arctic Blog and 14-year-old Savannah Walters, who started a non-profit to reduce CO2 emissions by encouraging people to keep vehicle tires at proper levels of air compression.  Below, I've listed some of my favorite quotes of the day.

Quotes from the day:

Father Morris, of St. Elizabeth church in Wyandot, Michigan:

"Humans were put in the garden to till, not to cover it with concrete."

Senator Bernie Sanders:

"Demand that Congress start acting to save the planet."

Senator John Kerry:

"We deserve a government that accepts science and facts.  This is not a matter of speculation."

Representative Henry Waxman:

"We've lost six years with the Bush administration in power."

Representative Ed Markey:

"Something will happen soon on global warming."

Representative Mike Honda:

"Every time you open a refrigerator, every time you sit in a vehicle, there is an impact."

More photos are available at our flickr page and are being uploaded as we speak.

----- EXTENDED BODY:

e

----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: MW EMAIL: mgwmgw@gmail.com IP: 151.200.59.49 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:13:53 PM It's good to see Ranger Rick doing some leg work! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Diane Smith EMAIL: gsdskybear@yahoo.com IP: 70.110.143.230 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 11:09:51 AM I was there too, missed some of the speakers because I was in Senators or Representatives offices lobbying. It was wonderful to see so many like minded people taking time to make the point of protecting the planet. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Alaskan Teens Shedding Light on Global Warming Solutions STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: alaskan_teens_s CATEGORY: News DATE: 03/20/2007 10:23:32 AM ----- BODY:

Teenagers with the National Wildlife Federation's Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA) recently started a great campaign to get Alaska residents to reduce their global warming pollution with the 3-2-1 Pledge, where signers commit to:

3)  Change three incandescent lights to compact fluorescent ones (saves about 300 lbs. of CO2 per year).

2)  Turn thermostats down two degrees lower in winter and two degrees warmer than usual in summer (saves about 2,000 lbs. of CO2 per year).

1)  unplug one appliance when it is not being used (saves about 1,000 lbs. of CO2 per year).

AYEA has already collected 2,000 pledges from Alaska residents, with hopes to reach 5,000 by the end of April. The teens even talked a few distributors and electric utility companies to donate enough compact fluorescent light bulbs so that each Alaska resident who takes the pledge gets a bulb to get started.

ALASKA RESIDENTS:  TAKE THE 3-2-1 PLEDGE!

EVERYONE ELSE: Pledge to us here that you will take these steps by leaving a comment. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Alicia Armeli EMAIL: naudia_5@hotmail.com IP: 69.250.199.152 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 07:19:55 PM I pledge to take the 3-2-1 challenge and do what I can to make our world a better place! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: lindsey EMAIL: boyslieendofstry@aol.com IP: 71.203.25.113 URL: http://www.aol.com DATE: 03/20/2007 07:30:33 PM I PLEDGE!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jeannette EMAIL: kingdomhearts_26@hotmail.com IP: 70.126.120.186 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 07:32:30 PM i pledge to do my best to make a better place for my childern. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Margie and Jim EMAIL: mcmill-m@pacbell.net IP: 137.151.184.53 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 07:36:07 PM Sounds too easy - we pledge to do it to reduce our carbon footprint. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marcia Bailey EMAIL: marciabcelo@hotmail.com IP: 72.236.102.93 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 07:45:28 PM What an admirable thing you on doing -- I truly commend you!! Yes, I will take this pledge. It is simple and easy for everyone to do and I would encourage people to take it steps further. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Heather Grace EMAIL: cheagrace@yahoo.com IP: 75.46.154.227 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 07:45:41 PM I take the pledge here in Michigan! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Diane B EMAIL: auraleeddb@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.77 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 07:47:31 PM 3-2-1 -- it's been done! That is an easy commitment and I will replace more bulbs, dress more efficiently indoors and unplug two more appliances. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Denise EMAIL: squishytart@moose-mail.com IP: 67.150.93.84 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 07:48:01 PM I will take this pledge...I already changed 2 light bulbs & bought four more CFLs to replace the lights that burn out (of course, I plan to replace all of the lights in my house with CFLs). ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: roberta sebastian EMAIL: rmsbsn@bellsouth.net IP: 65.2.70.91 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 07:50:11 PM i'm doing it in my homestead condo - and forwarding it to my email friends - thank you to the students for such an excellent idea :-))) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: karen bundy EMAIL: kbundy@allconet.org IP: 64.193.88.4 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 07:51:49 PM commendations for the youth taking action to sustain the environment and be good stewards of or natural resources. May they live long enough to reap the benefits of their efforts. Karen Bundy ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tony Capobianco EMAIL: capobianco@adelphia.net IP: 71.60.226.106 URL: http://www.cash4cashflows.com/acapobianco DATE: 03/20/2007 07:55:56 PM I will do whatever I am able to help make our planet a better place to live. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Chuck Laferty EMAIL: cmjlafferty@aol.com IP: 70.106.115.68 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 07:56:47 PM Each Generation Leaves It Better For The Next! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Denise Fry EMAIL: fdeni22@aol.com IP: 69.47.152.127 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 07:57:26 PM I Pledge for my 2 children's future!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tracey Ahring EMAIL: janeway@artelco.com IP: 67.14.200.26 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 08:17:29 PM Consider it done; these are simple steps everyone should take. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rachel Carter EMAIL: rachelc@dls.net IP: 209.242.5.214 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 08:33:38 PM I pledge to what I can to ensure we all do our part to reduce the effects of Global Warming. 3-2-1 is a TERRIFIC plan. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Chandi EMAIL: chandi@mccrackens.org IP: 67.171.163.106 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 08:37:11 PM I am doing some, but I can always do more, and this is my pledge. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Louise EMAIL: weezer2456@verizon.net IP: 70.16.201.5 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 08:40:03 PM I will try to keep the pledge and MORE! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: M. Faye Bennett EMAIL: mfayebennett@comcast.net IP: 24.21.171.163 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 08:42:43 PM I take this pledge. I bought a hybrid care in 2002, so when I stop at a traffic light, I am not sending out emissions. I know I can do more, and will seeks ways to help further. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Charles Morrison EMAIL: charleskmorrison@yahoo.com IP: 76.22.9.118 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 08:42:49 PM I take the pledge to abide by all of the 3-2-1 pledge ideas. Thanks for the info. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Yvonne EMAIL: ydpeters56@yahoo.com IP: 24.245.58.48 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 08:44:16 PM I'm taking the pledge even though I already changed 3 lightbulbs to the compact fluorescent ones. I plan on changing all the bulbs in my house. As for the heat, I already set it between 66 and 68 degrees. Sometimes I just shut the heater off. I also plan to unplug more electrical things when I go to sleep each night or when I'm not using them. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Owens EMAIL: maryestelle@bellsouth.net IP: 68.220.104.74 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 09:07:14 PM I will try to do my best. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lee Beck EMAIL: georgelee5308@sbcglobal.net IP: 68.78.128.165 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 09:08:32 PM We, too have changed most of the light bulbs in the house and have our temp set down to 67...and we conserve AC in the summer...we must all do our part... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anna Elizabeth Mathewes EMAIL: aemathew@edisto.cofc.edu IP: 71.204.225.119 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 09:10:53 PM I pledge!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathe Sehmsdorf EMAIL: kayta@comcast.net IP: 24.19.27.244 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 09:21:18 PM You got it!! -- and great idea - hats off to the kids who started this!! MUAH!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barbara EMAIL: bdburke_88@yahoo.com IP: 24.225.180.92 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 09:34:44 PM I pledge. Keep up the good work. We all need practical reminders about what we each can do. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Deb Szymanski EMAIL: mdszy1@cox.net IP: 72.201.1.84 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 09:38:18 PM Hooray for your intelligence and determination! You are an inspiration to us all. I pledge to do my part. I have changed 9 bulbs so far and will do the rest ASAP. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Angela EMAIL: bibliojock@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.77 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 09:41:49 PM Thanks for the great ideas. We'll do our part here in Texas. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: bev EMAIL: bdevoney@cfl.rr.com IP: 70.121.198.39 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 09:43:27 PM Have changed a bulb, re-set thermostat (a month ago), un-plug some appliances over nite, and will do two more bulbs tomorrow. The info on Polar Bears on NWF site several months ago has made me really think. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Janelle EMAIL: jthomas_477@msn.com IP: 71.111.7.68 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 10:06:29 PM This is a great idea, I pledge and will spread the word. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jim Vogas EMAIL: jimvogas@gmail.com IP: 68.203.129.56 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 10:27:10 PM I have already repaced most of the incadecent lamps in my home with CFLs. The new themostat is digital and has a timer and we keep it set for low energy usage. We have also swithed to a non-polluting (water and wind) electric provider. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laura Perez EMAIL: laura@perezweb.net IP: 70.171.126.72 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 10:34:41 PM Thanks for your initiative and inspiration. I promise 3-2-1 for my household and to spread the word. You have raised the awareness of how easy it can be to make a difference. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sam Robertson EMAIL: onsitesam@charter.net IP: 66.191.157.173 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 10:57:42 PM I will take the pledge. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Vicky Levada EMAIL: kempridley@hotmail.com IP: 24.155.47.226 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 11:08:59 PM Now that I've done my house, Im on to my parents. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: michel colville EMAIL: michel_colville@hotmail.com IP: 125.238.34.44 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 11:11:38 PM I pledge to my best for my community and the state of Montana ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Arijah Ankh Khalid EMAIL: moonravyn@msn.com IP: 71.248.44.234 URL: http://www.myspace.com/absynthenyte DATE: 03/20/2007 11:12:04 PM i pledge....from maryland! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: michael cline EMAIL: m.cline.sr@gmail.com IP: 216.68.35.20 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 11:13:00 PM I will do whatever I am able to help make our planet a better place to live. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rebecca Gray EMAIL: arjay@emerytelcom.net IP: 66.111.114.140 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 11:14:59 PM My husband and I have changed all the light bulbs in our home,and have just donated 30 floresent bulbs for the sanctuary of our church.I am in the process of planting native plants in my yard ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lyn Henri EMAIL: lrosaj@hotmail.com IP: 67.185.88.20 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 11:15:48 PM I'll do my best to honor this pledge. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Scott Abbey EMAIL: chinook7642@acd.net IP: 207.179.106.209 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 11:15:58 PM We have already started replacing the light bulbs inthe house, beginning with the ones that are normally left on in the evening. We have had a progammable thermostat since we bought the house. Your 3-2-1 challenge has inspired me to move up the completion schedule for changing out the rest of the light bulbs. Good luck on getting the message out to everyone!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Maria Foraboschi EMAIL: geomaria@sbcglobal.net IP: 69.109.181.78 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 11:27:42 PM I am doing everything I can to help decrease my carbon footprint. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kim Ross EMAIL: rossmama@msn.com IP: 67.42.96.57 URL: http://www.creeksidebodywork.com DATE: 03/20/2007 11:56:55 PM I'm with you 100%. I pledge to do everything I can to reduce my carbon footprint! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Julie Meek-Bryant EMAIL: juliemikeben@hotmail.com IP: 4.224.165.208 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 12:09:07 AM We are with you in Indiana! We just replaced all of our light bulbs, and turned down the heat this winter... I pledge to unplug one appliance next. I'm proud of the work you are doing. Good Job! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rich EMAIL: RSPineKnot@aol.com IP: 205.188.117.11 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 01:12:19 AM Keep up the great work! I take the Pledge! Have converted all inside bulbs to CFL, turned down the furnace and am involved in our local Global Warming Initiative here in Evanston, IL ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: James Gurule EMAIL: james@silentdragon.com IP: 63.225.82.246 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 01:14:21 AM We have changed as many lightbulbs to flourescents as we can, maybe 10 total. We keep the heat at 68 maximum, and we don't have air conditioning. The unplug idea is a good one, so I'm doing that right after I send this e-mail. Great Ideas from the Last Frontier. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robert Wagner EMAIL: rtwagner@bellsouth.net IP: 68.214.40.53 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 01:28:58 AM Congratulations to the students in Alaska! We need to spread the word! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Arthur and Nina EMAIL: NBraun9743@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.77 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 06:44:08 AM Count us in ... S. FL! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jen and Joe EMAIL: jenjoe928@msn.com IP: 71.163.174.128 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 06:51:35 AM We made these changes a while back, will continue to do so and spread the word. We pledge to try and make a difference. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patti Day EMAIL: dpatti1@tampabay.rr.com IP: 68.200.67.63 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 06:56:45 AM Out of the mouths of babes. Kudos to you all in Alaska. My Dad was teaching me about global warming forty years ago. Nobody would listen then. Doing what we can here in Tampa, FL. Blessings to you all. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cynthia Tower EMAIL: grrlplay@gmail.com IP: 68.209.12.142 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 06:59:47 AM My husband and I made these changes to our home several years ago, and I continue to change more and more lightbulbs to compact floresent whereever possible. I can't say enough to thank those teens in Alaska and everyone else who does their part to help the environment and reduce their footprint on the earth. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joe EMAIL: joee0@verizon.net IP: 72.78.215.62 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 07:32:39 AM My wife and I started changing blubs to fluorescent, and fixtures to fit them about 15 years ago we are down to 4 bulbs that are not some type of energy saving blub. Our thermostat is always set at 68 or lower in the winter and we replaced the heater with a state of the art electronic controled system. Thanks to everyone else doing their part. Now we need to work on unplugging. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Bramlet EMAIL: john.bramlet@bp.com IP: 63.84.4.1 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 07:43:33 AM I'm in the process of changing all our bulbs possible to fluorescent. They cost more initially, but last much longer. Our thermostat is typically kept lower in the winter and a couple degrees higher in the summer, but I have to admit alot is due to cost concerns. I never heard of the unplugging of appliances, but I'll have to get into that habit. Together we can make a difference. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol EMAIL: cmcfee@southsiouxcity.org IP: 63.160.11.226 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 08:14:29 AM Since I leave early in the morning for work I used to turn on my porch light and leave it on until I got home. I don't do that anymore and also I unplug any items not in use and lights out in rooms not in use. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: celene gardner EMAIL: cgardner@corpcomm.com IP: 63.65.14.195 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 08:18:59 AM I have always made a habit of shutting lights off when I leave a room, my computer is turned off until I need to use it. When we are all home the outside lights are off, we lowered the water heater temp. We all need to try to cut back. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: M Walker EMAIL: Tigrbug@AOL.com IP: 64.12.116.77 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 08:20:59 AM We just bought a hybrid Toyota Highlander instead of the 3rd 4Runner we were talking about; about 1/2 of our lights are already fluorescent with more to change out; We have a Lopi wood burning stove as supplemental heat & I like a cooler house anyway; we have 3 solar panels for hot water heating; We have THE Renewable Energy Fair here in central Wisconsin and I want to see if a wind machine would work in our little corner of the woods. We pledge "all the way"...as much as we can. If you haven't already seen "An Inconvenient Truth", you can't imagine the problem we already have on this "big blue ball". ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sarah McNaull EMAIL: sm256@cornell.edu IP: 128.253.47.19 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 08:26:51 AM piece o' cake ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Heffernon EMAIL: maryheff@hotmail.com IP: 207.210.128.70 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 08:31:49 AM I am glad to do this, however, please make sure that people know that those compact fluoresecnt lightbulbs comtain mercury, and when they do go, must be disposed of at their local hazardous waste sites, not in their trash! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Leah Green EMAIL: lgreen@tsbi.edu IP: 208.51.85.50 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 08:38:50 AM I think what you are doing is outstanding!! I PLEDGE! Good luck to you- keep up the hard work! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Helene Carr EMAIL: hcarr@ossining.k12.ny.us IP: 166.109.117.156 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 08:38:54 AM I take the pledge and have already started with these measures. I also do not let my car idle or "warm it up", recycle like mad and compost alot of my waste food products. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: helina valge EMAIL: helina.valge@mail.ee IP: 85.89.42.249 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 08:46:49 AM for all to be saved, i do take the pledge. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Stacey Hansbarger EMAIL: stacey.hansbarger.ctr@navy.mil IP: 138.162.5.7 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 08:51:48 AM I take the pledge to help save the world and all its creatures. I have started recycling, changing light bulbs, unplugging appliances not in use and not using any chemicals in our yard. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dawn Beveridge EMAIL: mamabeveridge@yahoo.com IP: 69.250.177.185 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 09:00:33 AM I will take the pledge and do my best to make the world a better place for my children! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeannie Blackwell EMAIL: cat-fry@hotmail.com IP: 72.187.15.110 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 09:03:18 AM I have taken the pledge. We all need to do our part to help make sure that things will be here in the future,for all. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Debbie R EMAIL: dmmrochel@sbcglobal.net IP: 159.53.78.143 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 09:11:44 AM Congratulations getting the idea public! Easy as 1-2-3 is 3-2-1 countdown to making it a way of life. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Judy Sullivan EMAIL: judy@monm.edu IP: 74.39.212.2 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 09:14:53 AM Consider done! Wasn't hard. Everyone should. Easy, and a "must do". ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Denise Pekau EMAIL: dpekau@foxgal.com IP: 199.3.243.2 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 09:19:58 AM Since seeing and reading the informative movie from Al Gore I started right away.....unplugging,turning off thermostat(Arizona resident we really don't need heat in winter)....and replacing bulbs....SIMPLE but effective. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: lynn EMAIL: lbeargarrison@hotmail.com IP: 75.89.147.177 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 09:21:15 AM My husband, my girls, myself and our Jr. Girl Scout troop pledge to make the environment a cleaner place, continue to recycle, and save the ecology for future generations. Looking forward to the day when the US follows Brazils lead and becomes completely oil free. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cheryl Moore EMAIL: cheryl.moore@jnli.com IP: 12.148.227.250 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 09:26:03 AM Done. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marissa EMAIL: shaboobi01@aol.com IP: 139.102.203.214 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 09:32:38 AM I pledse to do what I can and convince my family to do so as well. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kat Miller EMAIL: katjmiller@yahoo.com IP: 166.41.88.51 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 09:32:53 AM I pledge here in Reston, Virgina. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joyce Evans EMAIL: jevans@plastecheng.com IP: 68.72.250.2 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 09:34:22 AM I take the pledge here in Port Huron Michigan ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Debbie EMAIL: fargioned@ecostudies.org IP: 67.151.25.170 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 09:35:14 AM I pledge to do this and more! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Willliam Baughman EMAIL: billbaughm4@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.77 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 09:40:15 AM I pledge to commit to the 3-2-1 plan in Ohio. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Andrea EMAIL: andrea.eftim@mindspring.com IP: 66.30.62.136 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 09:41:48 AM My family has already implemented 1-2-3! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Deb Beisel EMAIL: rd52b3g@msn.com IP: 72.77.121.204 URL: http://www.biggreenpla.net DATE: 03/21/2007 09:48:49 AM Way to go!!!This is a great idea and yes, I will pledge to take these steps (and more). Keep up the good work! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lorien EMAIL: loriensj@yahoo.com IP: 207.59.127.66 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 09:57:27 AM Count us in from Tampa Florida ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cindy Witt EMAIL: catmom4@wildmail.com IP: 24.167.162.105 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:04:28 AM I pledge and I'll encourage others to do so too! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jean Allgood EMAIL: jean-allgood@uiowa.edu IP: 128.255.61.122 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:05:56 AM Yes, our family has already committed to these plus never let the car idle as we see so many people/company vehicles doing. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Troy Greenawalt EMAIL: tag112462@aol.com IP: 68.223.171.130 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:08:19 AM I pledge! And you should too. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jennifer Valentine EMAIL: faboo1028@yahoo.com IP: 4.237.53.124 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:09:19 AM i pledge ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carla Rei EMAIL: crei@nextomt.com IP: 12.129.4.229 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:18:42 AM I pledge to do these things and much more to help preserve our planet and make it better for future generations of people and wildlife. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patricia L. Clark EMAIL: clarkpat@missouri.edu IP: 128.206.56.227 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:18:50 AM I already have energy efficient bulbs, I use wind-up alarm clocks, indoor close line, energy effiency heaters, water saver devices, all computers and small appliances off. This is a great idea. Add to your pledge wind-up alarm clocks. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lisa B. EMAIL: lkbarron10@juno.com IP: 205.142.197.82 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:19:28 AM Count me in! And I'll pass it on to my friends and family. These pledges make me happy because not only do they help reduce emissions, but they save me money too! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jim Koehler EMAIL: jimnann@hotmail.com IP: 206.188.235.191 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:24:03 AM Already we have changed four bulbs & will be changing more in the very near future. We try to conserve water in the same way, by only showering & unplugging our water heater in the winter because our heating system heats our water when it's running. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Judy Hinch EMAIL: hinchjc@evms.edu IP: 157.21.23.83 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:27:00 AM anyone know which appliances to unplug, for example the toaster?VCR/DVD player? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Regina M. EMAIL: reggie39@juno.com IP: 66.217.179.152 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:42:50 AM I am signing all the petitions there are to help save the animals and the planet. I also recycle and changed my light bulbs to energy savers. I feed the birds and small wild life.And the Deer that come threw once and awhile. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gina Swoboda, Scottsdale, AZ EMAIL: ginaswoboda@hotmail.com IP: 71.36.180.166 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:44:39 AM We are wkring on our 3-2-1- promise, we upgraded to a tankless water heater to help conserve both water and gas, and we stepped up to a 13 seer from a 9 seer a/c unit, the great things is the programmable thermostats! We are able to cut our energy use by programming 3 degrees higher daily ;0) Thanks for providing inspiration!!! Gina and family ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Alicia Kai Butscher EMAIL: ravenspeak@earthlink.net IP: 162.10.251.162 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:58:16 AM I plan to take the pledge and do my best to "walk in balance" (a phrase brought to us by the Native American Indians that includes Mother Earth stewardship) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jennifer S. EMAIL: jshrawder@hotmail.com IP: 144.26.140.124 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 11:17:32 AM i pledge! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Audie Showalter EMAIL: ashowalter@herc.com IP: 199.221.7.30 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 11:17:45 AM GREAT WORK FOLKS!! My husband & I pledge! We have already changed out 90 % of our light bulbs, keep the house regulated and keep alot of our appliances unplugged! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nancy Glisan EMAIL: bpatch@adams.net IP: 216.138.30.29 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 11:20:36 AM I have done some conservation techniques and will do more of the 3-2-1 approach. Great going guys! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cristina EMAIL: blackcaaat@aol.com IP: 75.46.148.53 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 11:37:22 AM I pledge! What a great place to start! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeanette EMAIL: nickelseldesigns@qwest.net IP: 71.35.37.199 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 11:52:37 AM Right on, Alaska Teens! We already have been doing your 3-2-1 suggestions and pledge to continue to do so! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Karen H - MT EMAIL: catronia@centurytel.net IP: 72.160.44.134 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 11:59:05 AM I have already taken these steps, are there any others you can suggest? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ANNIE PARKER EMAIL: ANNGARRISON1025@AOL.COM IP: 71.48.173.58 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 11:59:07 AM I PLEDGE TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN TO LIVE. I WATCHED THAT MOVIE :"THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW" AND IT SCARED THE HECK OUT OF ME. I DONT WANT MY BABIES TO HAVE TO LIVE THRU SOMETHING LIKE THAT! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson EMAIL: kjohnson@nwf.org IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: http://www.nwf.org/action DATE: 03/21/2007 12:07:59 PM These pledges are great. Any other ideas? What else are you doing in your homes besides these 3-2-1 actions? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Vivian EMAIL: mylighthousebysea@yahoo.com IP: 71.41.57.154 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 12:18:08 PM I already took those three steps and continue to do so. I pledge to do whatever else I can do... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: donna craft EMAIL: dgibby@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.199 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 12:20:26 PM count me in! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: anne eliz EMAIL: anneed@juno.com IP: 70.22.20.152 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 12:43:53 PM I PLEDGE!!! another way to decrease CO2 is to develop more efficient cars-Mr Ford!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: AB in Portland, OR EMAIL: srednaem@yahoo.com IP: 67.189.68.154 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 12:45:04 PM Looking forward to making a difference! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: DENISE HUDSON EMAIL: fry1@alltel.net IP: 69.40.133.7 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 12:52:03 PM 1 TAKE THE PLEDGE. ALSO PLEASE RECYCLE. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Christie Craig EMAIL: ccraig@hbham.com IP: 216.77.121.6 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 12:58:34 PM I personally took the pledge and have also challenged my entire office (120 people) to take the Pledge with me! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: desiree EMAIL: druidqueen55@hotmail.com IP: 206.53.75.56 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 01:15:29 PM i took the pledge when i was born!!! my grand-daughter 2years old took the pledge today!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: NPW , New York EMAIL: autso@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.199 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 01:18:50 PM I take the pledge. God bless you all for taking this problem seriously. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Birdbits EMAIL: Birdbitsweb@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.77 URL: http://birdbits.bravehost.com DATE: 03/21/2007 01:35:22 PM I pledge , and stive to make a difference in the world for our children, our future.And thank everyone that is making a difference,big or small, all our actions add up and can make BIG changes! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Colleen EMAIL: mcdonovan6@aol.com IP: 141.158.105.250 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 01:36:07 PM I take the pledge. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: brenda deeter EMAIL: garden38053@hotmail.com IP: 72.23.118.105 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 01:40:12 PM i believe we need to save our planet for the animals i recycle everything i can and i have a wildlife habitat in my own back yard i have taken the pledge to make a difference and i cant stop helping the polar bears i even voted against the killing of the polar bear cub i will help any way i can ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: PAR EMAIL: PRPARPR@AOL.COM IP: 205.188.116.199 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 02:18:01 PM DONE !! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cynthia Leet EMAIL: cynleet@umich.edu IP: 68.42.70.179 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 02:18:20 PM I changed bulbs and dialed down two years ago, but I'll unplug appliances now. Keep up the good work! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sonya Voyles EMAIL: svoyles@siumed.edu IP: 131.230.236.69 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 02:26:16 PM I also take this pledge to do my part. I have established a Backyard Habitat and try to recycle as much as I can. I try to turn off lights, use the more efficient light bulbs and unplug appliances. I am trying to instil these same habits into my family! The polar bear situation worries me and I congratulate the teens in Alaska for having such insight into something others can not see. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Izzy EMAIL: lil_izz@Hotmail.com IP: 131.104.9.101 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 02:31:13 PM I pledge to do this! This is an amazing, effective and simple tool and its great you are doing this. Keep it going, and always remember you are not alone in this fight! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kimberly Chambers, Fort Worth, TX EMAIL: starrkittie@hotmail.com IP: 64.218.1.97 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 02:50:26 PM WOW!! Thanks you the Teens that put this plan into action!!! :) We've used these new bulbs for almost 4 years now. It's funny that we started because they looked cool. My husband is an A/C guy so we are good there, but we will start unpluging things & I'll remove all the night lights around the house. We Pledge to do our part. I hope everyone else will quickly follow. I'm gonna tell our familys & friends too. Thanks Again! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miguel Ramos EMAIL: manteca@hotmail.com IP: 140.160.178.54 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 02:56:13 PM I'm on board with this. These are sensible, easy-to-do ideas that collectively can have a big impact. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Deborah Vogel EMAIL: Vogslaw@bellsouth.net IP: 68.220.18.28 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 03:08:34 PM Thank you to the teens of AYEA for an inspiring and simple solution that anyone can follow. It just goes to show that teens really can be in tune with what's important. I've been using the compact flourescent bulbs for many years now, and have them installed in every light fixture I can. I've also been adjusting the thermostat (somewhat to my husband's dismay) to 65 in winter and 75 in summer. We recycle as much as possible and have established a backyard habitat. I'll start turning off appliances now and look for other ways to help. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kim Wemer EMAIL: kimwemer@iowatelecom.net IP: 69.66.243.211 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 03:26:28 PM Iowa says "yes"!! Thanks for the inspiration. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: aviva maxwell EMAIL: arizonadays@hotmail.co.uk IP: 195.93.21.41 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 03:56:08 PM Will help All I can! Love and Light ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Chris Dingeman EMAIL: cesd@wideopenwest.com IP: 24.192.139.205 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 04:05:24 PM I've already taken steps 1 & 2, I'll unplug a couple of appliances now! Thanks for your action! Simple steps everyone can and should take. Imagine all the energy we could save if every American took this pledge! I'll pass it on! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nancy J Nadeau EMAIL: NJNadeau30@cox.net IP: 68.228.159.113 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 04:40:04 PM I am taking the 3 2 1 pledge. I have changed all the light bulbs in my home and in my folks home already. I will unplug the second TV and adjust the temp on our thermostates. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Don Jeffries EMAIL: donjeffries@gmail.com IP: 24.253.158.58 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 04:41:21 PM Been doing #3 for years. #2 - why didn't I think of that! #1 - another great idea which I will also do! Thanks, ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Debi Alderman-Smith EMAIL: worksbydebi@comcast.net IP: 76.104.53.124 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 05:42:42 PM I pledge to do my best incorporating these three steps into my life, starting today, with the two easiest (changing bulbs and turning off an appliance). I'm not a big fan of being too cold or too hot, but I will work on this. Thank you! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joan Walker EMAIL: ackweed@comcast.net IP: 208.100.238.47 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 05:56:16 PM Good for you!! We are about to build an energy-efficient home - a dome. We are adding solar hot water heating and are using a loop system (underground) to supply both heat and cooling. We will join your campaign happily. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Linda & Ron Seymour EMAIL: landrseymour@msn.com IP: 65.54.155.55 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 07:51:24 PM We take the 3-2-1 pledge. We've been doing 3 & 2 for years - never knew about 1. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sue Knight EMAIL: plainasknight@comcast.net IP: 67.177.164.18 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 08:04:44 PM The youth of the world will be the ones to lead. Let us be wise enough to follow. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Emily EMAIL: emilyanne756@yahoo.com IP: 75.72.138.38 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 08:53:45 PM I definately pledge :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary & BIll EMAIL: tigger@joltmail.com IP: 209.112.91.215 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:35:15 PM We take the pledge here in Illinois. Changed our lights to compact florescent last week. We're consciously keeping our home temps low in winter and we keep our lights out in any room we're not in. Thanks to the youth of Alaska for the initiative for the rest of us to continue to keep our environment healthy. Your actions speak loud and far. We sure enjoyed vacationing in your great state last year. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dessi Armstrong EMAIL: dstoilkov@hotmail.com IP: 71.193.253.168 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 12:02:30 AM I pledge to do all I can to save our Planet in order to protect our animals, our plants, and our children. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ashley Mink EMAIL: aemink@hotmail.com IP: 24.177.155.53 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 02:21:48 AM I never even realized how big of a difference those simple things can make. I pledge to do so and thank you for trying to make a difference. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kate EMAIL: burkett253@comcast.net IP: 68.45.200.60 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 08:21:21 AM I've already done all that on my own. What's 4-5-6? Keep up the great work! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Vikki Hendrickson EMAIL: vikkihendrickson@verizon.com IP: 71.116.47.88 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 08:25:21 AM I pledge to do more each day. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Vikki Hendrickson EMAIL: vikkihendrickson@verizon.com IP: 71.116.47.88 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 08:26:17 AM I pledge to do more each day. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rhonda EMAIL: learningsource@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.199 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 08:33:38 AM I have already changed out all but 2 lightbulbs in the house (last year), turned my thermostat down (and bought some sweaters!) and will start unplugging appliances. Another way to help is to always combine at least 2-3 errands into one trip. I'm glad to know we can collectively make such a difference. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Josh Nelson EMAIL: nelsonj@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/josh_nelson/ DATE: 03/22/2007 10:07:02 AM Thanks for all of the pledges! Feel free to forward this information to all of your friends. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Diane EMAIL: gsdskybear@yahoo.com IP: 70.110.143.230 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 11:13:59 AM Don't wait for the bulbs to burn out to replace them - I didn't! So far, 5 in, need to get 5 more for the next fixture! Heat is down to 58 at night and 65 during the day and two appliances unplugged. And: TURN THE COMPUTER OFF when you're done! Saves a lot. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: B.J. & Harry Ballantyne EMAIL: hcbj@juno.com IP: 71.248.6.58 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 11:53:38 AM We agree! We take this pledge. We already recycle and we heat with a corn stove--renewable energy source and almost NO smoke--none visible in fact. So we Maryland citizens agree! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Susan Wetstone EMAIL: fawkes1973@yahoo.com IP: 152.132.10.134 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 01:57:35 PM I already don't use central heating, just a bedroom space heater. I pledge to unplug all my appliances when I'm not using them and change the rest of my bulbs to compact florescent. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tom & Colette Weipert EMAIL: cjweipert@gmail.com IP: 67.64.50.133 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 03:35:04 PM We agree too!! It will take everyone working together to Save our Planet. I pledge to make sure all of my lights are compact florescent. AND spread the word!! Also turn my thermostat up and down per the season of year. We already use space heaters. I am working on a way to switchoff my whole entertainment systems with one switch. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Caroline EMAIL: cbordenk@nova.edu IP: 12.175.32.19 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 03:55:25 PM Trying to do a little bit more each and every day! It all adds up! Caroline ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sue Brown EMAIL: rowersue@gmail.com IP: 64.241.16.2 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 06:32:35 PM I just swapped out all of my light bulbs in my house and pledge to do even more! I pledge to contact my elected officials to find out why they are not doing more too! thanks ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: lynn EMAIL: lyda027@yahoo.com IP: 12.219.254.195 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 08:31:21 PM live in ca and we are investing in solar electricity. already did the rest. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Holly & Jerry EMAIL: haphillips7m@msn.com IP: 151.198.140.39 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 09:58:17 PM Have been doing most of this and will try to do more. Will let friends & family know what they can do to help too. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ann & Betty EMAIL: snoopae@earthlink.net IP: 207.69.138.140 URL: DATE: 03/22/2007 11:54:23 PM We have swapped out most of our light bulbs. And the ones we didn't/couldn't we exchanged 60's for 100's. Only two lights in the basement go on now when I hit the switch instead of 6. It's just Mom (84) and myself living here but we are very stern with each other if a light is left on behind when we leave a room. We have had a wild winter here in central NY State, but the thermastat is kept at 68 in the day and 60 at night. Mom is great about it, she loves buying new vests, sweaters. She has a very snug throw for her recliner. We recycle everything!!! Whether it is to the recycle center or some other use around the house. I love to garden, and even though we live in a suburb, we have a large compost bin. This winter with all the snow, I ran the snow blower only 2 times when the snow was just to much to deal with. When my neighbors wonder if the machine isn't working when they see me shoveling, I tell them there is four reasons. First is the noise pollution, the pollution from the gas, the reliance on gas, plus it's just good exercise. I could go on, but I guess you can see we are serious about this stuff. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: E Gail Walder EMAIL: redwing@thewalders.net IP: 69.163.11.94 URL: DATE: 03/23/2007 01:08:54 PM For years we have been practicing conservation from the vehicles we buy to the appliances we use or don't use. We also recycle, swap old lights, keep thermostat down to 65 during winter. Any remodeling is done the green way if possible. We also try in influence family and friends. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jill Larrowe EMAIL: larrowe@sbcglobal.net IP: 75.51.219.214 URL: DATE: 03/23/2007 01:46:27 PM Already done. Will do mre. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Christopher Shaw EMAIL: indiana@paris.com IP: 72.188.119.191 URL: DATE: 03/23/2007 02:19:40 PM I'm already doing all three. I'm happy to do my part. I switched almost everylight in my house to the more energy efficient bulbs back when they first came out. Currently, I have switched all lights in my new apt. to the same bulbs. They save you money and are good for the environment - win/win situation. I keep a few of my appliances unplugged when not in use and have my AC at around 78 degrees year round (I live in Florida). I know some people in Florida over do it in this dept. They'll keep their thermostat between 66 and 76. 76 isn't too bad but anything under 72 is overkill. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Brianna St Clair EMAIL: briannastclair@hotmail.com IP: 75.63.17.165 URL: DATE: 03/23/2007 04:01:59 PM I pledge! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Derik Furlotte EMAIL: wacodawg@aol.com IP: 75.69.146.107 URL: DATE: 03/23/2007 04:10:01 PM How about this guys! I'm 40 years old and I've taken this pledge many moons ago, but my latest is that I've sold my car! Now its public transportation(which sucks ass up here), my mountain bike or my legs! Go get them guys! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gloria Bram EMAIL: gloryb0902@cablespeed.com IP: 66.235.44.61 URL: DATE: 03/23/2007 04:10:20 PM Six out of eight lightbulbs in my house have been changed. I don't need air conditioning here, only ceiling fans, which would make anything over 70 degrees comfportable. In the winter, my thermostat is set at 65 during the day and 55 at night except for a 15 minute warm-up in the morning and before I go to bed. An added benefit of the lower temperatures was fewer colds in the winter. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: T Williams EMAIL: greywolf13@peoplepc.com IP: 207.69.139.8 URL: DATE: 03/23/2007 07:42:14 PM I take the Pledge! I have been doing most of these things already for the past 3 years! I keep my thermostat at 80 in the summer and 65 in winter. I have 4 CF bulbs to go and my home will be completely CF or overhead fluorescent (kitchen)so for me this pledge is not a hardship at all and it shouldn't be to anyone else who really cares about our environment! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Eren Giles EMAIL: redgiles@sbcglobal.net IP: 70.253.70.242 URL: DATE: 03/24/2007 01:13:06 AM Pledge completed :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joshua Salkin EMAIL: Simpleman1076123@yahoo.com IP: 207.69.139.145 URL: DATE: 03/25/2007 12:36:01 PM GREAT JOB FOR THE INFO!!!! Just last year I changed all the bulbs in side.Just changed the 4 out side to 2 CF it works great!! Now I,m Recycling paper it adds up quick but I just stop by drop it off every 2-3 weeks.Plastic & Glass I recycle at the same time I do the trash.This year I trying to cut all my mail to E-mail no wasting paper.Thanks for caring it give me motovation Keep up the great work!!!PEACE ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joshua Salkin EMAIL: Simpleman1076123@yahoo.com IP: 207.69.139.145 URL: DATE: 03/25/2007 12:37:23 PM GREAT JOB FOR THE INFO!!!! Just last year I changed all the bulbs in side.Just changed the 4 out side to 2 CF it works great!! Now I,m Recycling paper it adds up quick but I just stop by drop it off every 2-3 weeks.Plastic & Glass I recycle at the same time I do the trash.This year I trying to cut all my mail to E-mail no wasting paper.Thanks for caring it give me motovation Keep up the great work!!!321 PEACE ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathryn Kaffer EMAIL: turtl@pocketmail.com IP: 4.240.144.240 URL: DATE: 03/25/2007 07:29:49 PM This is a pledge well worth taking! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Jo Donlan EMAIL: mjdonlangnm@yahoo.com IP: 4.176.123.171 URL: DATE: 03/25/2007 11:41:34 PM Every giant worldwide change begins with babysteps like these. Thank you, and good luck. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jay Roberts EMAIL: jay.roberts@hotmail.com IP: 209.159.242.159 URL: DATE: 03/26/2007 11:07:40 AM Changing 6 incadescent with c.f. bulbs..soon to replace at least 8-12 more. I pledge! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Allison E. Allen EMAIL: orderallen@cox.net IP: 68.109.25.100 URL: DATE: 03/26/2007 01:31:55 PM I pledge to do my part! We need to do everything we can to help save our plant. I will pass this useful info. along. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary-Frances Ellis EMAIL: mf@tccinsurance.com IP: 68.153.181.243 URL: DATE: 03/26/2007 02:59:21 PM I take the pledge. I replaced light bulbs with compact fluorescents years ago. In the summer in Florida, I keep my thermostat set to 80 during the day to conserve energy. Although Winter in Florida is mild, on occasion we have cold temperatures, but I prefer to wear more clothes to keep warm than turn the heat on. I also unplug appliances and only turn the water heater on for a few hours per day. I combine my errands so they can be done in one trip to minimize the use of my car. I've been recycling for years. I started encouraging co-workers to recycle. I established a recycling bin at the office and I take those materials home for recycling. I take things out of the garbage so they can be recycled. It's so nice to see so many unselfish individuals participating, setting an example for others, in order to make a difference on this planet. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Shannon EMAIL: srouisse@yahoo.com IP: 72.78.39.172 URL: DATE: 03/28/2007 12:44:33 AM I pledge to do everything I can to make the world a better happier place - full of lush greenery, clean air and water and lovely lovely animals! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Debra Raymond EMAIL: houseslave01@msn.com IP: 166.82.230.233 URL: DATE: 03/28/2007 06:34:06 PM I pledge to do these things and whatever else I can to help. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Krista EMAIL: Kmari1222@yahoo.com IP: 68.35.139.2 URL: DATE: 03/28/2007 07:06:36 PM I pledge! I'm also holding a family meeting soon to talk about water conservation, energy, recycling and so forth. I'm a 100% vegan teenager who used to live in AK and my family is about 80% strict vegetarian. Thanks for doing all that you do! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Suchitra V. Srinivasan EMAIL: suchinirmala@hotmail.com IP: 59.92.74.183 URL: DATE: 03/30/2007 06:19:12 AM I take the pledge and will do everything I can to make this world a livable, beautiful place. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Diana Fisher EMAIL: adinananduc@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.144 URL: DATE: 04/06/2007 03:34:01 PM I have been using compact fluorescent bulbs for about a year now; they are wonderful- superior to incandescents as they do not generate heat as well as saving on wattage. The new daylight version is terrific; I would never revert to incandescents. I save water by feeding old dish rinse water to the plants; they love it. I already have been turning thermostats down during the day when the sun heats up the house; also by five deg. whenever I leave the house to get groceries. At night, I set the temperature to 60 deg, if the outside T is above freezing. As appliances need replacement, I get energy savers (no bells or whistles). No air conditioning in this house; the trees take care of that; we also used ceiling fans in the two largest rooms. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Josh Nelson TITLE: Administration Reinterprets ESA STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: administration_ DATE: 03/19/2007 01:02:19 PM ----- BODY:

Source:

Tired of losing lawsuits brought by conservation groups, the Bush administration issued a new interpretation of the Endangered Species Act that would allow it to protect plants and animals only in areas where they are struggling to survive, while ignoring places they are healthy or have already died out. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall, contacted in Washington, D.C., said the new policy would allow them to focus on protecting species in areas where they are in trouble, rather than having to list a species over its entire range.

Kieran Suckling,  policy director for the Center for Biological Diversity in Tucson, had a much different take. 

"This policy will do more to promote the purposeful killing of imperiled species than anything else this administration has ever done."

The opinion of the Interior Department's solicitor can be found here (pdf.)

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Green my Apple STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: green_my_apple DATE: 03/16/2007 11:18:20 AM ----- BODY:

Greenpeace has a fascinating new microsite called Green my Apple:

We love Apple. Apple knows more about "clean" design than anybody, right? So why do Macs, iPods, iBooks and the rest of their product range contain hazardous substances that other companies have agreed to abandon? A cutting edge company shouldn't be cutting lives short by exposing children in China and India to dangerous chemicals. That's why we Apple fans need to demand a new, cool product: a greener Apple.

 

Check it out.


----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Norburn EMAIL: metsy@mac.com IP: 69.19.14.30 URL: DATE: 03/21/2007 10:37:12 AM I love my iMac!!! You are a great company with no excuse to pollute. Please do the right thing so I can be proud of you. Clean up! Mary Norburn ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: A Comprehensive Guide to Global Warming STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: a_comprehensive DATE: 03/14/2007 01:56:22 PM ----- BODY:

This Comprehensive Guide to Global Warming Legislation has been developed by the National Wildlife Federation.  This document will be updated regularly and can be found at Arctic Promise.  Please enjoy this reference and be sure to check back periodically if you'd like to keep up with the status of global warming legislation.

Below the fold you'll find a summary of all of the current climate related legislation as well as the bills that froze in committee in the 109th Congress.

----- EXTENDED BODY:

For each piece of legislation, details are provided on: when the bill was introduced, the latest major action taken, lead sponsor(s), cosponsor(s), the basic premise, and the inclusion of wildlife funding.  NWF believes that any climate change legislation that is signed into law needs to include a provision for wildlife funding.

Such a provision has the effect of attacking the issue from both sides, not only reducing emissions, but also protecting and conserving habitats that have already been impacted by climate change.  NWF also believes that any effective climate legislation must reduce emissions by 2% or more per year, based on 1990 levels.  This is the only way that emissions will get to a safe level by mid-century.


Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007 (S.280)

Introduced:  1/12/07

Latest Major Action:  1/12/07 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Lead Sponsors:  Lieberman, McCain

Cosponsors:  Obama, Clinton, Lincoln, Collins, Durbin, Snowe, Nelson

Description:  Economy-wide greenhouse gas cap and trade:  2004 levels by 2012, 1990 levels by 2020, and 1/3 of 2004 levels by 2050.

Wildlife Funding:   10% of revenues from auctioned carbon credits will go to fund wildlife conservation.  ($500 mil-$1.8 bil /year)


Climate Stewardship Act of 2007 (H.R. 620)

Introduced:  1/22/07

Latest Major Action:  2/7/07 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.

Lead Sponsors:  Olver, Gilchrest

Cosponsors:  107 total, click here for the full list.

Description:  Economy-wide greenhouse gas cap and trade:  15% below 2004 in 2020 and 70% below 1990 in 2050

Wildlife Funding:   10% of revenues from auctioned carbon credits will go to fund wildlife conservation.  ($500 mil-$1.8 bil /year)


Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act of 2007 (S.309)

Introduced:  1/16/07

Latest Major Action:  1/16/07 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Lead Sponsor:  Sanders

Cosponsors:  11 total, click here for the full list.

Description:  Reduces U.S. emissions to 1990 levels by 2020; 1/3 of 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2030; 2/3 of 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2040; and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

Wildlife Funding:   The Administrator may allocate emission allowances,  to individuals and entities (including fish and wildlife agencies) for use in carrying out projects to protect and restore ecosystems (including fish and wildlife) affected by climate change.


Safe Climate Act of 2006 (H.R.5642, 109th, to be reintroduced soon)

Introduced:  6/20/06

Latest Major Action:  7/17/06 Referred to House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.

Lead Sponsors:  Waxman

Cosponsors:  113 total, click here for the full list.

Description:  Economy wide GHG cap and trade; 2009 level cap starting 2010; 2%/yr cut 2011-2020; 5%/yr cut 2021-2050; Will reach 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. 

Wildlife Funding:  Undetermined amount  is to be invested in "mitigating harm to fish and wildlife habitat"


Discussion Draft

Lead Sponsor:  Bingaman

Cosponsor:  Specter

Description:  Greenhouse gas "intensity" would be reduced by 2.6 percent annually between 2012 and 2021 and by 3 percent a year after that.  Cap on the price of carbon dioxide emission credits at $7 per ton. "

Wildlife Funding: None.


Keep America Competitive Global Warming Policy Act of 2006 (H.R. 5049, 109th)

Introduced:  3/29/06

Latest Major Action:  5/24/06 Referred to House Subcommittee on Education Reform.

Lead Sponsors:  Udall, Petri

Cosponsors:  None.

Description:  Economy-wide greenhouse gas cap and trade. Will set cap level 3 years after passage of bill. Cap on the price of carbon dioxide emission credits at $7 per ton.

Wildlife Finding:  None.  (Udall has said wildlife funding will be included when the bill is reintroduced in the 110th Congress)


The Electric Utility Cap-and-Trade Act (S.317)

Introduced:  1/17/07

Latest Major Action:  1/17/07 Referred to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Lead Sponsor:  Feinstein

Cosponsors:  Carper

Description:  Program to regulate the emission of greenhouse gases from electric utilies with  auctions that start at 15% and climbs 3% a year to 70% over time.   

Wildlife Funding:  After paying administrative expenses, 10% of the remaining Climate Action Trust Fund will go to fund fish and wildlife habitat (70% to the wildlife restoration fund under Pittman-Robertson and 30% to national programs).  The amount in the Climate Action Trust Fund will grow as the percent of allowances auctioned grows from 15% in 2011 to 100% in 2036. 


Global Warming Reduction Act of 2007 (S. 485)

Introduced: 

Latest Major Action:  2/1/07 Referred to Senate Committee on Finance.

Lead Sponsors:  Kerry

Cosponsors:  Snowe, Kennedy

Description:  Economy-wide emission cap-and-trade program freezes emissions in 2010 and then calls for a gradual reduction each year to 65 percent below 2000 emissions levels by 2050.

Wildlife Finding:  It is the goal of the Act to "support activities that protect against and mitigate the impacts of climate change including damage to fish and wildlife habitat"


Clean Air Planning Act of 2006 (S. 2724, 109th)

Introduced:  5/4/06

Latest Major Action:  5/4/06 Referred to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Lead Sponsor:  Carper

Cosponsors:  Alexander, Chafee, Gregg, Dodd, Graham, Feinstein

Description:  4-pollutant power plant bill, including CO2 cap and trade:  2006 levels by 2009, and 2001 levels by 2013, may be achieved using emissions offsets, empowers the EPA to lower the cap, but not for 20 years.

Wildlife Finding:  None.


  Clean Air Planning Act of 2005 (H.R. 1873, 109th)

Introduced:  5/23/05

Latest Major Action:  5/23/05 Referred to House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.

Lead Sponsor:  Cooper

Cosponsors:  Davis

Description:  4-pollutant power plant bill, including CO2 cap and trade: 2006 levels by 2010, 2001 levels by 2015

Wildlife Finding:  None.


Again, this document will be updated regularly and can be found at Arctic Promise.  Please enjoy this reference and be sure to check back periodically if you'd like to keep up with the status of global warming legislation.

----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: morganusvitus EMAIL: morganusvitus@web.de IP: 206.51.228.227 URL: DATE: 04/05/2007 01:25:51 PM The site looks great ! Thanks for all your help ( past, present and future !) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: kiloutimuk EMAIL: kiloutimuk@lvovs.com IP: 59.41.39.21 URL: http://www.google.ru/ DATE: 09/12/2007 02:39:16 AM Hi I am really excited. Keep up the great work. Good resources here. Bye ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: A Climate of Change STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: jeffrey_sachs_a DATE: 03/13/2007 02:44:52 PM ----- BODY:

Jeffrey Sachs has a great article in Time called A Climate of Change

When climate-change skeptics mock the fear about a rise of a "few degrees" in temperature, we should remind them of how it feels to have a 103° fever. A few degrees above normal can mean the difference between life and death, species survival and extinction. And a few actions on our part could make the difference between a healthy planet and one that falls into an environmental tailspin. The time has come for action. The earth's future is in our hands.

  Read the whole article.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: cooljune10 EMAIL: coolmtnman@verizon.net IP: 72.66.247.120 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/cooljune/ DATE: 03/20/2007 09:06:11 PM What we eat can help solve global warming too. The raising of meat products takes a lot of land and energy. Twenty vegans can live on the same amount of land as 1 meat based diet ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Global Warming 101 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: thanks_to_pete_ CATEGORY: News DATE: 03/12/2007 11:20:22 AM ----- BODY:

Thanks to Pete Petschik, who forwarded us a link to Global Warming 101

Educators and explorers Will Steger, John Stetson, Elizabeth Andre and Abby Fenton will join three Inuit hunters on a 1200-mile, four-month-long dogsled expedition across the Canadian Arctic’s Baffin Island. The expedition will be traveling with four Inuit dog teams over traditional hunting paths, up frozen rivers, through steep-sided fjords, over glaciers and ice caps, and across the sea ice to reach some of the most remote Inuit villages of the world.

The purpose of the expedition is to document how the Inuit are coping with global warming. You can listen to Will Steger's daily audio dispatches, here.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Limbaugh Cartoon STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: limbaugh_cartoo CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 03/09/2007 04:42:05 PM ----- BODY:

Courtesy of Kerry Boland
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Katie EMAIL: kfelix2@cox.net IP: 68.107.133.94 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 10:03:31 AM I took my 11-year-old son to listen to Robert Strom's lecture called Global Warning - Global Warming and the Human Condition. During the Q & A phase, my son raised his hand and addressed the issue of false information in the media. He told the audience that his mom heard an idiot on the radio deny global warming and turned him off. I had no idea he had noticed my actions. Even kids know the truth when they hear it. Grow up Rush!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Josh Nelson EMAIL: nelsonj@nwf.org IP: 69.143.57.211 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 11:12:48 AM That is great Katie. It sounds like your son if ahead of the game. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Alan Berg EMAIL: bergmanor@earthlink.net IP: 207.69.138.141 URL: DATE: 03/11/2007 09:15:18 PM Rush is the largest bag of S__T that I have ever heard!! He will only recognize global warming when his head sinks below the rising sea!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bill Becker EMAIL: ivanklives@earthlink.net IP: 68.127.126.172 URL: http://www.williamgbecker.com DATE: 04/01/2007 02:52:24 PM Hi, Here are a couple of items relevant to the global deniers' mental condition, one by Orwell (via Gore) and the other a comment, by a friend of mine, about a right-wing Republican global-warming denier: "The point is that we are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue. And then when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right." --- George Orwell (From "Remarks as delivered by former Vice President Al Gore Gaston Hall at Georgetown University Monday, October 18, 2004") From my friend, via e-mail: "If D. ever buys into global warming as a phenomena that man is responsible for(I'm about 99.9% sure that'll never happen), he'll claim that the democrats have found some way to manipulate the climate to support their argument." ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Rush is Mush: Limbaugh Denies Global Warming Impact on Polar Bears STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: rush_is_mush_li DATE: 03/09/2007 01:40:47 PM ----- BODY:

Poor Rush. He's now reduced to calling weathermen liars and people who care about the plight of the polar bear wackos. Next he'll be stealing candy from babies. 

Now, if the polar bears are disappearing and you're up there on their turf and you're drilling holes in their turf that they might fall into, and they come along and they don't like this -- and you're trying to protect them and the environment -- let them eat you! It's the least you can do.

Earth to Rush: Elvis is dead. Global warming is real. And you really need to take a vacation - to the Arctic.

While global warming deniers have clearly lost the battle on the scientific front, they have entered a new stage in their attempts to discredit the widely accepted belief among scientists that humans are causing global warming. This new strategy, largely of ad hominem attacks on scientists and other key figures in the environmental movement, is becoming a disturbing trend in the echo-chamber populated by the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage. Rather than disputing the content of the message, they have been reduced to childish attacks and outright deception. While this trend is not entirely new, it appears to be more coordinated now than ever before.

Join us on the flipside for the latest nonsense out of Limbaugh's mouth, the facts that prove him wrong and a simple yet effective action you can take right now.

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On his widely syndicated radio talk show Thursday, Rush referred to those who accept global warming as fact as, "environmentalist wackos." Sure Rush, the scientific community at large, as well as the Bush administration, are all environmentalist wackos. He then went on to address "some guy" aka John Kostyack of the National Wildlife Federation, as well as the environmental movement as a whole, with the following: "you are all wrong, and whether you know it or not, you are lying to your audiences." In a further attempt to somehow make himself look even more ridiculous than he already does, Rush also claimed that the habitat of polar bears is not shrinking.


Unfortunately for Rush, the facts are on our side:

1)  NASA photos and documentation showing a steady decline in polar sea ice since at least the 1970s.

2)  The scientific community, as evidenced by the IPCC (pdf), has reached a consensus that it is "very likely" that global warming is caused by human emissions.

3) The National Snow and Ice Data Center: "If current rates of decline in sea ice continue, the summertime Arctic could be completely ice-free well before the end of this century." Click here to see a graph depicting this decline between 1978 and 2005.

You can take action on this now by contacting U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall and informing him you are among the majority that supports the proposal to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Fish and Wildlife Service is only taking public comments on this until April 9th so it is essential that you make your voice heard immediately!

Please distribute this message broadly and freely.  The best way to counteract the work of global warming deniers is to let the truth spread like wildfire.

----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ursula EMAIL: umecking@cox.net IP: 68.111.97.21 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 05:21:09 PM Who is Lush Rimbaugh ????? Never heard off him. What a character ...... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David Enevoldsen EMAIL: david.enevoldsen@kla-tencor.com IP: 192.146.1.16 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 05:30:28 PM Mr. Limbaugh can (without facts) deny the plight of the polar bear and global warming to his heart's content, it's just unfortunate that he spouts this "State of Fear" nonsense to anyone outside of his own personal shower stall. At the very least, please spare us any further uninformed opinions Mr. Limbaugh, before the last smidge of your credibility disappears along with the polar ice caps. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Hansen EMAIL: mhansen@modestogov.com IP: 207.212.199.68 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 05:30:31 PM I have to admit that for someone I thought was so intelligent, you really are stupid when it comes to all the autorcities happening within our world. Between Greed, Greed, GREED I can't say it any other way. They have even had special shows on this particular matter and it truly is serious. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pam Evans EMAIL: gardenqueen@gmail.com IP: 208.186.44.254 URL: http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/16731634 DATE: 03/09/2007 05:32:49 PM he's a pill addled, misanthropic, reactionary bigot. Why does nayone listen to this clown? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Ellen EMAIL: akabellestarr@yahoo.com IP: 72.92.134.121 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 05:35:08 PM Rush, why don't you crawl back under the rock from which you came? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: DRC EMAIL: dholcomb@ucriverkeeper.org IP: 69.38.59.213 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 05:36:12 PM Rush must be over-medicated again. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Paul Gagliano EMAIL: paulgagliano@sbcglobal.net IP: 64.186.172.42 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 05:40:43 PM Tell me, the gas bag lies every time he opens his mouth. What would make any reader/listener think he is telling the truth at this point? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nelson Baker EMAIL: onegoldeneagle@yahoo.com IP: 64.136.163.22 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 05:46:41 PM Mr. Linbaugh was on a lot of drugs. This may have affected his mind. I won't even listen to a drug addict. He has his head in an ice hole. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Wendy EMAIL: viprlares@aol.com IP: 205.188.117.11 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 05:50:25 PM Rush Limbaugh is a real wacko, why would anyone listen to him is beyond human understanding. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Fritz Foss EMAIL: fritzfoss@hotmail.com IP: 24.57.49.2 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 05:50:35 PM LOL! Hey Rush, you really need to lay off the pills. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Susan Marie EMAIL: susmarie@mindspring.com IP: 216.175.110.186 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 05:51:40 PM Thank you for bringing this specific broadcast to light. We need to stand up against folks who tell lies in order to enhance their ratings - ALL AT THE EXPENSE OF THE INNOCENT. Sadly, this man is popular with a good-sized segment of the American public. How sad! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jgan EMAIL: jganjay@yahoo.com IP: 69.242.100.32 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 05:53:01 PM Wow... How to people like this have an audience? Does he listen to what he is saying? Does he research his information? Guess he is too busy sounding smart to get off his lazy butt and find the facts. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Linda Schlemmer EMAIL: lindars@mindspring.com IP: 66.245.101.21 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 06:05:41 PM It is simple. Rush is now and always has been an idiot. The really scary thing is that a lot of people DO listen to him and believe him! When it comes to global warming and other enviromental concerns it is easier for those people to believe what he says and NOT do anything than to change it than to believe the truth of the situation. A sad commentary on their intelligence and care for the future, but they don't care beyond their own lives. Every creature on earth will suffer and that includes them! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Geniene EMAIL: geniene@hotmail.com IP: 71.112.35.215 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 06:08:50 PM RL does not care about the facts or the truth - he simply doesn't care about any other life than his own. He has an extreme indifference to the existance of the polar bears and probably all wild life. In my opinion he shows all signs of having NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder). --I'm so thankful I am not like him! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Christopher EMAIL: carobin@mac.com IP: 206.252.205.126 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 06:10:20 PM what worries me the most is that there are people out there that actually listen to him - unfortunately this country is infested with ignorance - how could this fool have any ratings... chances are he doesn't believe any of the *#*%@ he says - but he is motivated by the fact that there are people who actually follow him.. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sarah EMAIL: seaiyar@hotmail.com IP: 128.143.231.112 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 06:15:54 PM It is Mr. Limbaugh's job to report truthful and factual information. What Mr. Limbaugh has reported is incorrect because of the following three pieces of scientific evidence: 1) NASA photos and documentation showing a steady decline in polar sea ice since at least the 1970s. 2) The scientific community, as evidenced by the IPCC (pdf), has reached a consensus that it is "very likely" that global warming is caused by human emissions. 3) The National Snow and Ice Data Center: "If current rates of decline in sea ice continue, the summertime Arctic could be completely ice-free well before the end of this century." Click here to see a graph depicting this decline between 1978 and 2005. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rikki EMAIL: rikkiprsctt@hotmail.com IP: 74.194.145.129 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 06:19:55 PM Once again Mr. Linbaugh has shown his true intelligence (lack there of). When did he get his doctorate degree in environmental science? Or wildlife biology? This man is SO against anything that Mr. Gore does that he will say anything to counter attack him. If Mr. Gore said that grass was green, Linbaugh would paint his lawn pink and call him a liar. Now he is also calling some of the best scientific minds in the WORLD liars?? This is the same man that said that parents of ADHD children were lazy parents feeding their children pills (+10 yrs ago) but we all know who the pill eater really is!!! I swore this man would never again get one second of my time, but these comments are just over the top!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tim Colman EMAIL: tim@goodnaturepublishing.com IP: 24.19.25.103 URL: http://www.goodnaturepublishing.com DATE: 03/09/2007 06:36:15 PM Rush is beating on the charismatic polar bear for good reason. When it is listed, life will be different. Carbon diets will be started in earnest. Why? Because Americans are making the connection between our wasteful energy and carbon pollution and extinction. We hope art will bring the message home that people can take direct action to prevent climate crisis. Good Nature Publishing in Seattle is designing a poster featuring "Snowy the Bear" -- our polar bear sow who says: "We need your help! Only You Can Prevent Climate Crisis." We want to put 5 or 6 action items underneath the final illustration. Please email me with suggestions. Go to http://www.goodnaturepublishing.com to see the photograph of a polar bear sow and cub we licensed for reference material to illustrate and activate. Best fishes, Timothy ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: MB EMAIL: mary_greene@hotmail.com IP: 71.179.14.232 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 06:40:53 PM He is just an endangered species himself. He's fighting for the little bit of turf (read followers) he has left...the remaining few in denial about anything that might make them rethink their gas guzzling, selfish, polluting lives. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: DG EMAIL: Gaalm@aol.com IP: 205.188.117.11 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 07:04:39 PM He is a moron anyway. He is just showing his intelligence. NONE!! Don't give him any more attention. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: T. Wagner EMAIL: helix@twmi.rr.com IP: 71.65.6.182 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 07:12:05 PM Rush has publicly stated that his business has evolved solely to enhance his own financial situation. He has very little to complain about at the present time, because his beloved party is the one causing the majority of our current problems. We all know that his reliance on facts is, in itself, fictitious. Unfortunately for the under informed or just plan "ditto-heads" reason and research have no value. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Larry Sessions EMAIL: starman@usa.net IP: 67.190.100.134 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 07:19:09 PM The man is not a moron. Nixon wasn't a moron, but he was a crook. I don't know if Rush is a crook, legally, but he does not have the best interest of the US or its people in mind. All he cares about -- ALL HE CARES ABOUT -- are his ratings and his bank account. I firmly believe that he knows full well that Global Warming -- whatever the exact cause or mechanism -- is real and deadly. But he also knows that many morons listen to him, and they want global warming to not be real. So to kick up his ratings and income, he tells them what they want to hear. And he doesn't worry about the true effects of global warming because he knows that he will be able to afford whatever adjustments are necessary if it gets too bad in his life. But I suspect that he thinks it won't get bad until he has passed (which is something he may not have done in sixth grade science). And who cares if it doesn't affect him? At least he will have his fame and fortune and the future be damned. Poor Rush. It must be hell being the devil. But I guess he likes it hot. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ted EMAIL: tjcleary@acrolina.rr.com IP: 69.132.10.101 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 07:20:06 PM I have to take advantage of this opportunity to share one of my favorite Rush jokes: Q. What's the difference between Rush Limbaugh and the Hindenburg? A. One's a Nazi windbag.....and the other one's a dirigible. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: KT EMAIL: ktodd2@tampabay.rr.com IP: 65.32.105.208 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 07:23:32 PM Rush is a nobody, who would listen to him anyway. What degree does he have in Earth Science or Ocean Science. And why would anyone with common sense listen to him anyway. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dave Eastman/Country Ecology EMAIL: cebirdman@hotmail.com IP: 24.198.74.196 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 07:40:23 PM What continues to bother me about the Bush Administration and its supporters, as well as Rush, is that these minds exist. Remind me of those Germans who sucked up Hitler's rants and marched off to destroy others--without anything too cerebral to stop them. A blight on the German nation forever after. We seem poised to self-destruct with these present tendencies. If Rush was all by himself, he woulnd't have an audience; instead he is a quite famous man leading fools around who remain vastly uneducated about anything. Dangerous ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dave EMAIL: delx@juno.com IP: 68.9.96.200 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 07:51:40 PM Limbaugh, Rush - big mouth, little brain. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jean Williams EMAIL: creatinggreenpiece@juno.com IP: 67.150.223.207 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 07:52:36 PM With over 6 billion people populating this planet, it seems like such a common sense no-brainer, that human activity, pollution, and mismanagement of Earth's resources, has contributed to Global Warming. The only people who find this hard to believe, are ignorant blow-hards like Rush Limbaugh, and the conservative cronies, who listen to him. These fools will probably always exist, but thankfully, the scientific evidence is turning them into the minority. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary EMAIL: mbberry@charter.net IP: 68.190.43.60 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 08:01:18 PM Does anyone really listen to this man? He has absolutely no credibility whatsoever. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Delilah EMAIL: jeanw@eclg.net IP: 67.150.223.207 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 08:15:59 PM It is truly sad, pathetic, and frightening, that self-absorbed ranters like Rush Limbaugh still have an audience. People who listen to that kind of rhetoric, when so much of the scientific truth is being revealed on a daily basis, must be in serious denial, without any ability to ponder the idea that their die-hard position, could possibly be WRONG. For Limbaugh to use innocent animals as a punch line to facilitate his ratings, is the act of a man without a soul. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: George EMAIL: srjoan_nutri@hotmail.com IP: 207.224.64.145 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 08:23:22 PM Rush is alot like Bush. Damn the facts, full right wing agenda ahead! How much money does he get get from the coal industry and the oil companies? He is actually dumber than Bush though (hard to believe) becuase even the administration has caught scent of the sea-change in public sentiment, but Rush doesn't get it, and keeps on spouting the same old lies. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nancy Cassidy EMAIL: ncassidymail@earthlink.net IP: 69.182.192.60 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 08:47:09 PM Rush is a has-been. He's put his foot in his mouth so many times now (let's not forget his mockery of Michael J. Fox) that he no longer has credibility with a lot of people. Too bad...he could do some good with that mouth of his. Instead he's just showing his ignorance and is digging himself deeper. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson EMAIL: kjohnson@nwf.org IP: 68.49.89.232 URL: http://nwf.blogs.com/arctic_promise/2007/03/limbaugh_cartoo.html DATE: 03/09/2007 09:00:25 PM Don't miss the next blog post, where NWF communications intern Kerry Boland illustrates the story perfectly: http://nwf.blogs.com/arctic_promise/2007/03/limbaugh_cartoo.html ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gerald Orcholski EMAIL: gerryjim@sbcglobal.net IP: 67.125.159.79 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 09:23:39 PM Who cares what Rush Limbaugh has to say. He is a big fat blowhard. Anyone who listens to anything he says is a fool. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kelly EMAIL: tvisit@excite.com IP: 148.63.221.179 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 09:26:52 PM The guy is probably being paid by lobbyists for polluters and big oil, they are desperate for more anti-global warming voices. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: B. Morrow EMAIL: billiemorrow@msn.com IP: 67.186.67.81 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 09:30:50 PM Unfortunately, (or for him, fortunately) with the self medication R.Limbach indulges himself in, reality is not a luxury he affords himself from his personal life to the safety of future generations. Why any one follows the predictions of someone who speaks from both side of his sedated mouth, & doesn't even realize it, is beyond me. I have nothing but pity for the poor wealthy soul. -"he knows not of what he speaks" I've taken pictures of the Great Smokey Montains from the same view -20 years apart showing clearly the increase in air pollution in that area alone. Rush, get off the meds, and try, just try, to smell the roses!!!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nick EMAIL: nsabetto@hotmail.com IP: 69.138.94.201 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 09:43:18 PM If Limbaugh were alive 500 years ago he would have been one of those who were burning people at the stake for saying that the earth is round.He is a complete alpha hotel. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ScarketLiberal EMAIL: Ldely@yahoo.com IP: 67.62.121.5 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 09:58:41 PM Poor Rush -- his ratings are in decline, his wit is on the wane, he's drug addled, fat, and stupidly clinging to his rightwing wacko-weird agitprop. Even the mainstream is talking about the "weird weather" that is everywhere these days. February tornadoes in Alabama? Daffodils and cherry trees blooming in January in Virginia? No snow in Michigan? Bees gone? The horticulture "hearty zones" map moved north by hundreds of miles this year? Polar Bears drowning from exhaustion as they swim and swim and swim and swim for miles and miles looking for ice to climb out upon. I hope Clear Channel continues to keep Rush on the air, bc he's a harmless poobah who's so outrageously ridiculous he's entertaining! Go on Rush! Keep those bon mots coming -- we love 'em! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol in North Carolina EMAIL: carolheafner@juno.com IP: 64.136.27.227 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 10:03:54 PM Rush Who???? He is and always had been a stupid,annoying idiot. Remember how honest and forthcoming he was about his drug problem? Like to have a nickel for everyone/thing he has bashed. Boy,would I be rich! Wish he could be put on a list. Not a good one either. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jean Williams EMAIL: creatinggreenpiece@juno.com IP: 67.150.212.206 URL: DATE: 03/09/2007 10:55:34 PM Great cartoon, Kerry! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Darrell Mc EMAIL: darrellvmc@msn.com IP: 68.12.121.231 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 03:05:46 AM Do you suppose Limpbaugh is trying to compensate for some personal inadequacies with all that nonsense? The scary thing about this is that there are a lot of people out there who continue to tune in to listen to the jerk and who hang on his every word like he's some kind of messiah. We should be finding out who his sponsors are and write them some serious letters of protest. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ken EMAIL: sustainabilityherenow@yahoo.com IP: 68.238.56.208 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 06:41:42 AM Rush DOES make sense in many ways,but anything connected with the environment is a whole different matter! It is sad that Republicans and many conservatives have collectively abandoned all this to the Democrats.Teddy Roosevelt and now the Republicans for Environmental Protection see3m to have it all together! Patience Folks! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cheryl EMAIL: cgunther3@stny.rr.com IP: 69.205.151.74 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 07:03:50 AM How sad that Rush has a viewing audience at all. For him to use that forum to spread ignorance is such a waste. There are very experienced and intelligent scientist that have information to support global warming. Trust them or Trust Rush??? ... My moneys on the scientists! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Fitzgerald EMAIL: gabhadubh@hotmail.com IP: 194.125.49.5 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 08:46:00 AM This guy is just getting more and more desperate as the days go by. Let's do something about the bears habitat and let this guy "self absorb" and rant himself into oblivion. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: J im Bowers EMAIL: jimbowers01@windstream.net IP: 75.117.251.194 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 09:05:50 AM Rush is just pandering to the "head in the sand" crowd that doesn't want to take responsibility for our enviroment. Like so many in our society, live as well as possible today and don't worry about the future generations. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Diane E. Gargiulo EMAIL: sendi_11219@yahoo.com IP: 4.172.108.228 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 09:33:05 AM While it is true that some of Mr. Limbaugh's discussions are credible, he is off the beaten track on global warming issues and Polar Bears. I don't think that Mr. Limbaugh has taken the time to personally measure the effects on global warming and Polar bears, since to my knowledge, he has not made an effort to measure the disappearance of ice or study the survival rate of Polar Bear cubs. Therefore, it is easy for Mr. Limbaugh to speak from a distance and deny reality. Accordingly, Mr. Limbaugh should consider shutting his mouth because, at the end of the day, if Global Warming is not addressed, Mr. Limbaugh has nowhere to hide just like the Polar Bears and everyone else! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tony Harvey EMAIL: cadillac48@alltel.net IP: 71.31.49.223 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 10:01:31 AM The man needs to stop smoking the bong. Does he even know what a polar bear is? Truly a pathetic individual. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Terry M EMAIL: twotap@eatel.net IP: 64.56.18.189 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 10:07:35 AM I finally have something in common with Rush Limbo, but it is not an opinion, it is oxycontin. I use it to ease the pain I suffer from cancer. Rush must be back on the stuff too, to numb his mind, conscience and tongue so that he can bear himself while telling the lies that spew from his mouth on a daily basis. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ddenisonarmati EMAIL: ddenisonarmati@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.77 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 11:04:55 AM Lush Dimbaugh is a complete idiot!! What does it take to get through to people like him who live with their heads in a hole (you guess which hole)!! He doesn't deserve the space in the media relating his pathetic comments. The media would be doing the rest of us a favor to ignore him and not print anything else he has to say about ANYTHING!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: DIANE EMAIL: dfx30@sbcglobal.net IP: 75.37.107.7 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 11:40:25 AM Sent Mr russ to CUBA!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lois E. Banghart EMAIL: cuddlestv@hotmail.com IP: 204.186.61.85 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 12:47:47 PM would somebody --please-please-pleasetake Rush Limbaugh on a crab boat to the Berring Sea in Akaska and let him fall off the boat into the sea accidently on purpurse no help ---please back on boat ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Steve Wiener EMAIL: wienerlaw@juno.com IP: 76.169.255.9 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 01:19:09 PM Rush is a clever idiot who appeals to morons. Unfortunately, the numbers of people who agree with him bodes ill for the Democratic experiment. We appear to be headed for disaster - the destruction of the world by the popular vote of the morons. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: M. Moses EMAIL: arieslady29@yahoo.com IP: 63.227.98.180 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 01:50:57 PM It is truly sad that one person can be so wrapped up in oneself to not realize the potential danger he gives to others. I feel sorry for the people that actually listen to a man that has a drug problem and believe his every word. If they just took their own intiative and researched they would find that he is a complete idiot and stop listening to his show. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Diana EMAIL: WI.outback@centurytel.net IP: 207.230.196.138 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 03:02:37 PM It's too bad that anyone of sane mind and sound body would waste even a minute of their precious life listing to Flush Rush!! He's taking up too much of the earth oxygen! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: JohnA EMAIL: jba15@juno.com IP: 4.153.209.73 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 03:18:08 PM Rush finally talked himself deaf a few years ago. I imagine he will eventually talk himself to death. I'm surprised that he has lasted this long. Oh well, maybe soon. I can't imagine why anyone would pay him $30,000,000+ per year for running his mouth, but the world is full of arrogant, selfish, smug, people (evil ones, too). ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: KJMcAdam EMAIL: kjmcadam@hotmail.com IP: 72.71.220.52 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 05:42:34 PM I want to say this first that everyone has a right to their own opinions, but when you are trying to convince people that your oppositions opinion is wrong then you will need some proof. Mr. Champion is a trained meteorologist and with the opinion of the IPCC, who are the experts on climate change,just recently coming out backing him and this story, who does Mr. Limbaugh, a man whose background and education is not on climate change, thinks he is saying they are absolutely wrong without some proof. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joe EMAIL: hoothollowjoe@acsworld.com IP: 69.72.88.169 URL: http://www.hoothollow.com DATE: 03/10/2007 06:28:23 PM Years ago I alienated the Republicans in my audience (at an Audubon society lecture) when I id-ed Rush as a dangerous man. I listen to him, to know the other side's view on this issue, which is scarey. Perhaps a boycott of advertised products/services on his show would help send a message. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: J. Travis EMAIL: j94965t@yahoo.com IP: 4.242.138.87 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 06:32:05 PM Rush Limbaugh is only one of the kind people who seem to be so frightened of any kind of change in the way they view life, that they view life that rather than accept facts and try to do something, they hide in a world of their own. I suspect that they have a bad case of what I call the desire for the Midas Touch. Remember that old fairy tale about Kind Midas who loved gold so much that when a magical whatever said "Your wish is granted. Everything you touch will turn to gold". He immediately went about joyfully touching everything, and everything turned to solid gold. Then he touched his daughter's beloved roses, thinking she would love them as gold the way he did. But she didn't. She came to him crying, wanting the living roses back with all their colors and fragrence. He went to comfort her with a hug, and his daughter became a cold, hard, gold statue. It was only then, when he found something more precious than gold, that he realized his mistake. Poor Rush Limbaugh probably doesn't have anything that he considers more precious, and you have to pity these guys. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dennis EMAIL: greydakota@msn.com IP: 71.101.111.137 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 06:33:32 PM Most of the Global Warming skeptics and critics can be traced back to some Oil Company supported think tank like the American Enterprise Inst. Limbaugh fits right in. Lot of blab about something they know nothing about. They are paid to say it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Stephanie EMAIL: lyonkeeper@msn.com IP: 71.213.24.76 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 07:43:23 PM Rush is an idiot. And I can't figure out why anyone would listen to him rant. He is plain and simple an IDIOT, and no one should give him air time. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Linda EMAIL: wyleycoyote.1@hotmail.com IP: 67.189.153.70 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 08:03:16 PM So what else is new with Rush? This is typical for him. He still just likes to hear himself talk. When things get worse he'll cry the loudest. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: stevenvmatthews EMAIL: vincentsmatthews@earthlink.net IP: 207.69.138.143 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 08:54:50 PM Ok, I'll just comment on the polar bear story as I have read it. I have over twenty years of zoo mgt. experience that includes managing polar bears in nationally accreditted zoos. I've read a lot of research too. It appears from what I read that the picture of bears on the ice floe was nothing more than that. It appears the media made it into something worse (as they usually do). I believe in global warming and want to work to stop it but I don't believe all the hype from the media on the polar bears. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cristina EMAIL: blackcaaat@aol.com IP: 75.46.155.175 URL: DATE: 03/11/2007 01:26:08 AM Rush Limburger is full of hot air, as usual! He's a pathetic little fat man, who should be sweating out his life in obscurity somewhere- he certainly couldn't be any more pathetic, bitter, and hateful than he is now! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Leslie EMAIL: helpu@visi.net IP: 72.64.45.60 URL: DATE: 03/11/2007 11:15:43 AM Everyone has opinions BUT to declare scientific evidence as "BS" in his words shows his lack of intelligence. If I remember correctly from elementary school, Columbus thought the world was flat and he would sail into India, lo and behold it was PROVEN that the world was round. Will he dispute that fact also? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mike EMAIL: mtab@gte.net IP: 141.152.214.179 URL: DATE: 03/11/2007 01:52:59 PM Anyone paying the least attention to Rush Limbaugh has less brains than the average polar bear. Only the knuckle-draggers are left in his audience. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Frances Brown EMAIL: reallynicegirl@sbcglobal.net IP: 75.26.161.227 URL: DATE: 03/11/2007 02:15:12 PM Rush Limbaugh is a self-serving liar. He has ranted against drug and alcohol users but is one himelf. How can anyone with a rational mind believe anything he says. He has not a single idea about the real world. He lives in Rush Limbaugh land and if the problem doesn't exist there it doesn't exist anywhere. Someone needs to pull his sorry behind off the air. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jill EMAIL: jillpancake_29@hotmail.com IP: 69.208.54.251 URL: DATE: 03/11/2007 03:07:40 PM Wow...this is really embarrassing. I really feel sorry for someone who in is such denial. Does he have stock in Exxon Mobile or something?? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kent Mullin EMAIL: phyllotopsis@whale-mail.com IP: 142.68.214.48 URL: DATE: 03/11/2007 05:46:26 PM I'm afraid that by not being absolutely clear, in our message to the world regarding the threat to Polar Bears, we give the Rush Limbaughs, and other assorted meatballs the opportunity to pull the wool over the eyes of a less discerning and credulous public. I believe that we need to be more specific with the details of any of the drastic results that Climate Change is going to effect. For example, it is not enough to simply state that a reduction in the extent and duration of Arctic Sea Ice (and the eventuality that it may permanently disappear altogether) is a threat to the survival of the Polar Bear population without explaining why. The fact is that 99% of the Polar Bear diet consists of Seals that they catch and kill on the sea ice. The Seals require the sea ice to breed and calve on and the Bears require it to successfully hunt on. The protein in the seal-carcass is necessary for both adult and immature bears, but particularly necessary for the immatures in order for them to grow muscle and bone as they develop into adulthood. Of primary importance however is the seal-blubber, for both immatures and adults alike rely on this to build up their fat reserves, which must sustain them over the summer, during which period they are on land and unable to feed on their prey species. Global Warming is already shortening the duration of the sea ice. It is melting earlier in the spring and freezing later in the fall, resulting in below normal spring weight bears at the beginning of their summer fast, and even further below normal fall weight bears by the time of freeze up in the following fall. As a result the pregnant females have less body fat at den-up time and when the cubs are born have less body fat for conversion to milk. Muscle mass is then consumed, making the milk less rich and the mother that much lighter, and weaker, by the time she is ready to feed again. The situation becomes a negative compound feedback loop as every year the sea ice duration shortens a little bit more thus exacerbating the effect on the Bears. These physical stresses will ultimately prevent the bear population from successfully regenerating. Those same stresses will weaken the health of the remaining population, sending it into premature decline, and before long the Polar Bear will be nothing more than a memory. Post script: It is not just the Polar Bears that are in jeopardy. As indicated the Seals use the sea ice for breeding and calving and while Seal populations, in warmer climes, do breed and calve on land, no one knows what Arctic Seals will do without sea ice to breed and calve on. Afterthought: - We could always try feeding Mr. Limbaugh to the Bears, but I don't think that the quality of the blubber would be as good as that from the seals, and it would likely contain too high a concentration of Vicodin anyway. Linda: Unless you know where the picture was taken you cannot comment on it with any degree of expertise. You may be correct and you may not be. They are obviously on the remnants of a small berg but how far from shore and/or other ice. I have seen one "trapped" at sea, on small single berg out of sight of land, on the Labrador coast almost as far down as Newfoundland. K. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kent Mullin EMAIL: phyllotopsis@whale-mail.com IP: 142.68.214.48 URL: DATE: 03/11/2007 05:50:34 PM Sorry not Linda, should read Stephen. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: DJ Williams EMAIL: creatinggreenpiece@juno.com IP: 4.242.162.18 URL: DATE: 03/11/2007 11:43:52 PM No doubt Limbaugh hasn't seen "A Convenient Truth", the Academy award winning documentary by Al Gore. He would probably rather chew his own arm off, before engaging in any kind of activity that might refute his position. This movie steps beyond politics and gives a factual portrayal of Global Warming, substantiated by numerous scientific studies from around the world. One part explains clearly how and why polar bears are in jeopardy, and it is due to the ramifications of temperature increase in ocean waters, due to Global Warming. The past few years, research teams have discovered polar bears that have drowned, trying to find contiguous ice surfaces, to hunt for seals; their main food source. STEVEN,I would recommend that you see this documentary ASAP. As someone who claims to have over 20 years in zoo management involving polar bears, and has done research, how could you claim that it is all based on media "hype"? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pete Petschik EMAIL: pwp10082002@hotmail.com IP: 64.179.39.250 URL: DATE: 03/12/2007 07:51:02 AM For those interested in further information regarding global warming, take a close look at http://www.globalwarming101.com - this is where the action is taking place RIGHT NOW with the documentation on the affects of global warming in the arctic. The Will Steger Foundation, dedicated to bringing attention to the problems in the arctic, has just embarked on a three-part journey across Baffin Island with a sled team. Not only is Will's team going to take video footage of their findings, but Sir Richard Branson will be joining him partway through the journey and assisting with publicity. Teachers and educators: this is your chance to bring this incredible journey INTO your classrooms - globalwarming101.com has complete educators' kits (K-12) that are approved by National Graphic Xpeditions and the Union of Concerned Scientists and are TOTALLY FREE. Come on, everyone - global warming effects all of us - each one of us needs to do our own part to resolve this issue. Take action! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: William Butcher EMAIL: William.Butcher@valero.com IP: 209.99.19.8 URL: DATE: 03/12/2007 10:05:09 AM I have occasionally listened to some of these shows and i have often questioned their expertise, they are there to just stir the pot and get attenetion based on controversy that they create, not on fact.its all about $$$ People in the general public are relying on these opinion based shows for their news and information and take everything they say as fact, when it is just their opinion. If we open our eyes and look around us it doesn;t take a rocket scientist to know that things are a miss. Look @ all the cars driven today, all that exhaust has to go somewhere. also consider who sponosors these talk shows? I think we all know its all about the $$$ , like our DNR or us fish and game wanting to remove certain animals from the endangered or protected list. This is all driven by $$$ not what is right or wrong, moral or immoral. Human and animals are all living beings (only exception is we can control how we destroy the world, or aid it). It burns me up that the very groups we put in charge of protecting wild life is the very group that stands to loose if it does so. What i am referring to is all the $$$ spent on hunting and fishing its in the billions, and can literally effect the economy's of many communities. For example here where i live the pheasant which has been struggiling for years is finally coming back ,now that it is they want to open a braoder hunting season and make larger limits (in the name of controling the population ,which took over 10 years to build up) . There is many parts to this equation as one being limiting the very predator that aids in balancing the population that being the fox and coyote. They are heavily hunted and not for food , but for the sport of it. I have and will say this again i have never seen a coyote or fox kill and eat a cow, yet that is the guise that is used to hunt them all for $$$. The state gains by selling licenses to hunt them ,and buisness's gain by having a place to sell the license and the guns,bullets, boots ,clothing etc for which to stay comfortable while hunting them. kaching ka ching let them ring. There needs to be some truth behind the reason for hunting, and its not about food. people in this country need to take responsibility and voice up against this senseless way we use wildlife for economic gain at teh expense of their lives. once something is dead its dead. The same is now being done to wolves, another very misunderstood animal, again it is being carried out in the guise of protecting farm livestock, this is all bunk, if we didn;t virtually eliminate all other wild food sources then wolves,and other predators would have an abundant source of wild food. But the same people that complain about livestock deaths are also heavily involved in hunting the food sources and now will get to hunt another season killing the predator as well, all regulated by our us fish and game and DNR , which makes money on all of this. If money wasn;t involved then i think less would be hunted. I have met many members of these groups (us FG,dnr) and they are not researchers, they are not wildlife enthusiasts , they are not scientist ,half of them never leave the office except to patrol for hunting and fishing violations , and are not wildlife enthusists but lawmen. They do a fine job keeping the woods safe and catching poachers etc , but their needs to be a balance as to seeing the broad picture and keeping wildlife safe , and limit the kill limits that hunting provides. Many of the officers i talk to feel their hands are tied as they are regulated by our government which is about finding ways to generate income from natural resources, not protecting them . Its all by the book a book created to make money...We need to voice up take a stand and make these federal and state organizions take resposibility for the true protection of wild life ,limit the kill, leave the real hunting to nature. Another thing is look back at teh people that created many of our parks and the precusors to our present day DNR and fish and game departmenst and they were created by politicians that were noted for their big game hunting (teddy roosevelt to name one) they were not trying to protect wildlife for wildlife but for people to shoot ,and kill them ,it was to preserve the buisness of hunting and killing,not protection for preserving life. Think about it. If you want to hunt why not hunt with a camera this is as challenging if not more so as you need to stalk ,track and find the object and then aim and shoot and try to capture a stunning wall hanging picture that will share the beauty of that moment with everyone for ever and both you and the animal get to wlak away to live another day .Yes the answer is yes , you definatly get a rush out of it like when hunting its the same only you walk away with a trophy that can live another day. I used to hunt ,until i realized how deceived i was and began to hunt with a camera and have never looked back. Wild and free ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: William Butcher EMAIL: William.Butcher@valero.com IP: 209.99.19.8 URL: DATE: 03/12/2007 10:37:49 AM I have to agree with the posts here . Bush ,Rush ,Joe Sucheray and other’s like them are blowing hard for and stirring up controversy for the next election. Myself I realize that all of what they say is based on their twisted self serving opinions not on fact , as most talk shows rarely are based on 100% fact ,but just a taste of factuality and to give weight to their twisted opinions. All have agenda’s , right ,left , like vegetables dropped in a pot and hot water added and then stirred they all become a soup, blend together all individual , but yet one soup. Most Americans today are un informed and when they do get their information or news sadly it comes from these opinion based talk shows, not from fact’s. This is an illness spreading across America. Look at Newt Gingerich he attacked Bill Clinton for doing the same illicit sinful acts ,under oath or not they were both adultery. Yet he was above the law, so to speak. The right that’s supposed to be right is as sinful as the left they just disguise it differently. Lets say you were going in for open heart surgery ,would you rather have a heart surgeon perform your surgery or a podiatrist? Your life is in the balance , their both Doctors ,but I think we all know what the answer would be . Now our world needs surgery to save its life and preserve all of our’s. Do we send the talk show host to operate, or do we send a world surgeon or an expert? I believe we to take a paraphrase form Noah in the Arc we are all in the same boat now. There is only one planet , that supports life, and it’s the responsibility ,our god given responsibility to be care takers of it and all life contained there in and do all we can to preserve it not rob and rape it in the name of progress and money. So we need the experts to plan and perform the operation not the blow hard talk show hosts who’s only main concern is that they do their job’s well and that’s to stir up controversy. They need a rating system for these so called news shows and rate the quantity of the truth of their content. Why are they not regulated for truth in content ? Just look around at our world and you can see the pain ,feel the chest pains as the planet struggles to breath, its arms are going numb and it cannot control itself , it needs surgery , so who is going to perform it Rush and the so called talk show experts or the experts in the field ? I would hope that the answer would be scientist . To let our thoughts be corrupted by the talk show buffoons on such a scientific and life threatening subject or planet surgery is like paging Moe ,Larry , Curly to the operating room ,DR.Howard, paging Dr.Howard, Dr.Howard the earth is waiting , DR.Howard… When it comes to the end of a man’s life does he wish for more money and things or the love and time he could have spent with loved ones enjoying life ? I think we would choose time, and life , now we need to choose life and a clean healthy life for our future , our kids. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Elizabeth Valovich EMAIL: ebvalovich@ars.state.ar.us IP: 170.94.149.19 URL: DATE: 03/12/2007 02:52:25 PM Mr. Limbaugh thinks he is smarter than scientists who have a Phd and study global warming and ecosystems for a living. If he knew anything at all, he would know that every living thing on earth and the earth itself is part of one ecosystem. All are interconnected. What effects one part of the ecosystem effects all parts of the ecosystem. It might not be in the immediate future , but will at some point in the future. I suggest Mr. Limbaugh understand what he is talking about before he opens his mouth and lets people know without a doubt he is uninformed of his subject matter. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kyle Waggener EMAIL: kylewag@yahoo.com IP: 207.59.99.230 URL: DATE: 03/12/2007 02:57:48 PM Mr. Limbaugh demonstrates a heartless callousness toward all living things, including people. When a caller mentioned pollution coming in from Ohio, he said to move. Life isn't that simple. What if I took up a seat next to Rush on his show and vomited in his face every hour. When he said that he didn't like it, I would say, "then move!" ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jerry EMAIL: j4@fuse.net IP: 72.49.189.40 URL: DATE: 03/12/2007 03:24:54 PM The joke that Rush Limbaugh made about scientists feeding themselves to the Polar Bears was just that, a joke. The political cartoon which you have linked on the NWF site, showing Rush Limbaugh holding on to sea ice in a melting Arctic, is not particularly inventive nor was it really funny or telling as political cartoons are supposed to be. It was pretty boring really. At least Rush's joke, in its absurdity, was funny, as it was meant to be. Has anyone disputed his critique of how the photo of bears on the ice "sculpture" was used incorrectly and disingenuously as evidence of man-made global warming? Below are some of the statements quoted by NWF and my responses: --According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center: "If current rates of decline in sea ice continue, the summertime Arctic could be completely ice-free well before the end of this century." >>How do we know that the summertime Arctic was not completely ice-free at other times in Earth's history long before humans began burning fossil fuels in such large quantities as now, and long before humans were able to keep accurate data about temperature and sea ice? In any case, statements such as "If currents rates of decline in sea ice continue..." and "...could be completely free of sea ice..." do not add up to certifiable facts that are definitely going to happen. Somehow all of these "ifs" and "coulds" give license to the Left to ridicule commentators on the Right for being skeptical? --"A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey's Alaska Science Center discovered a "very dramatic" change in polar bear cub survival and estimated that only about 43 percent of the polar bear cubs in Alaska's Beaufort Sea are surviving their first year as a result of shrinking ice habitat." >>Are we expecting 100% of Polar Bear cubs to survive in a harsh wild habitat? Is 43% survival a reason for concern? I can't imagine wild Polar Bear cubs normally survive much more than that anyway. How did the USGS study prove that the survival rate of Polar Bear cubs was going down due to global warming, and man-made global warming at that? Did they consider other factors, such as the ability of the habitat to support existing numbers of Polar Bears? It is possible that moderating temperatures have led to an increase in Polar Bear numbers in recent times, and that thus the increase in cub mortality is only a natural re-setting of population numbers? --"And just last month, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the leading voice among climate scientists worldwide, reported that it is now "very likely" (a 90 percent likelihood) that global warming is being caused by manmade burning of fossil fuels." >>The last I checked, 90% does not equal 100%. 90% = 100%? What kind of funny math is this? To teach that man-made global warming is fact, when it is still a theory at best, is irresponsible and disingenuous. The IPCC's statement that man-made global warming is "very likely" should not give license for it to be taught as certifiable fact! Riduculing Rush Limbaugh because he is pointing out such things is just cheap-shot politics, the easy way out. There is plenty of dissent within the scientific community about whether global warming is man-made. There is not consensus among all credible scientists. Even the pro-man-made global warming scientists are only saying "very likely" in their report, yet somehow the media and the Left is latching on to this as fact. What about the natural cycles in Earth's temperature fluctuations, which we don't fully understand? The Earth was relatively cool for a very long period called the Mini Ice Age which only ended around 1900 or 1910. Wouldn't it make sense that the Earth would warm up a bit after a minor ice age? Is 1/2 of a degree all that much to warm up after a 600-year cool period in Earth's climatic history? Calling Rush Limbaugh names and even calling him a bag of s_ _ t, as one blogger did on this site, because you want to teach as fact what is likely only a specious theory, will not cut it in most reasonable courts of public opinion, or in the grinder of History that tests our theories. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Diane EMAIL: castofffarm@yahoo.com IP: 152.16.101.177 URL: DATE: 03/12/2007 03:39:32 PM Considering it's Mr. Limbaugh, the man whose neurons fire only at a level slightly above an amoeba, need we say more? Actually, I believe the amoeba is more intelligent.... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Steve Place EMAIL: place88@beer.com IP: 165.252.88.150 URL: DATE: 03/12/2007 04:39:37 PM The joke that Rush Limbaugh made about scientists feeding themselves to the Polar Bears was just that, a joke. Limbaugh looks like bear food, but then again I would not want any of these magnificent animals to get ill from eating such TRASH!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: MightyHarlock EMAIL: harlock2000@yahoo.com IP: 172.146.132.96 URL: DATE: 03/12/2007 07:46:54 PM Servers them right - God is punishing them for all those polar bear abortion clinics and polar bear gay mariages. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: DJ Williams EMAIL: creatinggreenpiece@juno.com IP: 66.52.218.201 URL: DATE: 03/12/2007 09:22:53 PM To Jerry, you are obviously a Rush Limbaugh desciple, and the reason you are such a minority on this blog, is that you simply don't know what you are talking about. You are still clinging to the "natural cycle" thery. OMG, talk about fact VS. Thery! Scientist DO understand the natural cycle and they KNOW the polar ice caps and specific areas of the arctic have never been ice free. With today's technology, core samples taken from deep within glaciers and ice fields can reveal the period of time and the amount of carbon dioxide molecules contained in the sample. AND, there is NO uncertainty among credible scientists that Global Warming exists, and that is is caused by pollution that has thickened our thin layer of atmosphere over decades of time. They may disagree on other related issues, for example; what to do about it, and how long it will take to rectify the situation, etc. But,I would challenge you to list the name and reference material of a single credible scientist, who says Global Warming doesn't exist and the activities of 6.4 billion human beings are the cause. Even President Bush has conceded that he needs to do more about enviromental issues and is touring Latin America this month, with the goal of reaching an agreement with Brazil to import ethanol. As for your argument of 100% VS. 90%? Oh, please! I suppose you and Rush and his followers would be the ones to support that 10% chance, that all the scientists of the world are just punking us. Actually, it is the "grinder of history" that has enabled scientists to come to the conclusions they have, with hard data to support it. The folks on the "left" are latching onto the Global Warming evidence as fact, because the scientific evidence shows it to be so. No matter what spin the folks on the "right", try to put on the subject, by accusing the media and liberals of making it all up, you don't stand a chance against a mountain of evidence. It is reminiscent of the tabacco companies effort to down play the effect of necotine on a person's health. Jerry, do yourself a favor, and visit www.globalwarming101.com, click on Education, and learn something useful, before you set yourself up as the voice or reason, in the "court of public opinion." ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mark R. EMAIL: markfest1971@aol.com IP: 205.188.117.11 URL: DATE: 03/13/2007 02:52:26 AM I guess the only reason Limbaugh still has an audience after all this time, is that people like to feel absolved of responsibility for social and environmental problems. What better way to do that than denial? I hope his listeners will soon see him for the pompous, self-serving windbag he is. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mark in PA EMAIL: markfest1971@aol.com IP: 205.188.117.11 URL: DATE: 03/13/2007 04:31:49 AM Also in response to Jerry: Anyone with a basic understanding of science knows that very seldom can you state anything as 100% positive. "Very likely" is strong language in the scientific community. As for those saying global warming is not a concern, well scientists can be shortsighted and stubborn just like the rest of us, and the only dissent is coming from abstracts and opinionated articles. So, 90%? I'll take that bet! Further, it is fact that CO2 levels are the highest in 650,000 years. That's not just a natural cycle. Regarding the polar bear photo, it's perfectly appropriate to use a visual aide to relate the topic to the reader. I have seen photos of actual drowned polar bears and reports of this happening, previously an extremely rare occurrence, have increased significantly in just the last few years. The heat is on! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathy in MD EMAIL: pixie9957@hotmail.com IP: 76.21.237.17 URL: DATE: 03/13/2007 11:15:47 AM Rush Limbaugh needs to stick to the things he knows anything about instead of making uninformed, unintelligent statements about things he knows nothing about. Global warming is real and scientifically documented. The effect the phenomenon is having on our planet including many animals is also very real. He needs a reality check. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jean in Seattle EMAIL: jeanw@eclg.net IP: 67.150.223.100 URL: DATE: 03/13/2007 07:28:18 PM Jerry, dude, have you been living in a cave? The points you are making, might have had some relevancy back in 2001, when the IPCC's report claimed that the human factor was only 66% probable, but the most recent report now says its a 90% certainty. The news is every where, from "An Inconvenient Truth", to the editorial page in the spring 2007 issue of Aquascape Magazine. For centuries, the human population remained fairly stable, due to mortality rates and short life spans, etc. However, the invention of vaccines, and improved medicines, health care, helmets, seat belts, the list goes on and on; has resulted in much longer life spans for people. The Earth's civilization, has shot up to 6.4 billion souls. If we stay on the same trajectory, it will climb to over 9 billion in a few short decades. The Earth's renewable resources, can't keep up. That is why carbon dioxide from pollution thickens the atmopshere, trapping heat inside, raising global temperaturs, which result in melting ice. That allows more of the sun's rays to be obsorbed into the water, because fewer rays are being reflected off the ice, which exacerbates the problem. It's not so much that we are seeing more hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons, it's just that they grow more destructive, as they are fed by all the variables of contact with warmer ocean waters. When Hurrican Katrina first hit the coast of Florida, it was only a catagory 1 hurricane. By the time it worked its way up to New Orleans, it had exploded into a catagory 5 hurricane. Anyone, who can look at the increasing onslought of droughts, floods, tornados, record breaking temperatures up to 125 degrees, and say that it is a natural cycle, is truly in deep denial. That is just plain sad. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Katherine EMAIL: csweeney1@kc.rr.com IP: 65.28.32.20 URL: DATE: 03/13/2007 08:38:19 PM This may sound trite, however, it seems appropriate. If Rush is 'right', I'll take what's left! (What a moronic hypocrite!) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laura Quist EMAIL: nerd4birds@yahoo.com IP: 172.145.217.242 URL: DATE: 03/14/2007 09:43:17 AM I figured Rush would be keeping up on current events in Congress... I guess he missed the Alaskan Representative testify just a few weeks ago that one of his towns is melting away. The permafrost under the city is melting away, and the land under homes, roads, businesses is all washing away into the ocean. Now, the town is relocating at the cost of MILLIONS (American tax dollars, I assume). Go tell those poor people that global warming isn't real! I wonder how many more stories like this are out there NOW and as of yet untold. And why isn't this story being covered more in the media??? If even the skeptics are going to have to help pay for this, I sure wish they'd realize faster that it's smarter to treat the disease (global warming) instead of just the symptoms (melting towns, displaced people, disappearing bears, etc etc). Incredibly sad that we even have a need for such debates... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Peter EMAIL: ptetlow@eclg.net IP: 66.52.217.217 URL: DATE: 03/14/2007 11:45:55 AM I wonder if Rush Limbaugh writes under the pen name of "Jerry"? I agree with all of you, who wrote to refute him. The guy is out of touch with reality; "natural cycle" is so yesterday. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Liz EMAIL: lizderashp@netscape.net IP: 72.79.84.33 URL: DATE: 03/15/2007 12:35:20 PM I think Rush is a total idiot. He thinks it's so cool not to believe in global warming, well he's not cool at all. He like a nother stupid reublican. And the stupid President and his idotic administration is believing him, he is out of his mind. Rush, get your head out of the clouds!!! Global warming is so real!! Even AlGore talked about and made a movie out of it. Why don't you watch it? And Learn something. I have no pity for you, you jerk! If you hate Earth so much, why don't you just go out to the sun and let the sun burn you alive!!You Jerk!!!! I wish I could beat you up!!You idoit! To Hell with you!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Roger Kramer EMAIL: rogteach@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.77 URL: DATE: 03/19/2007 12:53:39 AM Hey folks, way to much time wasted on these posts. Rush and the people who tune in to his broadcasts are not going to be influenced by any academic or scientific arguments from folks like us. He and his listeners think we have as much impact on the society as a bunch of rocks. They are either not well educated, to bigoted or stupid to care about these issues or to try and understand them. They also are not folks with any great influence beyond them selves. Let's put our energy and best efforts on getting the attention of the power brokers and political types who can affect change in our National economic and energy policies. I submit getting worked up over Rush is giving him a victory he does not need, and we don't have time for. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: charlotte koren EMAIL: charlottekoren@yahoo.com IP: 69.134.21.122 URL: DATE: 03/20/2007 02:44:47 PM It is time to wake up Mr Limbaugh and do something about global warming and environmental abuse. Are you waiting to be responsible for another "big bang"? that would totally eliminate all living thing from this earth? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Charlene L Wittman EMAIL: clwittman@gmail.com IP: 216.164.16.36 URL: DATE: 03/24/2007 04:52:19 PM Global warming has turned the poor mans brain to MUSH!! It might not be too late, if he acknowledges the error of his ways..let us pray! :-) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Vicky EMAIL: mstrickyvickylee@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.199 URL: DATE: 03/25/2007 10:46:33 AM Rush and most of the Bush administration are FULL OF ____!!!! What a bunch of idiots and they're causing irreparable damage by hiding (or trying to) the TRUTH! They must have their heads up each other's ______! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anna EMAIL: anjyk2007@yahoo.com IP: 71.167.78.239 URL: DATE: 03/26/2007 07:20:44 PM well i am very upset that there so many ignorant and stupid people like this guy "Mr.limbaugh" is a shame that a individual like this has a radio show. How can that be possible that this type of individuals have the power of co0mmunication and use it against our planet and wild life shame on him . this should not be happening and people should not listen to this kind of radio shows that dont have nothing positive to say and fill their minds with negative and destructive messages. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Talitha EMAIL: cappuccino16@comcast.net IP: 68.52.0.36 URL: DATE: 03/27/2007 02:45:50 PM I've been listening to Rush lately not necessarily on purpose but he comes on a local talk radio station that I ran across. I don't know how but our train of thought is totally opposite. I think their opinions of Democrats is absolutely hilarious. It seems unreal to me. I've continued to listen as an effort to experience an alternate perspective. No one tells you the full truth so if you listen to all sides you may be able to get a better understanding. I'm 28 and I've never had a real interest in politics but I have now learned that politicians are more entertaining than sitcom actors. Do you all realize that you have to pay to e-mail Rush at his web site. That kind of tells the whole story in itself. One question I really had for him was regarding the plans to bring our troops home. The feel that he give me listening to his show is Democrats are against the military, "troops don't get down". But are Republicans saying that the troops would prefer to be at war than at home? Is it not supporting the troops to compile a plan to bring them home to their families? That's where I find the extreme Republican anti Democrat view point as hilarious. It is so twisted how no one can really express neutral ground it all has to be so extreme. I understand finishing what you start (a quality that we should all be teaching our children) but what is finished? Are your goals truly achievable? Sometimes plans should be reviewed and rearranged if necessary. Okay there I go. What is an American citizen to do? When it all seems like a gang war? Us against them. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Elaine EMAIL: seasdisease@yahoo.com IP: 209.214.1.114 URL: DATE: 03/29/2007 08:48:15 PM He made more sense when he abusing prescription drugs. The highest degree of global warming couldn't burn the fat off his ass. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ted EMAIL: teddixon@hotmail.com IP: 70.167.82.121 URL: DATE: 05/16/2007 04:07:07 PM Global temp change is not in question. The claim that "man" is responsible is. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jerry zucker, PhD EMAIL: j.zucker@nasa.gov IP: 75.89.239.73 URL: DATE: 06/26/2007 08:08:02 PM consensus is not science people. global warming is not real. its a natural event. scientist that agree with you?3% that means the other 97% (like myself) think it is GOREwash Rush Limbaugh is God! Al Gore is Satan ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: JOE EMAIL: jemoon@paulbunyan.net IP: 209.191.209.11 URL: DATE: 10/02/2007 01:57:51 PM You have to be sick. The world has survived millions of years sometimes hot and sometimes cold. Your comments and the rest of global warming idiots are the biggest streach of human egotism ever conceived. The ocean puts more hydrocarbons in the air in one day than all of mankind does in a year. Wake up smell the roses enjoy life ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Meagan Leigh EMAIL: azrexnorth@roadrunner.com IP: 24.31.148.40 URL: DATE: 01/12/2008 06:51:58 PM Rush Limbaugh - Bombastic Blowhard, nothing more needs to be said. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dr Ed EMAIL: ERFrizell@aol.com IP: 75.150.156.97 URL: DATE: 10/17/2008 01:10:23 PM I am a scientist. I wish you'd stop misleading people. The IPCC is composed of many types of people (mostly bureocrats and politicos). True scientists are disputing what the politicos did to their report (the politicos changed the report). For instance : There is nothing in the report to support or validate the climate models that predict a substantial future warming (5). On the contrary, the estimates of IPCC 1995 are substantially less than those of 1992 or 1990. No mention is made in the SPM of the existence of weather satellite data that show absolutely no warming over the last 18 years. Instead, reliance is placed on an ambiguous phrase: "The balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate." See all here:http://www.sepp.org/Archive/controv/ipcccont/ipccflap.htm ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mush Limbaugh EMAIL: bigguy@mushlimbaugh.com IP: 98.169.211.219 URL: http://www.mushlimbaugh.com DATE: 02/20/2009 10:35:03 PM You are a very good ritter, if I say so myself. I invite you to my news service - The Mush Limbaugh Report Sincerely, The Big Guy ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: ESA Incentive Bill STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 1 BASENAME: esa_incentive_b CATEGORY: News DATE: 03/01/2007 12:45:16 PM ----- BODY:

On Tuesday, Senator Crapo and NWF's own John Kostyack sat down to discuss the specifics of the Endangered Species Act tax incentive bill on E&E TV (video).

The Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2007, sponsored by Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), seeks to provide farmers with tax incentives to protect the endangered species on their land. During today's OnPoint, Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and National Wildlife Federation senior counsel John Kostyack discuss this new piece of legislation. They explain how it differs from previous ESA legislation and talk about how they were able to gain bipartisan support and the support of both farmers and environmentalists.

When the transcript becomes available, it will be here.

Excerpts from yesterday's AP story on the bill are below.

Landowners frustrated by the Endangered Species Act might get a carrot instead of the stick under a proposed revision of the law that would offer them tax incentives to give the critters a home. That approach is emerging as a narrower alternative to a comprehensive overhaul of the endangered species law, a priority for Republicans before Democrats took control of Congress this year.

Several senators, including the Democratic chairman and senior Republican on the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, are supporting a bill offering to $2.7 billion in tax credits over 10 years to landowners who take steps to help endangered species recover.

This compromise may, in effect, save the Endangered Speciest Act from being gutted. By offering a solution that both environmental groups and landowners can get behind, this initiative is likely to garner broad support.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Clara EMAIL: jfccojeda@mindspring.com IP: 66.32.233.33 URL: DATE: 03/10/2007 08:54:09 PM Mr. Limbaugh would do or say anything that would keep him on people's minds or mouths. Remember that he makes a living out of controversy and if he would get an ounce of common sense he would probably go hungry. Keep in mind that intelligence is not mandatory. ----- -------- AUTHOR: NWF TITLE: Administration Could Weaken Eagle Plan STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: administration_ CATEGORY: Science DATE: 02/07/2007 11:33:21 AM ----- BODY:

Check out NWF senior counsel John Kostyack on NPR this morning:   

"Bald Eagle May Leave Endangered List"
by Elizabeth Shogren, National Public Radio

Morning Edition, February 7, 2007 - The U.S. government's top wildlife biologist says a Bush administration proposal to protect bald eagles won't do the job.

NPR has obtained an internal government memo signed by Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall. In it, he calls on his bosses to abandon a key part of their proposal for managing bald eagles once they're removed from the endangered species list.

LISTEN HERE...

Speak up for bald eagles! Urge the Department of the Interior to support the eagle protection plan written by wildlife management experts--not developers.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lenny Dkystra EMAIL: Lenny@nymets.com IP: 69.250.38.48 URL: DATE: 02/07/2007 09:06:51 PM A few things you should know about that article: -NPR’s original report said that the memo was signed by Dale Hall, the director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. The .PDF it linked to, however, did not have Hall’s signature. (It later changed the story to saying the memo was “by” him.) Government officials often have memos prepared for them that they do not sign. -NPR never spoke with a government official about the report; they should have had a chance to respond. (It only added the text that the DOI would not have an immediate comment about the story several hours after it was originally published.) -In the fourth paragraph “environmentalists” is used, yet only one such person is quoted. -John Kostyak was referred to as an “environmentalist.” That word is subjective. He also could be called a “lobbyist." ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jim EMAIL: jimgoldstein@gmail.com IP: 12.108.188.134 URL: http://www.jmg-galleries.com DATE: 02/08/2007 01:27:12 AM Wanted to relay that I got a similar response from "Lenny Dkystra" on my blog. I've responded including a link to this post. http://www.jmg-galleries.com/blog/2007/02/07/latest-risk-to-the-american-bald-eagle-removal-from-the-endangered-species-act/ Although I can thank "Lenny" or "Steve" or whom ever made this comment for bringing me to your blog entry. I'll be sure to add a link to the NWF site on my blog post. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Josh Nelson EMAIL: nelsonj@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: http://nwf.org DATE: 03/01/2007 10:55:36 AM Thanks Jim. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: "Well according to Phil...oh and the IPCC" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: well_according_ CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 02/03/2007 04:26:07 PM ----- BODY:

     Yesterday was a big day in the global warming news cycle.
     The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report saying it is "very likely" (at least a 90 percent chance) that human activities are causing the warming of the planet that has occurred since 1950.
     The report honed sea level rise projections and clarified the link between global warming and droughts, storms and other extreme climate events--making it even clearer that time is running out for wildlife, whose habitat will suffer from many of these changes and challenges. See "Polar Bears at Risk from Global Warming."
     The Friday news cycle also included the furry forecaster Punxsutawney Phil, announcing the coming of an early spring. NWF senior scientist Doug Inkley recently pondered Phil's forecasting track record. Apparently in the first 75 years of the 20th century, Phil cast no shadow only four times, which according to folklore meant an early end to winter. But in just the last 25 years of the century, Phil cast no shadow fully eight times, alerting us that winter was coming to an early end.
     Make that nine times.
     "...with this year's warm winter, which some experts pin on global warming, biologists say groundhogs and their hibernating brethren might rise closer and closer to Groundhog Day each year as Earth's climate changes," (Sara Goudarzi, LiveScience, 02/01/07).

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: SOTU '07--A "Global Climate Change" Nod STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: sotu_2007global CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 01/23/2007 11:02:57 PM ----- BODY:

Exerpt from the energy portion of President George Bush's State of the Union address tonight:

     Extending hope and opportunity depends on a stable supply of energy that keeps America's economy running and America's environment clean. For too long our Nation has been dependent on foreign oil. And this dependence leaves us more vulnerable to hostile regimes, and to terrorists -- who could cause huge disruptions of oil shipments ... raise the price of oil ... and do great harm to our economy.

     It is in our vital interest to diversify America's energy supply -- and the way forward is through technology. We must continue changing the way America generates electric power -- by even greater use of clean coal technology ... solar and wind energy ... and clean, safe nuclear power. We need to press on with battery research for plug-in and hybrid vehicles, and expand the use of clean diesel vehicles and biodiesel fuel. We must continue investing in new methods of producing ethanol -- using everything from wood chips, to grasses, to agricultural wastes.

     We have made a lot of progress, thanks to good policies in Washington and the strong response of the market. Now even more dramatic advances are within reach. Tonight, I ask Congress to join me in pursuing a great goal. Let us build on the work we have done and reduce gasoline usage in the United States by 20 percent in the next 10 years -- thereby cutting our total imports by the equivalent of 3/4 of all the oil we now import from the Middle East.

     To reach this goal, we must increase the supply of alternative fuels, by setting a mandatory Fuels Standard to require 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels in 2017 -- this is nearly 5 times the current target. At the same time, we need to reform and modernize fuel economy standards for cars the way we did for light trucks -- and conserve up to 8.5 billion more gallons of gasoline by 2017.

     Achieving these ambitious goals will dramatically reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but will not eliminate it. So as we continue to diversify our fuel supply, we must also step up domestic oil production in environmentally sensitive ways. And to further protect America against severe disruptions to our oil supply, I ask Congress to double the current capacity of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

     America is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that will enable us to live our lives less dependent on oil. These technologies will help us become better stewards of the environment -- and they will help us to confront the serious challenge of global climate change.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Polar Bears Threatened by Global Warming? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: kempthorne_pola CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 12/27/2006 11:00:43 PM ----- BODY:

     The Bush administration is continuing to "look into" the potential problem of global warming, announcing today that polar bears might need to be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act because their habitat is melting away.   

Washington Post:

     "Identifying polar bears as threatened with extinction could have an enormous political and practical impact. As the world's largest bear and as an object of children's affection as well as Christmastime Coca-Cola commercials, the polar bear occupies an important place in the American psyche. Because scientists have concluded that carbon dioxide from power-plant and vehicle emissions is helping drive climate change worldwide, putting polar bears on the endangered species list raises the legal question of whether the government would be required to compel U.S. industries to curb their carbon dioxide output.
     "...The ice in Canada's western Hudson Bay breaks up 2 1/2 weeks earlier than it did 30 years ago, giving polar bears there less time to hunt and build up fat reserves that sustain them for eight months before hunting resumes. As local polar bears have become thinner, female polar bears' reproductive rates and cubs' survival rates have fallen, spurring a 21 percent population drop from 1997 to 2004."

New York Times:

     "...[I]n a conference call with reporters, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said that although his decision to seek protection for polar bears acknowledged the melting of the Arctic ice, his department was not taking a position on why the ice was melting or what to do about it.
     "While the Bush administration 'takes climate change very seriously and recognizes the role of greenhouse gases in climate change,' Mr. Kempthorne said, it was not his department's job to assess causes or prescribe solutions. 'That whole aspect of climate change is beyond the scope of the Endangered Species Act,' he added."

Department of Interior Press Release:

     "'Polar bears are one of nature's ultimate survivors, able to live and thrive in one of the world's harshest environments,' [Secretary of the Interior Dirk]Kempthorne said. 'But we are concerned the polar bears' habitat may literally be melting.'
     "...Scientific observations have revealed a decline in late summer Arctic sea ice to the extent of 7.7 percent per decade and in the perennial sea ice area of 9.8 percent per decade since 1978. Observations have likewise shown a thinning of the Arctic sea ice of 32 percent from the 1960s and 1970s to the 1990s in some local areas.      "There are 19 polar bear populations in the circumpolar Arctic, containing an estimated total of 20,000-25,000 bears. The western Hudson Bay population of polar bears in Canada has suffered a 22 percent decline. Alaska populations have not experienced a statistically significant decline, but Fish and Wildlife Service biologists are concerned that they may face such a decline in the future."

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: S H EMAIL: Ninjaneer43@yahoo.com IP: 70.174.129.94 URL: DATE: 12/28/2006 11:05:09 AM Your presentation of data concerning polar bears is a bit selective. Like any other species, polar bear populations shift as they adapt to changing conditions. The fact that overall average planet temperatures have increased slightly over the last century does not necessarily imply that they have done so uniformly or in ways that are necessarily harmful. That is true in the Arctic where average temperatures have increased in some areas and fallen in others. If one looks objectively at ALL polar bear groups, one sees that populations have actually INCREASED in those areas that have warmed the most and decreased in those areas that have cooled off. For us to be taken seriously, NWF must present the whole picture. It is the rare change indeed in nature that has only negative effects. Most people are smart enough to figure that out--tell the whole story and let the chips fall where they may. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Terry Clausen EMAIL: terry.clausen@att.net IP: 67.101.3.129 URL: DATE: 01/20/2007 01:35:42 PM The company I work for, Crowley Marine Services, conducts operations in Prudoe Bay. A couple of weeks ago, talking to a fellow employee who was assigned that area last October told me that a large number of starving polar bears approached installations in the area in search of food. They were summarily slaughtered. Their claws and teeth were remove for suveniers and for sale. Their mangy hides, presumeable a result of a poor diet, were not used. Is this the best humanity has to offer the starving polar bear? Then shame on the humans. Terry ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Global Warming Cutting Into Bear Naptime STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: global_warming_ CATEGORY: Global Warming DATE: 12/22/2006 06:20:28 PM ----- BODY:

     Apparently global warming hasn't heard the phrase "let sleeping bears lie." Spain's balmy winter is affecting the animals' hibernation cycles:

Climate Change vs Mother Nature:
Scientists reveal that bears have stopped hibernating
By Geneviève Roberts

     Bears have stopped hibernating in the mountains of northern Spain, scientists revealed yesterday, in what may be one of the strongest signals yet of how much climate change is affecting the natural world.
     In a December in which bumblebees, butterflies and even swallows have been on the wing in Britain, European brown bears have been lumbering through the forests of Spain's Cantabrian mountains, when normally they would already be in their long, annual sleep.

Read the rest...

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Businesses Making a Difference for Wildlife STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: businesses_maki CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 12/14/2006 03:09:28 PM ----- BODY:

     Last week, Limited Brands, the parent company of Victoria's Secret, announced that they will stop using paper from endangered Boreal forests and they will also increase the amount of recycled paper used in the 1 million catalogs they mail each day.
     For the wildlife--and especially the migratory songbirds--who call the Boreal Forest home, this is great news. Email Victoria's Secret and thank them for their forest-friendly decision.
     Companies big and small can make a huge difference with the everyday choices they make, from the paper they use to how they conserve energy and reduce their carbon footprint.
     Do you know another business--in the U.S. or in your hometown--that is going a few extra steps to protect wildlife or help the environment? Add their name to the Wildlife Promise "Honor Roll" below by posting a comment.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Amie EMAIL: kasikitisa@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?issueID=112&articleID=1416 DATE: 12/14/2006 03:38:12 PM For those interested in what kinds of things the National Wildlife Federation does, check out this article in the recent issue of National Wildlife magazine about what kind of paper used: http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?issueID=112&articleID=1416 EXCERPT: "Though it may not be apparent, there is something different about [the print edition of] this issue—something that we are especially pleased about. Beginning with this edition, National Wildlife joins NWF’s children's publications in being the first magazines printed on U.S.-produced paper that is processed without chlorine while also made from a combination of recycled content and pulp from woodlands certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)." ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jackie Feinberg EMAIL: feinbergj@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/jackieomdb/ DATE: 12/14/2006 05:05:09 PM REI has made a commitment to make all of its trips carbon neutral! Find out more at http://www.rei.com/adventures/climateneutral.html ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michael Cloud EMAIL: nihil1318@hotmail.com IP: 129.2.84.42 URL: DATE: 12/14/2006 05:33:39 PM South Mountain Creamery, in Middletown, Maryland produces milk products, beef, pork, and lamb from grass-fed animals without the use of hormones or antibiotics. Additionally, they are the only on-the-farm milk-processor in Maryland, and deliver the milk to your home in glass bottles. Plus you can feed the baby cows every day at 4pm if you visit. www.southmountaincreamery.com ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kelley Kramer EMAIL: kelleylou72@gvcad.com IP: 70.110.159.134 URL: DATE: 12/14/2006 06:48:04 PM The day that I stumbled upon the Earth Creations website was a good one for me. It's been a great place for me to find casual, natural, and organic clothing that is reasonably priced! I even purchase their t-shirts to wear while volunteering at enviro festivals. http://www.earthcreations.net/ ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lori EMAIL: ckn3798@hotmail.com IP: 216.37.153.190 URL: http://www.strohlrepair.com DATE: 12/15/2006 09:19:43 AM Strohl Repair in Meshoppen, PA is a farm tractor repair business. We recycle all plastics, ink cartridges from our computer, and properly dispose of all oil and antifreeze. We also planted a couple of flower beds that are thriving with insects, arachnids,and humminbirds. We put out feeders for the birds as well. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rae E. Mock EMAIL: RaeBears@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.204 URL: DATE: 12/15/2006 11:20:28 AM I am greatful that Victoria Secret and other companies are respecting the forest and trying to stop the horrible waste of our natural resources. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: emma halliwell EMAIL: luvofanimals1@yahoo.co.uk IP: 87.201.189.58 URL: http://www.bbcwildlife.co.uk DATE: 12/16/2006 09:34:53 AM The BBC Wildlife magazine is an excellent magazine that is being made every month. What's best about it is that it is printed on FSC. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Victoria Perricone EMAIL: gogreen07@yahoo.com IP: 72.196.228.53 URL: DATE: 03/13/2007 06:34:48 PM Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Company is taking part in the fight to stop global warming. You can check it out on their website. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jackie Feinberg TITLE: It's Forever for the Front! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: its_forever_for CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 12/12/2006 05:10:18 PM ----- BODY:

     Montanans received an early holiday present this year: permanent protection from new oil and gas leases for the Rocky Mountain Front. Many species, including grizzly bears, bighorn sheep and elk call the Front home, and it's a favorite place for hunters, anglers and others who love the outdoors.
     Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) was able to include provisions in the "Tax Extenders" bill to ban any new federal leases and also provide current Front leaseholders with a tax incentive to sell or donate their leases to conservation non-profits or foundations. The bill passed both the House and the Senate in the last hours of the 109th Congress, ending the lame duck session with a victory for wildlife!

Senator Baucus's Press Release:
"The Front is a crowning jewel for Montana and the country," Baucus said. "Some places should be off limits, and the Front is one of them. The Rocky Mountain Front will be protected forever. Our children's children will be able to hunt, fish, hike and camp there--just like we do today. I'm extremely proud."

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: A Supreme Experience--Mass. v EPA STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: a_supreme_exper CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 12/07/2006 07:59:25 PM ----- BODY:

    In the last weeks of November, most twenty something people were camped out in front of electronics stores, braving the cold for the must-have toy of the season.
     Then there are those crazy people like me and my friends, who decide to camp out for the night on a D.C. sidewalk, anxiously awaiting the start of the first ever global warming Supreme Court case, Massachusetts vs. EPA.
     Get our take and let us know your thoughts on the case.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jackie Feinberg TITLE: Arctic Safe and Sound? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: arctic_safe_and CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 11/30/2006 08:12:35 PM ----- BODY:

     It looks like even our favorite Hulk-tie-wearing Senator has acknowledged that opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling will become even more difficult with the newly elected Democratic majority…

ANWR's future is fuzzy in light of new majority
By Sam Bishop, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, November 26, 2006

     A mob of reporters often rushes forward to catch committee leaders before they duck into offices after hearings, and one such scrum, thicker than usual, gathered in front of Sen. Ted Stevens on Nov. 16.
     It was a chance to ask Stevens a few questions for the first time since voters had given a majority to Democrats in both houses of Congress, removing the longtime Alaska senator's party from control next year.
     "Do you think that drilling in ANWR was dealt a death blow by the elections?" a reporter asked.
     "No, well, I think," Stevens said, then chuckled and grinned. "It's not a death blow, it's a question of whether the votes are there. Right now, they're not there."

Full Story...

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Valle Vidal Victory STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: valle_vidal_vic CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 11/19/2006 10:05:00 AM ----- BODY:

     The Valle Vidal, a 101,794-acre area that has been dubbed "New Mexico's Yellowstone," is now off-limits to oil and gas drilling thanks to the U.S. Congress. Big win for wildlife...

Senate OKs Valle Vidal protection
By ANDY LENDERMAN, The New Mexican, November 17, 2006

     Both New Mexico senators threw their weight behind protecting the Valle Vidal from oil and gas drilling Thursday, and it worked.

     The Valle Vidal Protection Act of 2005 -- authored by U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M. -- cleared the Senate floor late Thursday night. U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., announced his decision earlier in the day to support Udall's measure, after months of intense political pressure from all over New Mexico. Hunters, anglers, Republicans, Democrats and environmentalists lobbied Domenici relentlessly to protect the national forest property, famous for its high mountain valleys, rambling forests and elk herds, from development...

Full Story

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Vote "Wild" This Election Day STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: if_bears_could_ CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 10/30/2006 08:41:22 PM ----- BODY:

     If bears could vote, what kind of candidate would they cast their ballots for? This goofy flash video created back in 2000 landed in my inbox the other day to answer just that question.
     But how many people vote for the bears? Do you? Do you even know where your candidates stand on important wildlife issues such as global warming and protecting America's land and water? If you do know, does it affect your vote?
     "Americans care about the environment, but they don't usually vote that way in elections for president or Congress," said a Reuters article published today (Americans favor environment; votes don't show it, 10/30/06).
     In fact, only 3 percent of U.S. voters said the environment was the most important issue to them when casting their ballots in recent elections.
     And where did that get us? To a country where the politicians are too busy opening our public lands to oil drills and rolling back habitat protections to even care about the issue of the century, global warming.
     Will this be the year that changes? If you're voting for wildlife this Election Day, let your friends and neighbors know. Download these free "I'm Voting for..." stickers to wear to the polls. What sticker will you be wearing?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mike W EMAIL: mgwmgw@gmail.com IP: 151.200.159.211 URL: DATE: 11/02/2006 09:22:10 PM I'm voting for a LEGITIMATE effort to protect our nation's last wild places, fight global warming, and stand up for a true conservation ethic. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anne S EMAIL: senft@nwf.org IP: 69.175.241.251 URL: DATE: 11/02/2006 09:26:03 PM I'm voting because wildlife can't. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Debbie R EMAIL: dmmrochel@sbcglobal.net IP: 159.53.78.143 URL: DATE: 11/03/2006 10:23:36 AM I'm voting to encourage politics to fight as hard for environmental rights as for personal liberties. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathi H EMAIL: hess.152@osu.edu IP: 128.146.98.231 URL: DATE: 11/03/2006 10:36:02 AM I'm voting to eject everyone who is doing his/her damnedest to destroy whatI care about in environmental, social issues, etc. Since I'm working the polls, I can't wear stickers but my heart is there. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Betty W EMAIL: bettyluvsinsects@yahoo.com IP: 134.124.96.142 URL: DATE: 11/03/2006 10:39:30 AM I'm voting to protect the human species from extinction! Think about it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barb Gibson EMAIL: barbieannauer@yahoo.com IP: 152.131.11.16 URL: DATE: 11/03/2006 11:26:32 AM I am voting for wildlife, and with a concern about global warming. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Stephen Gionta EMAIL: swgunta@aol.com IP: 68.83.138.244 URL: DATE: 11/03/2006 07:23:50 PM I'm voting for those candidates wise enough to recognize the threat of global warming to all wildlife...including us. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kelly EMAIL: tvisit@excite.com IP: 148.63.221.179 URL: DATE: 11/03/2006 09:08:43 PM I'm voting to protect those who cannot vote. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Wood Duck EMAIL: kjcleary@hotmail.com IP: 12.215.122.76 URL: DATE: 11/03/2006 09:10:54 PM I am voting for the green canidate in Illinois and also to take the house away from George Bush. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Steve Olson EMAIL: Olson@btinternet.com IP: 81.154.93.192 URL: DATE: 11/04/2006 12:51:03 AM I'm voting to eject the oil gangsters from office so that we can finally make progress in terms of the environment, climate change *and* peace. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Karen Martin EMAIL: kcmartin@dnet.net IP: 65.210.101.11 URL: DATE: 11/04/2006 07:29:58 AM I'm voting for the children and grand children that they may drink clear water smell fresh air and to see a polar bear in its natural inviroment and know we did something about it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ila Vazquez EMAIL: MORNINGTHUNDEDR7@HOTMAIL.COM IP: 70.134.80.108 URL: DATE: 11/05/2006 11:22:07 AM I'm voting in favor of critters & their habitats, & for alternative & cheaper energy sources. Cleaner energy will make life on this planet better for animal & humans. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Wendell EMAIL: wzetterberg@hotmail.com IP: 12.74.68.136 URL: http://wendellsfrogblog.tripod.com DATE: 11/06/2006 08:16:10 PM I'm voting to make the our environment better for all living species, from the frogs effected by global warming and pesticides among so many other factors, to the children playing in the same streams and ponds those frogs are found. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jackie Feinberg TITLE: Let's Move "Beyond Petroleum" Already! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: lets_move_beyon CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 09/13/2006 10:32:15 AM ----- BODY:

     After sitting through Tuesday's Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on BP's recent pipeline failure up in Prudhoe Bay, I was left wondering if anything would ever change.
     Sure, even the pro-drilling senators were up in (BP Execs) Bob Malone and Steve Marshall's faces about their company's inability to properly maintain the pipeline infrastructure to prevent corrosion--a feat accomplished while BP raked in billions in profits.
     However, instead of seeing Prudhoe Bay's largest oil spill ever and the shutdown of half the oil field in August as a wake-up call to begin weaning the country off of oil, senators berated the BP execs because…
     "We won't get the votes we had already on ANWR, not to mention moving ahead," -- Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.).
     "You have completely set back any hope we had to get that bill [drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge] passed in the Congress of the United States, I hope you know that" -- Sen. Jim Bunning, (R-Ky.).
     Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) even spent almost her entire opening statement pushing for more drilling in warmer areas such as her home state of Louisiana.
     These senators seem to think that the Prudhoe Bay pipeline failure is an anomaly, and that the failure to act in a responsible manner is exclusive to BP. But oil spills are not exactly uncommon--about 1.7 million gallons are spilled into U.S. waters each year (this doesn't count onshore spills).
     We know we can't rely on oil companies to put the environment at the top of their list of priorities. So why can't our legislators realize that the time has come to focus on new energy sources?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Jackie Feinberg TITLE: Will U.S. Run Amuck on Teshekpuk? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: will_us_run_amu CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 08/25/2006 10:40:04 AM ----- BODY:

     Even after all the troubles with the BP pipeline in Alaska this past month, the Bush administration is not slowing down its drill, drill, drill mentality when it comes to the Arctic's wild lands.
      Up next on the chopping block? Teshekpuk Lake, home to at least 45,000 caribou and countless species of migratory birds. Starting Sept. 27, the Bureau of Land Management is planning on leasing out land surrounding the Arctic's largest lake for oil and gas development.
     The area, which is part of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), consists of 400,000 acres of coastal lagoons, wet sedge grass meadows and river deltas. It was protected as the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area in 1977--meaning that it would be safe from any future development.
      This all changed when the Bush administration--our favorite friend to the environment--decided it was time to remove all those pesky protections.
     Even after 80 senators and representatives pled to delay the lease sales of "T-Lake" (as it is commonly called), the Administration is still forging ahead with its plans to destroy one of Alaska's most diverse wild lands, not to mention a culturally important area for the native peoples of the region.
     Put a stop to these lease sales. Urge Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne and J.J. Mulva of ConocoPhillips that T-Lake is too special a place to lease for drilling!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson EMAIL: kjohnson@nwf.org IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2006-09-08T051146Z_01_N07318036_RTRIDST_0_SCIENCE-ENVIRONMENT-ALASKA-LEASE-DC.XML DATE: 09/08/2006 05:42:52 PM Update: The lease sale on T-Lake is on temporary hold thanks to a judge who said today, "Hey, wait a minute. You want to drill where?" to the Bush Administration. Check out more: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/sep2006/2006-09-08-01.asp ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Grassroots or Astroturf? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: grassroots_or_a CATEGORY: The Push for Drilling DATE: 08/07/2006 03:23:20 PM ----- BODY:

     Warning. A public relations firm hired four months ago by the Alaska State Legislature--see story here--could be coming soon to a media outlet near you.
     Pac/West Communications set up a smoke-and-mirrors group called "Americans for American Energy." Already, this "grass roots" group (which is actually just one person) has begun a campaign to convince Americans that drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the solution to high gas prices.
     "We must support ANWR legislation before there is another energy crisis" is their tag line. They then urge Americans to call their senators so that "America can solve its own energy problems."
     These ads have already begun popping up in North Dakota, Montana, Arkansas and Nebraska.
     The person behind the campaign is Jim Sims, who recently led the Save Our Species Alliance, the last Pac/West "grass roots" group (or astroturf group if you like) that was created to convince the public to change the Endangered Species Act to favor the rights of private property owners.
     Sims' op-eds and Americans for American Energy media are being used to convince YOU that drilling in the Arctic Refuge is the way to solve America's energy problems.
      If you see an ad paid for by "Americans for American Energy" in your state, let us know! Post a comment on this blog.
     And call or email your senators and your representative to tell them that investing in alternative and renewable energy is the real solution to America's energy problems, NOT drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as Pac/West would like America to believe.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carolyn Moon EMAIL: carolynmoon@juno.com IP: 24.155.26.30 URL: DATE: 08/11/2006 08:21:14 AM This is the second group I have heard from today that uses "Astroturf" to name a fake grassroots organization. I believe that will be one of the most effective ways to combat them. Label. I believe that BP will have done us all a favor with its sloppy practices. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: john senger EMAIL: jes@aimcomm.net IP: 65.61.101.11 URL: DATE: 08/13/2006 04:49:24 AM how long will it take the american public- who keep buying gas guzzling rvs- and politicians to realize that oil is not the answer for our future? until the alternative power source people can subsidize their campaigns? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Senate Passes Offshore Drilling Bill STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: senate_passes_o CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 08/07/2006 03:21:41 PM ----- BODY:

     Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) must be holding his breath right now. He recently broke ranks and voted for a bill to open up 8.3 million acres in Florida's side of the Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling.
     He agreed to the legislation only after he got assurances that a "zone of protection" would be put in place against drilling within 125-300 miles from parts of Florida's coast. Whether or not this agreement survives being conferenced with the House offshore drilling bill--legislation that calls for drilling within three miles of the Sunshine State's famous coastline--is another question.
     As someone who until a year and a half ago was Sen. Nelson's constituent, I can say I'm not too happy with this election-year decision, and the Floridians I talk to aren't either. It's even more depressing for me because I've seen what happens to Senate and House bills when they reach the conference committee, currently chaired by Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) and Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.).

From the Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial page:

"If Congress were as adept at energy policy as election politics, Americans would be driving vehicles that average 40 mpg, saving as much oil per year as we currently import from the Persian Gulf, and Florida's tourist-friendly coastline wouldn't be facing threats of near-shore oil and gas drilling," (The drilling yarn: More gas about the Gulf than in it, 8/4/06).

     So I hope your plan works out, Sen. Nelson. I know compromises are necessary in your line of work. I just wish those compromises weren't at the expense of Florida's waters.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robert J. Devaney EMAIL: rdev104958@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.11 URL: DATE: 08/10/2006 08:57:21 PM Sen.Bill Nelson you have lost my vote. I'm disapointed in your voting for oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico. Robert Devaney ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marilyn Larkin EMAIL: Haimikins@aol.com IP: 205.188.117.11 URL: DATE: 08/11/2006 11:18:26 AM You will not get my vote or any of my friends votes ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathy Lee EMAIL: kathylee1962@msn.com IP: 63.161.12.129 URL: DATE: 08/11/2006 04:24:00 PM Shame on you (with no votes coming in soon to be ex?) Senator Bill Nelson!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Charity Blakely EMAIL: the_queen_bee33559@yahoo.com IP: 71.100.110.240 URL: DATE: 09/18/2006 10:10:02 PM Don't be so quick to condemn Senator Bill Nelson!! If you vote against him, you are going to get "Senator Katherine Harris," the crazy bitch that put the terrorist, George W. Bush, into the oval office, even though he did NOT win Florida in 2000. Look how well THAT turned out. Senator Nelson did what he had to do. Since the large oil reserves were found in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico from the supersonic exploratory drilling machine, Florida has experienced an earthquake in a place of the Gulf where there are no tectonic plates. Floridians are beginning to come out of their friggin' comas to realize that oil spills/loss of tourism are not the ONLY thing off-shore drilling is going to cost them. So, Robert, Marilyn and Kathy, unless you WANT the Sarasota mental case, K. Harris, representing Florida in the Senate, I suggest you hold your nose and vote for Bill Nelson. Not voting at all or for a 3rd party is the same as a vote for Harris. God forbid that backward bitch gets the Senate seat. This country is going backward & downhill faster than a ride at Disney World. Don't help push it along by putting Harris into the Senate. She is PSYCHO! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Energy Freedom, Strings Attached STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: energy_freedom_ CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 08/06/2006 03:07:42 PM ----- BODY:

     Ahhhhh, what's an energy bill without a good name? The "American-Made Energy Freedom Act" was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.).
     It's purpose? "To establish the American-Made Energy Trust Fund, to increase the tax credits for cellulosic biomass ethanol, to extend tax incentives for solar and fuel cell property, to promote coal-to-liquid fuel activities..." and oh yeah, "to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish and implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program for the Coastal Plain of Alaska..."
     The bill estimates that drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would generate $3 billion in leasing revenue and $36 billion in royalty revenue over 30 years. A bit of "Oily Math" if you ask me.
     The money would fund tax credits for emerging renewable energy development and a clean and advanced energy loan guarantee program.
     Somewhat like the time last December when Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) decided to try to open the refuge by earmarking revenues to pay for disaster relief and border security.

From the Sacramento Bee:

"By devoting ANWR revenues to alternative energy programs including solar and ethanol, the lawmakers hope they have come upon the right Capitol Hill combination," ("Latest deal would link drilling for Arctic oil to solar, ethanol," by Michael Doyle, 7/26/06).

     Is it the right combination? Is funding renewable energy worth opening America's Arctic Refuge? Think not? Email your representatives and tell them to just say no to this and any Arctic drilling legislation.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robert EMAIL: arbt5h@netscape.net IP: 198.150.96.50 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/RobertHiekk/ DATE: 08/10/2006 09:12:56 PM Help SAVE the ANWR - Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. STOP any corrupt opening in America's Artic Refudge. Small chance of recieving any leasing revenue and royalty revenue in the USA due to the increase of inflation and world oil consumption. Aside from the fact that the oil will take 10 years to bring to market and will only satisfy the US's demand for oil for ONE year. More shocking than this is the fact that there is nothing in the current ENERGY Bill to reduce oil consumption. Bring Energy Freedom to the USA. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: The New Drilling Battle STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: yesterdays_wash CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 06/16/2006 10:23:34 AM ----- BODY:

     Yesterday's Washington Post took an in-depth look at how high energy prices are triggering talk of drilling off the coast of Florida. Again.

The New Drilling Battle
High Energy Prices Spur Fresh Debate on Offshore Moratorium

By Steven Mufson, Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 15, 2006

     More than a mile beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico lies a tract of sea floor that is bigger than New Jersey and that oil and gas companies believe holds a trove of natural gas and a measure of salvation for corporate and residential consumers.

     But the area, three-quarters of which is closed to development, also lies at the center of a fight in Congress over the future of offshore drilling, with billions of dollars at stake...

Read the full story.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jbruno EMAIL: thevoltagegate@gmail.com IP: 69.175.33.139 URL: http://thevoltagegate.blogspot.com DATE: 06/17/2006 05:07:32 PM Good Lord, we're the "environmental Taliban" now? The smear campaign on environmentalism just seems to escalate every day. It's good, however, to see Republicans recognizing the value of eco-tourism though. That needs to be emphasized state by state. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carmen Blakely EMAIL: carmen_sb@msn.com IP: 71.100.26.44 URL: DATE: 06/20/2006 01:31:30 PM Not all Republicans are short-sighted and ignorant. There is a website: www.rep.org that is Republicans FOR Environmental Protection. I am a supporting member. We give our donations to Republicans who believe as we do and who are not tied down to the Bush Administration and its greed. This organization helps me hold my head up and say, yes, I AM a Republican, but the Bush/Cheney regime has hi-jacked our party for the regime's personal nasty purposes. My greatest fear is that Cheney the Dick will run for President in 2008. If he won, I would probably lay down and die, because I could not otherwise exist in this country with Cheney as president. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: The "Inconvenient Truth" Comes Out STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: the_inconvenien CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 05/24/2006 03:32:18 PM ----- BODY:

     Forget X-Men: The Last Stand and Superman Returns. For me, the must-see movie of the summer is An Inconvenient Truth, opening in select theaters today and across the country in the coming weeks. The eye-opening film is a movie-fied version of Al Gore's slide show presentation about global warming.
     How are oil-industry-funded skeptics handling the release of this major motion picture? Yesterday on FoxNews Dayside, Sterling Burnett of the National Center for Policy Analysis decided to compare the movie to Nazi propaganda.

"You don't go see Joseph Goebbels films to see the truth about Nazi Germany. You don't go see Al Gore films to see the truth about global warming."

     Jeremy Symons, NWF's Global Warming Campaign Director--the pro to Burnett's con on the show--was able to slip in a final thought as the segment faded off into commercial:

"Sterling is an odd one to be casting aspersions on what Al Gore's motives are, after all the oil industry has been giving him hundreds of thousands of dollars to his organization, just like tobacco companies used to do to try undercut..."

     In my observations, An Inconvenient Truth has definitely been increasing the global warming chatter across our country. Am I right? Are we finally reaching a tipping point when it comes to not only knowing there is a problem but also stepping up and doing something about it? I and my potential future children certainly hope so.
      Check out when An Inconvenient Truth is coming to your town. Oh, and from what I hear, the better a movie does opening weekend, the more theaters pick it up and keep it longer, so please go early and take a friend.
      Once you see it, stop back in and post a review.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: TDB EMAIL: doftheb@hotmail.com IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 05/24/2006 04:50:40 PM My favorite responses to Gore's movie are the new TV ads from the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a group that gets funding from ExxonMobil. Their tagline of "They call it pollution, we call it life" sounds like it's straight out of an SNL skit: http://streams.cei.org ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ann Heilman EMAIL: ahbh@paonline.com IP: 216.220.169.201 URL: DATE: 05/25/2006 07:34:10 PM We're lucky because the film will open in our small independent cinema on June 30 and we will be there on opening night. Thank you, Al Gore. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gayle Carey EMAIL: EarthLoveNews@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.11 URL: DATE: 05/25/2006 11:56:42 PM I've waited 30 years for somebody to "get" global warming. I kept wondering all those years working within the environmental movement and living as eco-friendly as possible what the hell was wrong with people that they would not see the forest for the trees. You see, Al Gore lost the presidency because God or fate called him to a higher calling. To save the planet. Now that's worth losing a botched election and a recount IMHO. Thanks Al. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Davis Childers EMAIL: wangotango@seeu.net IP: 72.242.41.213 URL: DATE: 05/26/2006 12:13:10 AM This movie is a bunch of political propaganda bs, global warming is a myth created by socialists who don't want to see progression. Bt the way, loser Al lost the election fair and square. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeff Snipes EMAIL: jeffsnipes123@yahoo.com IP: 66.147.45.186 URL: http://www.galacticshaman.com DATE: 05/26/2006 09:45:02 AM Al Gore has found a way to demonstrate the great leadership that will gain respect for the United States around the globe as our true national leader and his movie might just save the life of Planet Earth as we know it today. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patricia Fogg EMAIL: pfogg10075@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.11 URL: DATE: 05/26/2006 11:51:59 AM The President we should have had. Just imagine what would have been. Thank you, President Gore ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dayvee EMAIL: ecyrom47@aol.com IP: 74.225.99.215 URL: DATE: 05/27/2006 12:25:50 PM I am anxiously awaiting Al Gore movie I am thrilled he made it and I hope the majority of the people of this world view it! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sheila Jackson EMAIL: SCDEM@charter.net IP: 66.191.204.2 URL: DATE: 05/28/2006 10:04:36 PM I would go if ALL the showings were not on Friday. I have to work late on Friday. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Ann Fiore EMAIL: fiore9ball@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.11 URL: DATE: 05/29/2006 08:39:34 AM Thank you President Gore! Perfectly done. Is there a way to get this into High Schools? It is so scarry, but you even gave us a way out. It's not too late if we hurry. Great movie. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gore Stinks EMAIL: usfalum1@yahoo.com IP: 67.78.209.26 URL: DATE: 06/01/2006 01:25:29 PM You could not pay me to see this movie. If cry-baby Gore is involved count me out....no matter how relevant the subject, that jerk can't say anything worth listening to. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Armida S. Thomson EMAIL: gonzoid@earthlink.net IP: 4.232.69.44 URL: DATE: 06/02/2006 06:25:48 PM We are guardians of Mother Earth and it is our responsibility to fix this mess. This very important film deserves a wide audience. Good for Al Gore in not just taking his slide show around the world, but letting a fine director put it on the big screen. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jbruno EMAIL: thevoltagegate@gmail.com IP: 69.175.33.139 URL: http://thevoltagegate.blogspot.com DATE: 06/02/2006 06:41:25 PM Sadly, the movie is not going to be released in my area, but I did the next best thing: I got the book. It's done well, plenty of nice pictures, but not a total replacement for the movie, I'm sure. I'll have to drive to Baltimore, I guess. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: NAUgrad EMAIL: nau81alum@yahoo.com IP: 68.127.176.2 URL: DATE: 06/04/2006 11:05:42 AM A well done movie. Although global warming is the key topic, other concerns are brought up in the movie. We've all seen fish tanks that get really dirty, and the fish don't live too long. Earth is a closed environment, just like a fish tank. Overstressing our closed environment with increasing population and waste, and overusing the finite existing resources will lead to the same result for the human population if we do not choose to conserve what we can, reduce our usage and clean up our emissions. To me this is common sense. Why would anyone refuse to operate in a clean and more efficient fashion? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barbara Regan EMAIL: bregan@alamedanet.net IP: 67.134.4.226 URL: DATE: 06/26/2006 06:45:49 PM Three of us saw "An Inconvenient Truth" the week after it opened. I am happy to say that it is still showing at The Piedmont Theatre in Oakland, CA. We were very impressed with the presentation, the actual statistics, and the actual film footage. As parents, a grandparent, an uncle, and two aunts we are very troubled for what we are bequeathing not only the human children of the world but the animal kingdom as well. We are all interconnected and need one another. Set aside your politics and go see this movie! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Engel EMAIL: bbiengel@charter.net IP: 71.13.216.150 URL: DATE: 06/26/2006 07:18:37 PM Interesting journey of Al Gore and a clear presentation. If the magnitude of his message is not felt, we are doomed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David Enevoldsen EMAIL: david.enevoldsen@kla-tencor.com IP: 192.146.1.16 URL: DATE: 06/26/2006 07:37:20 PM It's going to be really interesting to see what the ostrich community (heads in the sand) of oil, coal, and all other polluting conglomerates as well as the brainwashed masses will be offering up as excuses when the Greenland and/or Antarctic ice caps break off and raise ocean levels as much as 40 feet worldwide. I can't recommend this movie enough...it is the single most important film you will ever watch. Frightening of course, but it seems that the only cathartic which motivates the masses is a sense of great and impending peril. Well folks, that great peril is now upon us and we can either pull our heads out of the sand and do something about it, or else just wait until we are either under water or under a mile of ice. Incredible to think we have come to the edge of this very tall cliff. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patricia Gonzales EMAIL: patlea@socal.rr.com IP: 67.49.113.159 URL: DATE: 06/26/2006 08:02:48 PM I am excited that people and the press our now discussing global worming. All thanks to Mr. Gore. I am not excited about some of the negative comments, and closed political minds. I guess it is still true you can lead the horse to the water but you can't make him drink. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bonnie Aller EMAIL: waldkauzpirol@ecologyfund.net IP: 169.207.117.96 URL: DATE: 06/26/2006 08:15:32 PM I saw it last Wednesday. I had seen Al Gore's slide show on Link TV, but still it was interesting to get his inner feelings on the issue and his history and you can feel and see the passion and love for this Country. It was super!!!! I hope people go see it and I hope people support LinkTV that does environmental programming on global warming and ANWR and the Coral Reefs and how islands in the Pacific are flooding because of global warming. It is scary what Al Gore tells us only because it's true and we have to do something or all the other issues won't matter. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: George Leon EMAIL: George_H_Leon@Yahoo.com IP: 69.141.211.4 URL: DATE: 06/26/2006 08:18:37 PM Perhaps the most disturbing disclosure of the film, aside from the overwhelming evidence that our planet is in deep trouble, is that we have been systematically lied to about it over the years by our political leaders and the press. Gore points out that despite a clear consensus in the scientific community about global warming, as documented by a survey of nearly 1,000 related articles, a similar sampling of media articles is characterized by ambivalence. But if the press is not relying on science, then what is its source? Obviously, those with money, power and a vested interest in the status quo. (That's my conclusion, not Gore's explicitly). So to save ourselves and future generations, we are tasked not only to take back the planet, but the truth as well. For who knows what else we are being lied to about? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kristin EMAIL: kak13pie@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.11 URL: DATE: 06/26/2006 10:15:04 PM I thought it was provocative, informative, and great. I think everyone, no matter who you are, should see this so you know would could potentially happen. It is great information for everyone to know. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mike Jorgensenski EMAIL: nsjskd@aol.com IP: 67.10.168.145 URL: DATE: 06/26/2006 11:11:49 PM I found it to be very disturbing as a scientist who has studied this subject for 35+ years, it is loaded with misleading statements, falsehoods and outright lies. If you are a liberal nutcase, see it, but if you want reality or scientific facts, google ii. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dianne E Miller EMAIL: dianmiller1@comcast.net IP: 24.19.180.170 URL: DATE: 06/27/2006 04:24:04 AM My husband and I were pleasantly surprised to find this movie in a local theatre its opening weekend and so we went to see it after hearing all the press. It was a balanced presentation, in fact there was little there that I had not heard before. It was also very professionally done and not anywhere near as "political" as it could have been--if anything it was a restrained and rational presentation and not at all strident, unlike some things I have seen and read put out by the opposition. Well done Mr Gore! Where would we be now if you were in the White House? I am certain it would not be where we ARE! Thank you for having the commitment and courage to produce this movie. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathi Hess EMAIL: hess.152@osu.edu IP: 128.146.98.231 URL: DATE: 06/27/2006 08:51:54 AM We saw it opening day in Columbus, Ohio. It is insightful, thought-provoking, scientifically substantiated and funny. Unfortunately, anyone who goes in with a mind set that it is a lot of hocus pocus has already ignored all the convincing arguments. I'm afraid Mr. Gore is singing to the choir, but if a small percentage of people are encouraged to change their minds, it is worth it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Beth EMAIL: omara48@msn.com IP: 207.242.242.2 URL: DATE: 06/27/2006 10:19:13 AM The day after seeing this movie, I sent a mass email to friends and associates in my office about it. It generated two things - replys saying this is a myth, and a suggestion that the office stop using styrofoam cups! In my email I wrote that I was very impressed by the facts presented, and that the movie was very informative and very well done. I have replied to the responses that felt this was a myth, and have managed to plant at least a seed of doubt to the naysayers. I think everyone who has seen this should pass the message on. Its the least we can do to open more eyes. I'm sure a large number of the population recalls the gas crisis of the 70's - and the reslove to manufacture more gas economical autos, and cars with higher pollution fighting devices. It seems to me a small effort was made, and then vanished. We have more gas eaters today than before. A wake up call is greatly needed. I think Al Gore did a great job. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joanna Challacombe EMAIL: jchallacombe2002@yahoo.com IP: 71.201.79.67 URL: DATE: 06/27/2006 11:02:43 AM An Inconvenient Truth was truly moving. I was dismayed, awed, saddened, inspired and most of this wasn't even new to me. It was encouraging to hear the gasps in the audience when certain facts came to light - like the lost snows on Kilimanjaro - because I have often wondered why there is such a clanging silence on this issue or if there are other average citizens who care about it. Everyone in the U.S. - everone living on the earth - should see this movie and pledge to change their lives and become active. I can't live another minute with the thought that magnificent Polar Bears are drowning because of human hubris and avarice. One last thought - I left the movie feeling very sad that this wonderful, moral, thoughtful, intelligent, principled man is not our president. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dr. J EMAIL: dashf@msn.com IP: 67.10.168.145 URL: DATE: 06/27/2006 01:00:35 PM I saw this movie and almost laughed my head off. As a paleo-climatologist Gore's arguments and "data" are nothing but misleading, one sided garbage cloaked in scientific sounding terms and glitzy slides. The whole movie is about Al Gore, he still wants to be Prez but is a laughing stock even within his own party. His hamhanded handling of Kyoto to begin with doomed it to a 95-0 defeat in the Senate, and it is still DOA thnaks to Gore's unscientific and arrogant approach, not allowing any opposing voices to reason with him. If you like junk movies, see this one, it is incredible on the junk scale. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Diana Smith EMAIL: monet7936@hotmail.com IP: 128.95.248.67 URL: DATE: 06/27/2006 01:24:02 PM This movie should be required viewing for all Americans, especially for our politicians! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Angel EMAIL: ahiggs@zeiss.com IP: 165.254.60.226 URL: DATE: 06/27/2006 01:54:53 PM Thanks to the movie, I see, many more people understand the issue and talk intelligently about Global Warming. Why do you people, that don't believe in Global Warming think, that the whole world is wrong and only you are right? Al Gore puts his name to this cause and I want to express my appreciation to him! Mr. Gore, America and the World are counting on you! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lisette EMAIL: lisetteare@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.11 URL: DATE: 06/27/2006 02:48:47 PM I was so happy to see a nearly filled theatre when I watched this movie. I thought the film had an effective balance of logos and pathos. There was plenty of throughly explained scientific evidence along with compelling anectdotes. I have definitely been more aware of my car usage after the movie. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jimmy Hanson EMAIL: ajamdhnans@nasa.gov IP: 67.10.168.145 URL: DATE: 06/27/2006 03:48:43 PM This movie is so full of hyperbole, paranoia, and inaccurate science it's hard to tell where to start. As a scientist fully educated in the subject, I found it lacking in facts and way too long on political views. It said, for instance, that a 20 foot rise in sea level is a probable near term outcome of global warming, when most scientist think it is a few inches, did he make a mistake or was he intentionally lying? This film is not scientific by any stretch of the imagination, he gets so many things wrong, and leaves out any of the opposing viewpoints and scientific data by reputeable scientists, it is little more than a political sales job. Would you buy a used car from this man? He also offers no solutions or ideas, skip the movie and go to MoveOn.org if you want this kind of tripe. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robert Larson EMAIL: woodturner25@bigfoot.com IP: 71.96.78.75 URL: DATE: 06/27/2006 05:55:25 PM A great movie. Al Gore does a great job presenting scientific data supporting global warming. I am also impressed that his family stopped growing tobacco on their Kentucky farms. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Linda Allen EMAIL: lallen@lonmorris.edu IP: 70.173.165.239 URL: DATE: 06/27/2006 08:02:20 PM We live in conservative East Texas, and saw AIT on a recent visit to Houston. As an involved teacher/biologist, it was the best lecture I have ever seen on scientific material. Mr. Gore explained complicated data and theory so that my accountant sister-in-law understood. Even my conservative relatives are now using florescent bulbs. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jerry Wilson EMAIL: loje_wi@yahoo.com IP: 68.162.177.135 URL: DATE: 06/27/2006 08:14:51 PM This movie is truly great!! It should be required viewing for all the politicians in Washington! Of course there will be a certain percentage of idiots who will ridicule Al Gore, saying that this is just a huge hoax perpetrated on the American people. But then these are the same assholes who buy everying hook, line and sinker that comes out of W's mouth! I guess it will take the Greenland glacier falling on some of these clowns to wake them up!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dr. Bobby Cordell EMAIL: sdfnfnsa@duke.edu IP: 67.10.168.145 URL: DATE: 06/28/2006 02:09:12 PM If you got something out of the childish, unscientific explanations by Gore, you must only have an elementary school education. Please, this movie is so fatally flawed scientifically, it is laughable. He oversimplified any real causal link between CO2 and warming, since we know temps have been all over the map up and down the last 150 years, and like a roller coaster over the last 1500, while CO2 has been flat or a straight line increase, unrelated obviously. And when Gore looked appauled at how people's standards of living have shot up, along with population, what does he want? depopulation? How cynical and judgemental of him to want the third world to shrink in population. But if you like politics, this is your kind of movie, even Michael Moore couldn't have made one more partisan and slanted. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol Miller EMAIL: millercl@earthlink.net IP: 69.19.14.32 URL: DATE: 06/29/2006 09:04:57 AM Gore has explained the impact of global warming for all to understand, even George W. Bush if he would only listen. I have heard many interviews with scientists on TV in recent months and always wonder why they are so incapable of explaining the ramifications of global warming. They come across as timid and uncertain which just feeds into the Republican campaign to discredit their global warming research. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Adam Lashinskiov EMAIL: asjffaj@fortune.com IP: 67.10.168.145 URL: DATE: 06/29/2006 09:52:48 AM I have to agree with the many scientists who have problems with Gore's vapid tale. It is a political diatribe meant to shock, anger and enrage, not educate. The science he presents is one sided and biased, a group of geoscience grad students watching the film next to me were laughing and chuckling the whole time, I asked them why and they said Gore was so off base on the science it turned out to be a comedy to them. But for it's showcasing of Gore, playing a professor, it was a good acting job, if you didn't know any professors except the ones on TV. His political stock has risen, and you silly folks who paid for a ticket are bankrolling it, perhaps you should just send a donation to his re-election fund, it is more effective. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michael EMAIL: asfsjkj@yahoo.com IP: 67.10.168.145 URL: DATE: 06/29/2006 11:14:12 AM I love animals and have always been a strong supporter of NWF (financially and personally), but I am afraid I can't endorse this movie. It seems a political film, like Michael Moore's are, and Mr. Gore, though sincere perhaps, is just not a qualified scientist to discuss these things, I also think the producer, Laurie David is very politically active and partisan, so the objectivity of the whole thing bothers me. I feel like NFW has been sucked into a political vacuum here, and I will not follow, I do hope that the NWF management rethinks being linked to things like this and gets back to the good work of actually helping wildlife directly. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Susie Kroski EMAIL: susuie@aol.com IP: 67.10.168.145 URL: DATE: 06/30/2006 12:08:34 PM I have seen this film and was disappointed, Mr. Gore is just over the top in preaching about stuff he is not educated in, my friends are scientists and they said it was embarrassing to watch him twist and disort his cherry picked half truths to make political points, I had to agree. NWF should get back to basics of animal protection rather than spending precious money (ours) and time on political agendas that are so unscientific. I shall reconsider my membership if this sort of thing continues. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeanine Montgomery EMAIL: jcandcompany@yahoo.com IP: 207.192.230.200 URL: DATE: 06/30/2006 12:36:06 PM An excellent informative documentary. I have been concerned with global warming and knew about it but this film shocked me with impacts I wasn't aware of. I never thought an environmental documentary would bring me to tears, but "An inconvenient Truth" did. Very impacting, a must see. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cheryl Evezichov EMAIL: cherwewr@msn.com IP: 67.10.168.145 URL: DATE: 07/01/2006 04:56:31 PM A very ludicrous and patently wrong presentation of the state of science in the debate over anthropogenic global warming. Many environmental engineering textbooks show that only about 5% of the recent warming is due to human CO2, but this hyperbolic and misleading film claims all of it is. This is just wrong and unscientific, but since it is really a movie about electing Al Gore to Prez in 2008, I guess those who agree will like it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kim Gill EMAIL: kimiekgill@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.11 URL: DATE: 07/02/2006 09:34:02 PM Any one of you simpletons out there debunking the movie being bankrolled by Exxon or it's lobbyists in Washington? Maybe you stinkers and other naysayers really are the lobbyists. At least have the decency to reveal your true identities and political allegiances. As for the movie it speaks for itself. The truth shall set you free--to act in an environmentally responsible way, at last. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robby Demsharski EMAIL: asdsaj@msn.net IP: 67.10.168.145 URL: DATE: 07/11/2006 07:16:43 PM Ms. Gill, perhaps you should reveal your political alligences, I think they speak for themselves though. only the most partisan and simple people would believe Gore and his henchmen from Hollywood, this movie is a joke, a political joke, and scientists like myself who know the facts are the ones laughing loudest. Please people, the NWF does good work, but they are totally out of their league supporting this junk science of Gore, have some respect for science and read about it someplace other than Gore's movie. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: George Hansen EMAIL: 1awsaz@msn.com IP: 67.10.168.145 URL: DATE: 07/21/2006 09:18:17 PM I agree Robby, this movie is over the top in exaggeration and ridiculous narrative by a political hack who is degarding what we NWF members are paying for, please NWF doe something worthwhile with our money and reject the extremist Gore and his political scientists. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marcia Howe EMAIL: mrhow@chartermi.net IP: 24.236.146.249 URL: DATE: 07/22/2006 03:41:23 PM I made sure the manager at our theater knew how much it was appreciated that this "small budget" film was made available to this area. There are angels among us... with cautionary tales. Pay attention. Thank-you, Al Gore. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dawn Taylor EMAIL: taylorjd@preferred.com IP: 71.52.249.206 URL: DATE: 07/26/2006 09:19:56 PM I contacted local theaters around our small town and was surprised and excited when the news came to me that, "Yes, we have An Inconvenient Truth." What a remarkable film! What a remarkable steward of the earth Albert Gore, Jr. is! What a grand president he would have made and would still make. Thank you, Mr. Gore. We salute you! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rebby Demshar EMAIL: sadsalkj@msn.com IP: 67.10.168.145 URL: DATE: 08/10/2006 08:50:05 PM I found this film so slanted and biased it was a joke. How can a respectable organizatioon like NWF support such junk? All my science grad students friends holwed through the whole thing, he distorts and lies at every turn, how could a fool like this have ever run for president, even the USA Today knows his number; http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-08-09-gore-green_x.htm Read if you want to know the truth about Gore. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sean Dano EMAIL: asdsq@csu.edu IP: 67.10.168.145 URL: DATE: 08/12/2006 12:33:34 PM True, this is a politically biased movie only the most extreme left wingnuts would believe, since they are genetically and socially wired to do. But all should see it if you want a good science laugh, his gross exaggerations and sighs are a hoot. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: B100 EMAIL: soy@bean.org IP: 131.225.176.69 URL: http://www.biodiesel.com DATE: 08/14/2006 02:29:43 PM Has anyone seen "Who Killed the Electric Car" ? We need forward thinking people to make a difference. You might not believe the global warming arguments, but peak oil (declining pumping capacity) is no myth. Lifestyles will be changing, whether we like it or not, whether we care to do something or not. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dee Cee EMAIL: dc@hotmail.com IP: 69.7.33.77 URL: DATE: 08/20/2006 07:42:03 PM I saw "An Inconvenient Truth” at the historic Lincoln Theater in Mount Vernon, WA. Following the showing a panel of scientists and grad students from the University of Washington presented their takes on the subject of global warming and answered questions. One of the reviews on this site compared the legitimacy of Gore’s documentary on global warming to Joseph Goebbels’ films about Nazi Germany. The panel of scientists dispelled any doubts I might have had about the legitimacy and causes of global warming. While global warming is a complicated subject there are simple things we can do to help and I was moved enough by the film to actually make some changes. I also would like to reiterate Roger Ebert’s review, “You owe it to yourself to see this film. If you do not, and you have grandchildren, you should explain to them why you decided not to." Mr. Ebert is my personal film guru and I hope he will be guiding my movie viewing for many years to come. On an unrelated matter the Lincoln Theater is having political issues of its own. The Mount Vernon City Administration to declare the Lincoln Theatre and adjoining commercial spaces as property surplus to the needs of the city. Such a declaration would enable the City to offer the property for public sale. To date, the Lincoln Theater Board of Directors has received no response from the Mayor or City Council. It remains uncertain what the City of Mount Vernon will choose to do. For more information visit www.savethelincoln.org. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Katy EMAIL: kt@mountainvisions.com IP: 69.92.210.112 URL: DATE: 10/09/2006 12:03:21 PM This movie was a good addition to the book, which is a must-read! All the people above who think this is bunk are simply in denial. Our human caused problems have been happening for a long time, but are now exacerbated by too much human population on an earth that has a limited carrying capacity. Everyone needs to do their part to curb global warming and all the other environmental devastation that is going on around us. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Brianna EMAIL: briannastclair@hotmail.com IP: 71.134.231.4 URL: DATE: 11/28/2006 04:50:58 PM I thought that it was the scariest movie I have ever seen. My father doesn't believe in global warming and it amazes me that people can look at all facts and evidence and dismiss it as BS. I think that since god made us intelligent we should love and protect our home and all the creatures we share it with. It is our responsiblity to do some thing about this problem because we are the only one who can. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jill EMAIL: jillpancake_29@hotmail.com IP: 69.211.139.50 URL: DATE: 01/18/2007 09:30:17 PM I did not know that Mr. Gore had been following global warming for so long, his whole life almost. I thought the movie was very informative and and real eye opener. I think it will change some skeptic minds. Thank you Al Gore! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Victoria Perricone EMAIL: gogreen07@yahoo.com IP: 72.196.228.53 URL: DATE: 01/19/2007 11:13:22 PM AMAZING MOVIE!!! We all need to see it. Scary, but maybe it came just in time to inform us that if we work together, we might be able to save our planet for future generations. No affense, but I believe that people who refuse to see this movie are cowards who are afraid to face the sad but true facts of our suffering planet, and are also too lazy and selfish to do anything about it. I hope that Al Gore keeps up the good work for a long time to come. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dangerbull EMAIL: dangerbull@bellsouth.net IP: 67.34.60.36 URL: http://dangerbull.blogspot.com DATE: 01/26/2007 08:26:00 PM Sorry, friends, but what a bunch of chumps. More Kool Aid, anyone? News you can use: Lots of money, including multinational corporate money, is wrapped up in making you think we can do a lot about global warming. Why? So they can sell us stuff. Who do you think is going to sell you all those special lightbulbs? Do the research and build the plants to produce alternate fuels? And millions of dollars are at stake in government grants, all to study global warming. Even the NWF website is part of the hype. It's an industry, folks. GW is real, apparently, but the truth is we can't do much about it because we haven't caused that much of it. 10-20%, maybe. The good news is, it won't be as bad as the hype. Even the new IPCC makes that much clear. Sorry, Al and company, catastrophe isn't likely. In the short run, all we can really do is figure out how to adapt. Living near the shore of a small Pacific island? Move inland or to the mainland. For the rest of us, we'll need to work on these serious problems: What will we do with all that heating oil we won't need to heat our homes anymore? What will we do with all the newly productive farm land and longer growing seasons? What will we do with all the super cheap oil that will suddenly become available when demand drops? What will we do with the millions of impoverished Middle Eastern migrants leaving a region now even less inhabitable and even less viable economically, now that the world has turned away from its principal resource? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tom EMAIL: Toms1978@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.11 URL: DATE: 02/04/2007 12:06:42 PM I saw this in a dollar theater, and I really think I deserve 5 back. Al Gore starts the movie out about whispering how beautiful mud in a river is, then goes on about polar bears drowning and frogs boiling in water. Everything he says is based on computer model projections. I am convinced now more than ever global warming is a hoax. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Natalie EMAIL: nmorris@worldsynergy.com IP: 75.50.2.193 URL: DATE: 02/23/2007 10:38:03 AM I saw the movie with my husband. Both of us were stunned and saddened by the "science". It made us seriously think about how we do things in our lives. Even if the science is over exaggerated, it is still based in truth and I believe will cause catastrophic problems in our future. If there was one thing about the movie that I did not like was the political slant it had. However, not because I didn't believe in it, I think it had a great point, but the problem was my husband, and I am sure many other people, were very put-off by it and had a hard time understanding why global warming was a political issue. After some discussion we decided that unfortunately the only people who can make a real difference are the Politians, and that it is important for us "tree huggers" to realize that. I think without the political slant the movie would have been better received by some, however, I think it is utterly important for people to realize that we “need” the Politians to actually make/force the changes. I have never been interested in politics, never felt any desire to become involved, but that movie made me understand that my opinion needs to be heard, and they need to understand I will only vote for those who support our future, our Earth. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sarah EMAIL: rgsavearth21171@care2.com IP: 76.101.144.73 URL: DATE: 03/31/2007 05:13:59 PM This movie is extremely informative and a real eye-opener. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Malok EMAIL: info@kyhorsechat.com IP: 74.130.221.90 URL: http://www.KYHorseProperties.com DATE: 06/17/2007 02:11:02 PM Kudos to Al Gore for not growing tobacco any longer on his Kentucky farm. Kentucky is starting to experience the "McMansion" syndrome. Horse farms, and farmland are getting consumed, and turned into 2-5 acre lawns - which ironically enough are just large enough to be a pain to take care of - and just small enough that you really can't do anything with it productively. I've been attempting to inform persons of this dilemna at: www.KYHorseBlog.com www.KYHorseChat.com www.KYHorseProperties.com I think we should adopt similar policies that Europe has been using for years. They have limited sprawl and maintained dense urban populations, while retaining their farmland. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Offshore Drilling Debate Heats Up,
Global Warming Put on the Back Burner STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: offshore_drilli CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 05/19/2006 03:56:56 PM ----- BODY:

     Chalk up a few victories yesterday in the U.S. House. Your representatives voted on a number of conservation-themed amendments as a part of the Department of Interior spending bill. One of these amendments that passed sent a strong message to the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers that they must enforce the Clean Water Act to the full extent of the law. Another stopped taxpayer subsidies for logging roads in the Tongass National Forest.
     The one that got the most press, however, was a close vote to uphold the ban on drilling off Florida's coasts. Though Florida's coasts are safe for now, the amendment sparked a heated debate that is sure to rear up again.

Drilling ban upheld - barely
By Wes Allison, St. Petersburg Times

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House narrowly preserved a decades-old ban on offshore drilling late Thursday night. But the tight vote offered further proof that Florida's ability to keep energy exploration far off its shores forever is growing more tenuous.

     Tenuous indeed. While members of the House are still debating domestic drilling, one energy-related topic was deftly sidestepped when an important resolution that called for a "Sense of Congress" on global warming was nixed from the spending bill by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska).
     This resolution would have allowed for an open debate on the issue of global warming and, more importantly, put every representative on record as to if they think action is needed on global warming. Wouldn't want that, would we?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: GNC EMAIL: IM2Million@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.11 URL: DATE: 05/26/2006 12:05:14 AM Well that's typical, bath the baby and throw him out with the bathwater. If you aren't talking about global warming, you just don't get the entire point of water pollution and logging. One without the other is like a piano without a player.. it can't make music alone and we can't FIX the damn problem without facing the music. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: Oil Execs Protesting? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: oil_execs_prote CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 05/17/2006 03:36:18 PM ----- BODY:

Sometimes the fake news is the best news of the day. This from The Onion...

WASHINGTON, DC—More than 1,000 majority shareholders and executive officers from the nation's largest oil companies gathered in the National Mall and marched to Capitol Hill Monday in a mass demonstration for petrochemical corporations' rights and, according to several of those who attended, "to let our voices be heard at last."
Full article here

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristen Cummings TITLE: $3 Million Set Aside to Sell U.S. on Drilling STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: 3_million_set_a CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 04/20/2006 06:29:16 PM ----- BODY:

     There's one thing you can say about Alaska's senior senator, Ted Stevens: he's nothing if he's not resilient. In March 2005, when the Arctic Refuge fight was just heating up, Sen. Stevens claimed that he was so depressed from his long fight to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that he would consider retiring if he was not able to get his way that year. ("ANWR struggle leaves Stevens 'depressed'")
     No retirement plans for the senator seem to be in the works, however, even though the budget bill and the following defense bill drilling schemes both fell flat.
     In fact, Stevens has instead declared 2006 as the year Arctic drilling must pass. And apparently he is willing to put his money where his mouth is--or at least the money of his Alaskan constituents.
     In response to Sen. Steven's 2006 Arctic drilling demands, the Alaska legislature is currently in the process of approving $3 million of Alaska state funds for a no-bid contract with an Oregon public relations firm named Pac/West Communications for the sole purpose of promoting oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge throughout the country. ("Controversy taints choice for ANWR PR")
     This newest maneuver is especially remarkable when you consider that the State of Alaska, which has no state income tax, gets over 80 percent of its budget from the oil and gas industry. Yep, that's right. Essentially, the State of Alaska is paying an out-of-state PR firm, using money primarily from the oil and gas industry, to come into YOUR neighborhood and tell YOU why drilling our nation's largest and wildest Refuge--a program that would greatly financially benefit the State of Alaska and the oil and gas industry--is in YOUR best interest.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nikki Sabal EMAIL: nikkinoo15@yahoo.com IP: 162.40.232.199 URL: DATE: 04/22/2006 07:26:19 PM I just don't understand why these people can't revert there funds into trying harder to figure out another source of energy that won't kill off our plants and animals. Like maybe look more into the Hydrogen fuel and solar energy as our sources of energy rather than Oil related fuel and energy. Why is the roads not flooded with the new Hybrid vehichles? Have the people up on capital hill lost all since of respect for the land that God gave us or are they just being to easily pesuaded (PAID OFF) to make decisions based on what the BIG OIL COMPANIES think..... I feel like if there were more advertisment on TV (MTV, Disney, BET, ESPN, Fox, ECT....)there would be more people giving for the cause. OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND, holds true for just about anything. However I realize that it takes funds to advertise, and there never seems to be enough. Thanks for listening. Nikki ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carmen Blakely EMAIL: carmen_sb@msn.com IP: 71.100.26.44 URL: DATE: 05/17/2006 06:55:05 PM The people on Capitol Hill have NEVER cared about their constituents, only the amount of money they can amass for themselves and how fast they can do it. The SOLE reason we do not have alternative fuels is because Dick Cheney, OILMAN, has been on Capitol Hill since the Ford Administration or longer. He was in every Republican administration with his evil machinations to stop ANYTHING that remotely resembled alternative energy. He has used his power and money to keep America addicted to oil. He was in the Cabinet with the first Prez Bush. He is SATAN himself and he MUST BE STOPPED. I take great pleasure in the fact that his daughter is a lesbian because I know that eats at him and it is probably the ONLY thing that SOB really hurts over. God help us if the ignorant, stupid voters of this country elect Cheney to office after Bush. If they do, they will deserve the horrible death that awaits us all from global warming. If this country had any REAL cajones, we would indict Bush & Cheney for treason and be done with them. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristin Johnson TITLE: What Do You See? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: what_do_you_see CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 04/01/2006 02:21:54 PM ----- BODY:

     If you could look into a crystal ball and see the future of energy production in America, what do you think you would see?
     When you look five years...20 years...50 years ahead, what will America be doing differently?
     What do you think you might be doing differently in your own home?
     No matter how many times people are forced onto this side or that side, at heart, I think we all want what's best for America. We just have different visions of how to achieve that cleaner, safer energy future.
     One of the best parts of my job is hearing from people like you about your ideas. It's really easy. Just click the orange "Comment" link right under this blog entry. Enter your name (an alias is welcome if you want anonymity), your email and your comments.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dennis Foulke EMAIL: dfoulke1@woh.rr.com IP: 71.65.102.227 URL: DATE: 04/05/2006 12:07:49 AM I look into my crystal ball and see the year 2015. "Today Congress decided to open the issue of drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge one more time. The issue has beenj voted down fifteen times but several members of Congress still believe that it is in America's best interest to drill for oin in the refuge." When will this lunacy end????? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Regina marino EMAIL: reggie39@juno.com IP: 63.22.16.87 URL: DATE: 04/05/2006 05:15:16 AM What I see in the future is a very emtry world of so many beautiful creatures , because of all tne things we do for progress. We need oil we take the land , we need to build more building don't use areas that are already used use the forest and wet lands and make the animals have no place to go. We have to stop before there are no more animals to enjoy. We have to stop before ther are no more tree's for fresh air to breath. Plants and animals have a very important part in our lives on earth.Enough is enough. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carmen Blakely EMAIL: carmen_sb@msn.com IP: 71.100.88.2 URL: DATE: 04/05/2006 07:57:23 PM The future: I can't see because of Bush's "Clear Skies Initiative." I can't breathe because the oxygen-producing trees have been logged. I can't have water because it's polluted; there are no animals, birds, sealife, or happiness anywhere. Thanks George W. Bush - for nothing. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: victoria bonelli EMAIL: no1gfvb@juno.com IP: 69.74.30.4 URL: DATE: 04/06/2006 08:06:31 AM Must we loose everything before we learn? Other nations are not dependent on fossill fuels like we are in the USA, why is it so difficult to follow their lead? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dr. Charity Blakely EMAIL: blakelycharity@msn.com IP: 71.100.88.2 URL: DATE: 04/06/2006 08:43:38 PM In the future, historical computer discs will have pictures of animals that went extinct during the Bush years; stories about George W. Bush being the most IRRESPONSIBLE president to EVER sit in the White House. There will be stories of medicines that could have stopped AIDS, cancers or the Avian Flu, except the plants needed for medicines were destroyed by the utter greed of the Bush Administration. There will be sections to reminisce about trees, butterflies, fish, clean air & water, unspoiled natural wonders. The test will be about whether Americans learned anything at all from the 8 years of pestilence wrought by the Bush/Cheney years of destructive power. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kristen Cummings TITLE: Kicked Out of the House STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: kicked_out_of_t CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 04/01/2006 02:18:46 PM ----- BODY:

     The House of Representatives stood strong behind protecting the Arctic Refuge and gave a drilling proposal the boot from their budget resolution.
     The threat still lurks, however, since the Senate did include Arctic drilling in their version of the budget resolution.
     If the House passes their resolution, the two versions get combined into one final bill--yet another place Arctic drilling could show up. Stay tuned.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: March Madness STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: march_madness DATE: 03/17/2006 03:04:01 PM ----- BODY:

     That's the only way to describe what's happening in Washington right now when it comes to the Arctic Refuge.

     Who's playing?

     Led by team captain Ted Stevens, a veteran player out of the University of Pork-Barrel Politics, the Beltway "Oilers" have a reputation for driving straight to the basket over and over again, no matter how many times they miss the layup. The team is coached by a crew of Big Oil lobbyists who draw up plays that stretch the rules and attempt to confuse the opposition.

     Defending the other end of the court are the Arctic "Warriors," a team known for its never-say-die attitude and strong play off the bench. Hot off an overtime victory during last year's championship game, the Warriors are looking for a repeat performance in 2006.

     This year's tournament tip-off happened last night in the U.S. Senate, where the Oilers succeeded in passing a budget resolution that included Refuge-opening language by a score of 51-49.

     This is just the first game in a long tournament. The next Oilers-Warriors match-up will occur in the arena of the House of Representatives, where the Oilers will attempt to score another win by putting Arctic drilling in the House version of the budget resolution.

     The best part of this March Madness? You can have a big part in the final game.

     Click here to cheer on the Arctic Warriors by emailing or calling your senators and representatives and asking that they vote NO on any final budget resolution with Arctic drilling.

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----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joolsey EMAIL: julie2ny@yahoo.com IP: 68.190.156.85 URL: DATE: 04/12/2006 11:35:50 PM Like many, I loathe the thought of drilling in ANWR but must we use sports as an analogy? It seems a bit frivolous. Considering the deadly serious nature of what's going on in Washington these days, the tone of this posting feels a little like a teen-age cheerleader on the sidelines of a grisly battle. Your intent is well taken though. Sign me, a battered American ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Beating a Dead Horse STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: beating_a_dead_ DATE: 03/08/2006 05:47:44 PM ----- BODY:

     The Senate released its budget today, with--you guessed it--language to open the Arctic Refuge. The first thing that came to our minds? That old Ben Franklin quote: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."

     Why are Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and his allies expecting different results in 2006 when similar tactics failed on all fronts in 2005?

     The new budget scheme manipulates different rules and procedures--manipulations they aren't even attempting to disguise as "balancing the budget." Now, they are openly manipulating the rules of the Senate to give Arctic drilling a free pass.

     Help us deliver a flood of phone calls and emails to Senate and House offices ringing with the same message: "Americans are tired of the games. It's time for a real, Arctic-free energy policy."

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----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: marilyn EMAIL: partyferrett@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.11 URL: DATE: 04/05/2006 06:59:24 PM This bull-headed, cowboy of a president we have will just not give one inch. He has to have everything his way, whether it is right or (much more often) wrong!!!! I think he pulls these games just to aggravate the good people of this country and to undermine any shred of environmental protection we cna offer. If he had his way, he'd blow up Yellowstone, Glacier, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon just to see if maybe some oil might be there. This man has a one-track, singular mind aimed at oil, money, war, and power AND he doesn't care what or whom he destroys in the interim. Thanks to these last 6 yrs, we have failed in any prevention of global warming, the continous decline of our forests here is the U.S. as well as the rainforests, and have to constantly fight for the Arctic Refuge. How many times does it take for the man to understand "NO"!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carmen Blakely EMAIL: carmen_sb@msn.com IP: 71.100.88.2 URL: DATE: 04/12/2006 06:53:10 PM I agree with you Marilyn. I have been so agitated by the Bush agenda for six years, it finally took its toll on me and I needed surgery. My doctor advises me to not take it personally, but how can it NOT be personal when Bush is destroying the air, water and Earth that is the basis of all life? I wonder how many other people have medical problems directly attributable to either the pollution that Bush has wrought, or the aggravation of trying to stop him from destroying us all. This president needs to be indicted for treason pronto! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Op-Ed on "Oil's Spoils" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: oped_on_oils_sp DATE: 02/27/2006 11:43:18 AM ----- BODY:

     "Clean energy and clean government go hand in hand," wrote National Wildlife Federation President and CEO Larry Schweiger in a recent editorial published in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. What do you think?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Call Me A Cockeyed Optimist STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: call_me_a_cocke CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 02/07/2006 12:18:08 PM ----- BODY:

     For those of us working just blocks from the White House, it wasn't exactly a surprise that the annual budget released by President Bush yesterday included Arctic drilling. Heck, for people 3,000 miles away, it probably wasn't a surprise either. Even so, a part of my cockeyed-optimist self wanted to believe last week's State of the Union was a turning point for Mr. Bush.

     He admitted America's addiction to oil. He announced an Advanced Energy Initiative to help tackle this addiction. And just as we were asking ourselves, "Who is this president?" he released this budget calling for drilling in the Arctic Refuge--again. Same old, same old.

     Doesn't this move seem more like he's following the ExxonMobil 12-step program? Will drilling the Arctic Refuge really help wean America off our addiction?

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----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Della Irvin EMAIL: della1741@aol.com IP: 205.188.117.11 URL: DATE: 04/05/2006 08:33:59 AM Haven't they figured out what is going to happen if we drill in the Artic?? Can anyone please tell me how many natural disasters must occur before they see the light? Our climate changes have been catastrophic globally and yet we are still in a debate as to what is the right thing to do? WE MUST STAY OUT OF THE ARTIC NO IF'S ANDS OR BUT'S if we want to turn global warming around. When we elected our current President we knew how much he loved OIL so sadly enough his love for it will end up being the beginning of the end for our environment. SHUT THIS BILL DOWN FOR GOOD PLEASE!!! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Curing America's Oil Addiction STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: curing_americas CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 02/02/2006 03:02:15 PM ----- BODY:

     During his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush admitted a major problem. "America is addicted to oil." The catchy rhetoric is right on the money. Time for Bush to lead our country through the rest of the 12 steps.
     Many know this recovery program, conceived by Alcoholics Anonymous to tackle alcohol and drug abuse. While the metaphor works fairly well in talking about America's fossil fuel use, the President and I would both agree we aren't asking America to cut itself off from oil entirely. Curing our addiction is about moving America toward a more diverse energy future in an economically sustainable way.
     Right now, minus hydropower, clean energy sources account for just 2 percent of the nation's supply. The more and the faster we move that number up, the better for everyone.
     In the past five years, however, the Bush administration's energy playbook has involved a fixation on drilling in the Arctic Refuge, an uncompromising resistance toward better fuel economy standards and a mere nod in the general direction of alternative energy, coupled with a  giveaway of billions in taxpayer subsidies to the oil and gas industry.
     Will the State of the Union be just another nod, or will 2006 be the year the president and Congress get serious about curing the addiction, rather than just feeding the habit?
     Also, while it was great hearing the president address energy, a major issue was missing from the teleprompter--global warming. The choice was yet another in a long line of snubs toward the issue. In December, the Bush administration gave an embarrassing showing at an international conference of Kyoto Protocol signers in Montreal. Last week, yet another scientist--this time NASA's top climate expert James E. Hansen--stood up to say the White House was censoring and suppressing research.
     Ignoring global warming has become old hat for the Bush administration, leaving me wondering if there really is hope for curing the oil addiction. Mr. President, I'm ready for real leadership on this issue. I'm ready to help you move America toward becoming a country my children will be proud to inherit.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Charles Phillips EMAIL: milw_guy2002@yahoo.com IP: 68.248.231.252 URL: DATE: 02/03/2006 03:38:36 AM As I read it, the dilling companies will never stop trying to attach the drilling funding where ever they can. I say attack! count your likely voters in each house and pass a bill that can not be overturned without a national referendum and a 2/3's vote. On Easter Island, its native peoples cut down every last tree. I have to wonder, while they were dying off,did they think about that last tree, and wonder, what have we done. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Charles Phillips EMAIL: milw_guy2002@yahoo.com IP: 68.248.231.252 URL: DATE: 02/03/2006 04:15:34 AM Getting off petroleum products could be easier then one might think. But you can not come straight out with the answer. Business, for the most part, controls congress. They'd ambush you with even a hint of anything that could stop the trough. I think that the democratic party needs a new vision. And that vision should be based on the family farm. That the american people should have a system where farming could be profitable to the point of becoming wealthy. AND Corporations may not farm! Then a set of standards that would would be ever enriching of the soil and water. A farmer would be taxed for how he did not meet the standards. But that the industry would need a crop that would not only make allot of money, and but improve the soil and the air. That crop is hemp. There must be information some where on how many barrels of oil an acre of land could produce. And how hemp pulls 5 times the CO2 out of the air when it grows. It enriches the soil as it grows, and one is forced to rotate. Hemp also makes good paper at a low cost, sparing trees. If this were really thought through, one would have a program that would give American can do better then any country in the world and that is FARM! To give a further example;Only 6% of the farm land could produce all of the completely clean energy to make all the electricity this country would ever need. Meaning you could close all other types of fuel, oil,natural gas,and coal. And coal miners can become farmers. How long do you think it would be before we could close down every oil well,coal mine, and nuclear power plants.Before you propose it, get it polished to the point of teflon, anticipate the objections of the attackers and build in the answers. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lyn Henri EMAIL: lrosaj@hotmail.com IP: 67.185.83.7 URL: DATE: 02/03/2006 07:06:07 AM Our president doesn't walk the walk about energy independence; just talks the talk. He's a preacher, and I honestly don't trust him, and he will do everything in his power to keep America shamelessly dependent on foreign oil, due to the ongoing war in Iraq that's based on greed and oil fields. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Eileen Trainor EMAIL: et02@rocketmail.com IP: 207.119.19.173 URL: http://www.usaer.com/energy.htm DATE: 02/03/2006 11:09:53 AM No single solution can meet our society's future energy needs. The answer lies instead in a family of diverse energy technologies that share a common thread: they do not deplete our natural resources or destroy our environment. Free and efficient energy-- whether generated from running water, sunshine, wind, differences in temperature, or chemical reaction--is a gift from God. Yet we turn our eyes from this bounty and continue to pursue energy policies that pollute our rivers and air, desecrate the landscape, and holds us hostage to its use. On the other hand, homegrown renewables can increase our energy security and create local jobs. Visit the Union of Concerned Scientists website for more information. The Alternative Fuels Data Center is a source of varied information on alternative fuels: biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane. This site has more than 3,000 documents in its database, an interactive fuel station mapping system, current listings of available alternative fuel vehicles, and lots of alternative fuels information and related links. Biodiesel is better for the environment because it has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since biodiesel is made in the USA from renewable resources such as soybeans (or hemp), its use decreases our dependence on foreign oil and contributes to our own economy. See BioDiesel.org for information on this nationwide initiative. Fuel cells are now available as an alternative source for renewable energy. Unlike traditional generators, these fuel cells do not require gasoline, diesel or kerosene to generate power. These fuel cells run on methanol - an environmentally friendly fuel that is water soluble and biodegradable. Solar power is proven. The tax incentives will help generate interest in some folk, but the momentum gained back in the 1980s has been stalled. Support alternative energy in all forms. Its good for America and good for the Earth. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Paul J. Gregg EMAIL: pgregg@netnet.net IP: 206.40.106.159 URL: DATE: 02/03/2006 02:02:22 PM One of the most immediate and practical things that can be done to save on petroleum consumption is very simple. STOP USING DRIVE-UP WINDOWS! There is a popular myth that restarting an engine uses more fuel than letting it idle for 1 to 2 minutes. THIS IS WRONG -- Check with any automotive engineer. Modern fuel- injected engines are highly efficient on restart. To "save" fuel by keeping the engine on idle one would have to be in and back out in less than 20 seconds! Also, if idling an engine is supposedly "more efficient", why do hybrid vehicles stop the engine every time the vehicle stops moving! This is one of the ways that they boost MPG. An idling engine gets 0 MPG! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Time for Real Energy Policy STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: time_for_real_e DATE: 01/31/2006 08:03:53 PM ----- BODY:

     Barely a month has passed since bipartisan coalitions in both chambers of Congress rejected the eleventh-hour attempts to sneak Arctic Refuge drilling into a filibuster-proof budget bill and a must-pass funding bill for our troops. Even though Congress rejected both schemes, oil industry allies have already begun scheming about ways to sneak a new, short-sighted Arctic drilling proposal through Congress again this year.
     The removal of Arctic drilling from both bills was a victory for the American people and for all of our public lands, as it signaled our nation's determination toward realizing a diverse energy future based on clean energy solutions instead of dirty oil problems.
     The victory was fueled by a groundswell of support from people like you from all across the country. Congress heard loud and clear that the American public does not want drilling in the Arctic Refuge, and they especially won't stand for backdoor attempts to force bad legislation through behind closed doors.
     A few of our representatives apparently missed this signal, though.
     Energy Committee Chairman Pete Domenici and others have threatened to--once again--work to ensure that Arctic drilling is attached to a budget package, despite the fact that they failed to garner the support to pass this same manuever last year.
     Congress needs to hear from you again in 2006. During the next few months, the President and Congress will be developing a new federal budget. Contact your representatives today and tell them that Americans want a clean Congress and a clean energy plan, not politicians who will bend the rules for Big Oil and the drilling lobby. Leave Arctic drilling off of the federal budget bill.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Victory in the Senate! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: victory_in_the_ DATE: 12/22/2005 03:11:33 PM ----- BODY:

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge scored a huge end-of-the-year victory yesterday, when a drilling provision was forced off of a Defense Appropriations Bill in the Senate. The provision had been tacked on at the last minute by Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) in a move that violated Senate rules and angered many of his fellow senators.

Sixty votes were needed to cloture (or close) the bill to debate, but only 56 senators agreed that it should be passed with the drilling rider.

Later that evening, minus the Arctic drilling, the defense bill passed unanimously, with every senator present voting in the affirmative.

44 Senators Stood Up For the Arctic Refuge:

Max Baucus (D-Mont.)
Evan Bayh (D-Ind.)
Joseph Biden (D-Del.)
Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.)
Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)
Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.)
Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.)
Thomas Carper (D-Del.)
Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.)
Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.)
Kent Conrad (D-N.D.)
Jon Corzine (D-N.J.)
Mark Dayton (D-Minn.)
Mike DeWine (R-Ohio)
Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.)
Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.)
Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
Russ Feingold (D-Wis.)
Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)
Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) *
Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)
James Jeffords (I-Vt.)
Tim Johnson (D-S.D.)
Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.)
John Kerry (D-Mass.)
Herb Kohl (D-Wis.)
Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.)
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
Carl Levin (D-Mich.)
Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.)
Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.)
Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.)
Patty Murray (D-Wash.)
Bill Nelson (D-Fla.)
Barak Obama (D-Ill)
Mark Pryor (D-Ark.)
Jack Reed (D-R.I.)
Harry Reid (D-Nev.)
John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.)
Ken Salazar (D-Col.)
Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.)
Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)
Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)
Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)

* Frist originally supported passage, but once the filibuster was certain, cast a "no" vote for procedural reasons so that he could bring up the drilling issue for another vote.

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----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Drilling Out of Budget, Into Defense Spending Bill STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: drilling_out_of DATE: 12/20/2005 11:05:25 AM ----- BODY:

After almost a month of butting heads over whether or not the scheme to drill the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would be included in the final budget bill, Congress was left at a standstill just a week before the holiday recess.

Forced to find another route to push the drilling provision through, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) pulled a last-minute switcheroo, plucking Arctic drilling out of the budget and tacking it onto the Defense Spending Bill, legislation that includes funds for helping hurricane victims as well as money for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The move has riled up his fellow senators because Stevens broke the rules of the Senate. No new additions are allowed to a bill once both House and Senate versions reach the conference committee. Stevens, as chair of the Appropriations committee in charge of the spending bill, ignored this rule and inserted the drilling language despite much protest.

This bill came out of committee and passed the House early Monday morning. In the Senate, it's facing a much more uphill battle. On Wednesday, a vote is scheduled to challenge Stevens' changing of the rules. If this doesn't succeed in taking the drilling provision out of the defense bill, a very-likely filibuster is the next course of action.

Now is the time to contact your senators. Dial the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121, or send an automatic email.

Urge your senators to take Arctic drilling out of the Defense Spending Bill. Our Arctic champions need to know you support a filibuster and don't approve of Stevens' tactics, playing politics with our troops and hurricane victims.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: House Budget + Senate Budget = Arctic Drilling? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: house_budget_se DATE: 11/18/2005 10:00:26 AM ----- BODY:

Early this morning at 1:45 a.m., the House budget bill, sans Arctic drilling, passed by a vote of 217-215. It will now be combined with the Senate version of the budget bill and put to one final vote in both chambers.

Since this Senate version does have the drilling provision, there is a chance the final bill could still open the Arctic Refuge!

The decision will be hotly contested. Pro-drilling representatives from both houses have declared that if the final budget does not include drilling, they won’t vote for it. The courageous republicans who had the drilling provision stripped from the House budget last week have also made a promise to vote against any final bill with drilling.

Help us keep this final budget Refuge-free. Urge your representatives to keep the provision out of the final bill during conferencing. If it ends up in the bill, urge them to vote against it.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: no fair EMAIL: nofairo@aol.com IP: 69.47.1.171 URL: DATE: 12/03/2005 09:41:38 AM its not fair ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ANN HEWITT EMAIL: annjhewit@cox.net IP: 24.254.232.231 URL: DATE: 01/19/2006 11:09:05 PM DEAR SENATORS WARNER AND ALLAN OF VIRGINIA: I AM WRITING ESPECIALLY TO YOU TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU DO NOT ALLOW DRILLING IN THE ARCTIC REFUGE AT THIS TIME. ASK AMERICANS TO SACRIFICE A LITTLE. LET US PRACTICE CONSERVATION OF FUEL. LET US CHANGE THE CYCLE OF MORE HIGHWAYS AND EMPLOY SINCERE EFFORTS NOT PLATITUDES, TO USE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES. THE PUBLIC IS READY AND WILLING. WE NEED YOU TO SUPPORT US WITH A "NO" TO ARCTIC DRILLING. OUR STATE IS NUMBER 50 IN MONEY SPENT IN PRESERVING NATURAL RESOURCES. IF PRESERVING OUR NATURAL HERITAGE IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR VIRGINIA, LET'S AT LEAST NOT RUIN ANOTHER STATE'S RESOURCES. DRILLING OFF OUR COAST AND IN THE ARCTIC IS ALL ABOUT MONEY. IF AMERICANS STOPPED DRIVING FOR ONE DAY, OPEC WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. LET'S CONSERVE BEFORE WE DESTROY. FOLKS DID IT IN WORLD WAR II. AMERICANS WOULD DO IT TODAY. THANK YOU. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Debra Holbrook EMAIL: dholbrook@heritage-title.com IP: 66.162.212.178 URL: DATE: 02/03/2006 08:08:58 AM Well put Ann Hewitt. Please give me a chance to sign this email and send it to my Senator and Representative. This I can do. Thanks NWF for keeping us informed and giving people like me an opportunity to do something ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Julie Peeks EMAIL: Wolf4@gci.net IP: 66.223.181.232 URL: DATE: 03/25/2006 12:18:28 PM Where do I turn when I live in the State of Alaska? I totally disagree with Stevens, after all how can you trust a man who wants to build a bridge to no-where so he can have his name on it? I hope that the American people can stand up and say enough!, let the government take the blame no just one person, it takes people backing them, (the oil companies). Take a look at what they have done at Yellowstone if you can find someone that speaks the English language. I say sell it all because that the Bush way. Thanks for letting me write to you. Long live our enviroment! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: 29 House Republicans Stand Up for the Refuge STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: 29_moderate_hou DATE: 11/18/2005 09:45:51 AM ----- BODY:

Last week, 29 House Republicans stood up courageously and demanded that the provision to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling be stripped from the House budget reconciliation bill.

This happened because of your calls and letters!

If your representative is on this list, please call their office or email them your appreciation!

Roscoe Bartlett (R-6th Md.)
Charles Bass (R-2nd N.H.)
Sherwood Boehlert (R-24th N.Y.)
Jeb Bradley (R-1st N.H.)
Michael Castle (R-At Large Del.)
Thomas Davis (R-11th Va.)
Vernon Ehlers (R-3rd Mich.)
Michael Ferguson (R-7th N.J.)
Mike Fitzpatrick (R-8th Pa.)
Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th N.J.)
Jim Gerlach (R-6th Pa.)
Wayne Gilchrest (R-1st, Md)
Bob Inglis (R-4th, S.C.)
Nancy Johnson (R-5th Conn.)
Tim Johnson (R-15th Ill.)
Sue Kelly (R-19th N.Y.)
Mark Kennedy (R-6th Minn.)
Mark Kirk (R-10th Ill.)
Jim Leach (R-2nd Iowa)
Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd N.J.)
Jim Ramstad (R-3rd Minn.)
Dave Reichert (R-8th Wash)
Jim Saxton (R-3rd N.J.)
Joe Schwarz (R-7th Mich.)
F. James Sensenbrenner (R-5th Wis.)
Christopher Shays (R-4th Conn.)
Robert Simmons (R-2nd Conn.)
Christopher Smith (R-4th N.J.)
James Walsh (R-25th N.Y.)

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----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: House Strips Arctic Drilling From Budget STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: house_strips_ar DATE: 11/10/2005 12:44:46 PM ----- BODY:

Late last night, GOP leaders in the House of Representatives agreed to strike Arctic drilling language from the budget reconciliation bill because they realized the bill wouldn't pass today. The deal was forced by 29 moderate Republicans who stood up for the Arctic Refuge!

This is a HUGE VICTORY, but the fight isn't over!

The House is set to vote on a final budget this afternoon. If it passes, it will then be combined with the Senate budget for one final bill that will face an up-or-down vote in both chambers.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: tc EMAIL: dawnlightsmile@yahoo.com IP: 71.100.181.3 URL: DATE: 11/11/2005 01:12:04 PM how can I see who the moderate republicans were who sided Nov 10 against Alaskan oil drilling? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Erik S EMAIL: Erik@clickforwolves.com IP: 172.152.108.219 URL: http://www.clickforwolves.com DATE: 11/12/2005 01:26:18 PM Without Delay to bully the moderates into towing the party line we're finally starting to see Reps vote their conscience and the way their constituents want them to. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: A Gwich'in Perspective STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: guest_writer_a__1 CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 11/09/2005 03:52:16 PM ----- BODY:

A guest blog posted by Matthew Gilbert, Arctic Village, Alaska

Why are the Gwich’in people raising such a fury over their land and animals?

When the Alaska Native Land Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) passed in 1971, it turned hunter and gatherers into business people overnight. Arctic Village opted out of this corporate-oriented legislation to maintain control of their traditional lands. Simply put, my community, along with eight other Alaska villages, chose land over a monetary settlement.

In fact, three of our distinguished leaders, along with 90% of Arctic Village residents voted to keep and control our lands. ANCSA did not influence our perception of mother earth, our unyielding Christian and Native beliefs, and our cultural identity.

When the word "subsistence" is used everyone understands that this term defines our means of survival in every sense of the word and more. We rely on the caribou for our main food source, stories, dances, clothing, antlers, decorations, and survival gear in the cold north. The caribou will undoubtedly be affected and endangered by the industrial development proposed for the Arctic Refuge coastal plain, which also happens to be the birthplace of the Porcupine Caribou Herd.

Concentrated calving has occurred on the coastal plain "1002 area" in 27 of 31 years according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This 1.5 million acre region is a sensitive reproductive area within a wildlife refuge, not a place for oil field development. There is no question. An oil and gas developed refuge will threaten the survival of the caribou and the Gwich’in Athabascans who live in 15 villages in Alaska and Canada.

The Porcupine Caribou Herd has sustained our people and our culture for nearly 20,000 years. Our campaign to protect the refuge is our way of helping to protect this vital resource. We are not against oil & gas development, although we do not promote it in sensitive regions. We do promote alternative energy to sustain our modern society as all the world should. One hundred years ago our people were nomadic, yet today our small village has already established solar panels and recycling programs. The world needs to move in the direction of renewable energy. It is our only hope, it is the Porcupine Caribou Herd’s only hope, and it is the only hope of the Gwich’in people.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: amy EMAIL: crossroadsfarm@yahoo.com IP: 63.27.207.194 URL: DATE: 11/14/2005 06:56:10 PM Monetary Greed must be set aside to embrace renewable energy, alternative energy options must be made more available to the public at affordable prices. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathryn EMAIL: mountaindaisy1@juno.com IP: 151.138.254.21 URL: DATE: 11/23/2005 11:17:28 AM Greed is just so wrong. Why can't the government see what is happening in our own back yard??? They pushed my people around the southern states during the Trail of Tears. You would think they would learn something from that and get their hands off and out of Alaska! Shame on them! This is intolerable! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sandy EMAIL: ayin@ucla.edu IP: 128.97.31.110 URL: DATE: 11/23/2005 04:27:20 PM If the government care only about their immediate profit, they can forget about the prinstine beauty and the unique ecosystem being left for generations of citizens to appreciate! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Senate Passes Budget with Arctic Drilling STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: senate_passes_b DATE: 11/04/2005 02:37:21 PM ----- BODY:

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed the FY2006 budget reconciliation Bill and its provision to open the Arctic Refuge to drilling by a vote of 52-47.

THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER!

The budget bill does not become law until it is passed in the House of Representatives and then conferenced by both chambers. We're disappointed we lost the Senate, but there is a very good chance of winning in the House! They are expected to vote on the budget bill in the next week or two.

Contact your Representative now!

Despite the final vote tally, five moderate Republicans stood up to protect the Refuge. Your calls, emails and letters made that happen!

Norm Coleman (R-Minn) promised to protect the Arctic refuge during his 2002 Senate campaign. After hearing from you, he KEPT HIS PROMISE!

Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) wavered for a bit on whether or not to vote for the budget. In the end, both KEPT THEIR PROMISE!

Lincoln Chafee (R -N.H.) VOTED TO PROTECT THE ARCTIC REFUGE!

Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) VOTED TO PROTECT THE ARCTIC REFUGE!

How did your senator vote?

Please take a minute to call your senator and tell them whether you appreciate their vote or note. You can also send them an email by clicking below:

Thank you senator(s)!

Hold your senator(s) accountable!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Diane S. Wolf EMAIL: wolfwmn@gambit.net IP: 216.144.4.68 URL: DATE: 11/28/2005 09:53:55 AM Dear Senator De Wine: Thank you for opposing drilling in the Arctic Refuge. Please do all you can to see that this does not happen. Convince other senators to oppose drilling. Thank you. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: A Visit to the Coastal Plain STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: guest_writer_a_ CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 11/03/2005 01:14:00 PM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Susan Alexander, San Francisco

Caribou_and_calf_1 I have had the honor to spend considerable time in the Arctic Refuge, much of it on the coastal plain. I'll never forget my first backpack. As we emerged from the glorious mountains, I thought to myself the plain will be a letdown. How wrong I was. The coastal plain has a unique magic that can be seen in the distant, watery eyes of those who have experienced it. Its tundra is a tiny, delicate forest dotted with nests and burrows. Its rolling expanse made intimate by the sea ice to the north and the ragged mountains to the south. On one of my trips that started in the mountains and headed south, I found myself yearning to head north to the plain. I felt the pull of the pregnant caribou.

It has been 10 years since my last trip there. Each year when I know the caribou are arriving to calve and nurse their young, my soul travels with them to its true home. I relive my many wonderful adventures backpacking, rafting and kayaking in the refuge. But my body aches for not being able to join them. And my need to share this special place with my almost 9-year-old daughter is overwhelming. The thought that it might be lost for a few months of oil and corporate profit ‹ and that it might not be there to share with her or her children ‹ horrifies me. That Congress could be so ignorant and shortsighted is unfathomable. I can only hope they open their eyes to what is at stake in our Far North.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jim Clifford EMAIL: 2jays@bulkley.net IP: 204.50.96.249 URL: DATE: 11/05/2005 09:53:31 AM I believe in that this easy energy of the planet is to be totally squandered in a blink of an eye the only approach we have to save these environments is to require the best practises of extraction we can and try to recover from the blundering capitalist follies after we've sucked that bit dry too. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Larry Schweiger TITLE: Pop Quiz: Norm Coleman and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: pop_quiz_norm_c DATE: 10/28/2005 06:52:46 PM ----- BODY:

Download PopQuizFinal.mpg

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: A Penny Saved is a Refuge Lost STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: a_penny_saved_i DATE: 10/24/2005 10:28:42 AM ----- BODY:

One of the arguments drilling advocates have been using recently to gain public support for opening the Arctic Refuge is that it will help lower gas prices, something on everybody’s mind in recent months. But what they aren’t saying is when this would happen and by how much. Luckily, the Department of Energy looked into it.

In a report issued this past July, they estimated that by the time production peaks in the Arctic Refuge 20 years from now, consumers could save about a penny per gallon!

Is Americas most pristine wildlife refuge worth a penny? Write your representatives a letter or postcard and tell them it isn’t. Tape a penny to it for extra impact. Tell them to vote against any federal budget that includes opening the Refuge to drilling.

Make sure and mail your letter to your representatives district office and not their Washington, D.C. office so it gets read immediately. Look up your representatives addresses.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: michael EMAIL: mcs0108@mail.ecu.edu IP: 68.101.11.209 URL: DATE: 10/25/2005 10:19:24 AM I support protecting our environment and wildnerness. However, I support a compromise between it and the economic needs of today. I question your information that you provide. A penny per gallon compared to when? Todays price or the price in 20yrs. I'm sure the actual report is refering to todays gas prices. Such as $2.99 instead of $3.00. Who's to say what gas prices will be in 20yrs. I would like to see you post that report word for word on this website. I do not believe that the report reads as you indicate. I believe your information has been taken out of context and is misleading. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kristin EMAIL: kristinsj@hotmail.com IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 10/26/2005 11:18:32 AM You can read the DOE's Energy Information Administration report by clicking on the link in the text above. The report was researched and written at the request of New Mexico's senators, Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman, to put numbers to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on April 21, 2005. The actual text from which the penny a gallon reference is made comes from page 8 of the 50-page report: "The increase in domestic supply reduces oil import dependency in 2025 from 68 percent in the reference case to 64 percent in the H.R. 6 EH case and is projected to reduce the world oil price by 57 cents per barrel (1.9 percent) relative to the reference case in 2025." Assuming a one-to-one impact on gas prices, divide $0.57 by the number of gallons in a barrel of oil, 42, and you get $0.014. A little over a penny. This estimate is "relative to the reference case in 2025" meaning it would be the price in 20 years. The report does note that, "future developments in technologies, demographics, and resources cannot be foreseen with certainty. Nevertheless, well-formulated models are valuable tools to analyze complex policies because they ensure consistency in the accounting and represent key interrelationships to provide useful insights." I believe the environment and the economy should go hand-in-hand as well, but it's not about choosing one or the other. They are co-dependent. Isn't it best for both if we go after an energy future that doesn't rely entirely on the volatile oil market? Not to abandon oil altogether, but to build the infrastructure needed to support more renewable energy sources and get our country on a much more energy efficient path. Caribou, grizzly bears, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, peregrine falcons, wolves, snow geese, graylings and polar bears aside, to me protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is about making a statement that we--as Americans--are ready to choose this new path. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: fizure EMAIL: fizure@gmail.com IP: 207.237.124.9 URL: DATE: 10/28/2005 01:03:44 AM This is in response to the first comment by Michael. It is people like you who allow this country to continue on the worst possible energy plan possibly ever conceived by any one country. At the same time you are willing to prolong a problem which will eventually get only worse: OIL IS FINITE. Soon, some say very, some say decades, but quite soon, we will have a decline of crude oil *production* globally (on a scale of 2-6% annually, which is enormous). Drilling ANWR doesn't fix that, all it does is disrupt a pristine ecosystem with a human presence, and all the logistics and filth that humans bring with them. It is essentially advocating the potential genocide, and the invasion of some of the most extrodinary species' on the planet. Kristin's list of some of the animals is only a very microscopic tip of a spectacular iceberg... Go watch them... read up on global crude oil consumption, and the finite nature of fossil fuel. How oil is beginning to get harder and harder to pump, because lots of our biggest oil fields are pumping at a slower rate, we have to pump in millions of gallons of water a day to keep the liquid flowing (which ends up diluting the amount of oil...) Oil at the top is the nice stuff, liquid and flows, almost like water... on the bottom it is like tar, and oil fields first flow rapidly with liquid and slowly becomes more "dense"--it has more impurities, and less hydrocarbons which can be refined as different types of fuel. Currently we are, imho, peaking with global oil consumption. Yesterday, in the Wall Street Journal there was actually an article about BP's quartly profits which quoted and oil executive as saying the "industry is at complete capacity". What needs to be done is quite simple--a "Manhattan Project" for energy... Otherwise, we are in for some rough and tumble times... Drilling ANWR will just exasperate the entire energy problem. Study some evolutionary biology... See that these things actually RELATE to us... and just because we aren't willing to give up using the car for absolutely everything we do--that should ruin a beautiful ecological landscape and hurt life that is thriving... Michael, have you ever been to ANWR? Your ignorance is quite distressing. Please educate yourself. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: fireofenergy EMAIL: robertbernal@mail.com IP: 24.182.5.201 URL: http://fireofenergy.com DATE: 11/10/2005 11:07:02 AM Artic drilling will not solve the post-oil problem, only add to the enviro costs. The same amount of energy can be had by placing thousands of wind turbines offshore. Sure, the initial cost would be more, but as the finite fossil fuel resource dwindles, its price will ultimately be higher than the combined cost of renewables and their storage (hydrogen and batteries). ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Minnesotans Say: 'Keep Your Promise, Norm!' STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: minnesotans_say CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 10/13/2005 05:02:10 PM ----- BODY:

Minnesotans have spoken -- and they've told Senator Norm Coleman (R) to just say no to drilling the Arctic Refuge. In a scientific survey released today, 73 percent of Minnesota voters say they want Coleman to keep his promise to protect the Refuge — a number that includes a majority of Republicans, and even a majority of Minnesotans who themselves support drilling.

What explains the huge numbers? A belief that the senator ought to keep his commitment to protect the Refuge from oil drilling. He repeatedly promised to do that during his 2002 campaign. People still remember those promises — and now, they expect him to uphold them, even as he publicly inches away from his stance against Arctic drilling.

We have those poll numbers in full, and want you to read about them — so for the full details, read this press release. Among the highlights:

The people have spoken -- but we need to make sure that Senator Coleman hears us. So take action today -- make sure he knows that people are watching him, and expect him to keep his word.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: L. S. EMAIL: laswan99@hotmail.com IP: 198.174.110.146 URL: DATE: 11/03/2005 06:18:13 PM Refuge: A place that provides protection. Senator Norm Coleman should set the precendent for future environmental issues. Signing this bill is going to let Americans think that it is O.K. to develop a refuge. This is not the message that most minnesotans want their senator to send! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Drilling Does Not Mean Domestic Oil Independence STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: the_arctic_nati CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 10/12/2005 04:22:28 PM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Matthew Gilbert of Arctic Village, Alaska

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has been an unattainable goal for all the pro-development politicians and activists for one reason: it is an impractical and unethical goal.

The argument I hear over and over from the pro-development campaign is how great it would be to have a domestic resource to utilize; perhaps for a distorted sense of pride or faulty political training on they’re part. Using this argument of domestic independence has not worked with the general public. The majority of the voters in our nation have voted to protect the refuge again and again.

The pro-development forces occasionally play off the statistics of people in favor of "insourcing" to open the refuge. The Anchorage Daily News once had an article which said that Arctic Power-the main lobbying group to open the refuge to development-has received millions of dollars in state grants since 1993, but Arctic Power has not succeeded since then so this is where the state money is going: nowhere!

If the refuge is included in this fall’s Budget Bill (2005), it is a sneaky way the Alaska State delegation has devised to get the refuge developed. Our delegation knew that they could not achieve a winning vote in public because they got defeated dozens of times before, so they cunningly crafted this way through the Budget Bill to get it passed. The Budget Reconciliation Bill will be voted on in October of this year. If it succeeds, the refuge is lost.

I urge as many supporters as possible to contact their Congressmen to put a stop to this ridiculous means of developing the refuge. Urge them to remove any Arctic Refuge drilling provision from the bill, or if necessary, vote down the entire Budget Reconciliation Bill.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Linda Corbin EMAIL: jstamessngr@rrbbmt.org IP: 67.128.110.2 URL: DATE: 10/13/2005 08:52:16 PM I would love to see ALL politicians keep their promises but as yet, I've seen very few. I think the system needs to be changed about the way bills are written and stop the "back door" approaches that are allowed to be put into bills that usually have nothing to do with the original bill being discussed/passed. It's about time the American people rise up and take the gov't. back. Remember, those people are supposed towork for us!! My congressman is a waste of air being breathed when it comes to environmental issues (Dennis Rehberg - R MT.) But that doesn't mean we need to give up. People of Alaska especially need to make a BIG fuss and hold their politicians responsible for the refuge. We (the people) need to knock this Administration off it's butt when it comes to the environment!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lyn Henri EMAIL: lrosaj@hotmail.com IP: 216.47.50.153 URL: DATE: 10/17/2005 04:35:12 PM The Arctic national refuge doesn't need the wrecking ball of greedy politicians to ruin its beauty for oil drilling. I'd rather see the same greedy politicians drill in Texas and Canada instead, in their own oil fields. As a certain song goes: "I've been looking for freedom, I've been looking for love, I've been looking for freedom, still the search goes on. I've been looking for freedom, Since I left my hometown, I've been looking for freedom, still it can't be found." I highly recommend everyone in America to listen to this song(sung by an actor who sings well), since it's about Americans who can't afford to make ends meet, due to a severely corrupt administration hell-bent on destroying everything they touch, even the Arctic national refuge, which hurts us all like hell. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Meet Richard Pombo, the Arctic Oil Baron STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: meet_richard_po CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 10/07/2005 06:39:38 PM ----- BODY:

Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) -- the longtime congressman in the vanguard of efforts to drill in the Arctic, gut the Endangered Species Act, and sell off national parks -- has an interesting take on House ethics rules:

House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) has 10 days to respond to a complaint filed with a congressional panel that alleges that he violated House rules in sending a targeted pre-election mass mailing to snowmobile riders in the Midwest.

... The complaint, filed by two Minnesota environmental lawyers, alleges that Pombo used roughly $14,000 in public funds for an overtly political flier that was sent to 166,000 registered snowmobile owners in Minnesota and Wisconsin — two key battleground states.

... The complaint was mailed in late October and focuses on a mailing Pombo sent earlier that month, which stated, “The House Resources Committee is working with President Bush to ensure that snowmobiles have access to our national parks and recreation areas. You can rest assured that the [committee] and the Bush Administration are working together to protect your right to ride.”

Rebecca Rom and Sherry Enzler, two volunteers for Environment’s 2004’s Minnesota State Committee who filed the complaint, said they thought the mailers appeared to use public funds for partisan ends.

“I was outraged,” Rom told the Contra Costa Times. “It’s clear to me that this mailing constitutes campaign literature with purpose to re-elect Bush at taxpayer’s expense.”

... Democrats [also] criticized Pombo ... after The Hill reported that he shut down his Resources Committee so that panel staffers could hit the campaign trail. Some aides did just that, but the Resources Committee stressed that staffers could use the vacation at their own discretion.

... and an interesting memory — if you can call it that — for the historical record [emphasis added]:

Pombo has often said that his rage against environmentalists was sparked by a battle with the East Bay Regional Park District in the 1980s. The park district planned to open a hiking trail on an old railroad right-of-way that crossed the Pombo family ranch in the Diablo Range south of Altamont Pass.

"The park district sought this abandoned railroad right of way as a recreational trail through the property of two dozen local ranchers and that of my family," he wrote in his 1996 book This Land is Our Land, a brash credo on property rights and the evils of environmentalism. "We were very concerned that it would interfere with our ability to conduct business on our own property."

Pombo claimed the park district refused to fence the trail, police it or pick up trash, and that "viewshed" rules would have kept the ranchers from building new structures on their own land. All this, he wrote, and the park district refused to pay the ranchers a dime.

But none of this actually happened. The park district did propose a trail on the old rail line, but on a segment some 20 miles away, near San Francisco Bay. At that time, park district boundaries did not include the Pombo family land, Altamont Pass, or anything near it.

"The facts have been reported wrong," says Bob Doyle, the district’s assistant general manager, "and it’s become part of the robust history."

This is the man we trust to draw up America's energy policy? This is a man anyone trusts? We beg to differ.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Senator Coleman Has a Promise to Keep... STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: senator_coleman CATEGORY: Getting Involved CATEGORY: Spotlight on Congress DATE: 10/06/2005 02:10:00 PM ----- BODY:

Update: The people have spoken — nearly three-quarters of Minnesotans agree that Senator Coleman ought to keep his promise to block drilling in the Arctic Refuge. Now make sure the senator hears us — act now, using the instructions below, to let him know we're watching.

Here from the email? You can take action now. Here's what to do: print these articles ...

  1. The Star-Tribune, "Arctic Oil: Coleman's promise still applies"

  2. The Mankato Free Press, "Coleman Should Stick to ANWR Convictions"

... then make your comments — letting Senator Coleman know what you think — and then send the printouts to the Senator's field offices.

Here's an excerpt from The Star Tribune:

As a candidate, the Minnesota Republican pledged to oppose oil development in this especially fragile portion of Alaska's coastal plain. As a senator, he has cited this promise as evidence of independent judgment, of his willingness to differ with his president and party leadership.

But as the moment of truth draws near, he seems again to be field-testing the notion that he can vote for drilling as part of an overall budgeting bill, without breaking his promise -- or, at least, without being punished for this breach at the polls.

We think the electorate won't be that forgiving or forgetful.

----- EXTENDED BODY:

Minnesotans are enforcers when it comes to political promises, even when this puts them at odds with officeholders they support and admire. ... Nor do we think many voters will be fooled by the Coleman staff's hairsplitting effort to say voting for drilling in a freestanding policy bill would be a breach of trust, but voting for it in a budget reconciliation measure would not.

Coleman's spokesman says the senator is proud of his work on the reconciliation bill, particularly in resisting deeper cuts in Medicaid funding and farm subsidies, and now must support the overall package "for the greater good of Minnesota." In fact, Minnesota has no more stake in its provisions than any other state.

Another option is available to Coleman and, for that matter, to every other senator who thinks an important question of high public interest -- and the future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is all of that, for reasons of sound energy policy as well as environmental protection -- should be settled openly and squarely, in a tally where every vote is unambiguous. He should insist that the drilling language be removed and considered later on its merits -- including, by the way, the ridiculous notion that oil leasing in the refuge would bring anything like the $2.4 billion this measure envisions flowing into the Treasury in the next five years. If the language stands, he should vote no.

This would be a courageous step, and perhaps costly with the party leadership. By taking it, Coleman would demonstrate that, like other Minnesotans, he sees a promise as a promise, a breach as a breach, and courage as the necessary basis for voters' trust.

Coleman has other Minnesotans watching him just as closely. The Mankato Free-Press says [emphasis added]:

When Coleman ran for Senate in 2002 he pledged to fight all attempts to open the pristine wildlife refuge to oil drilling. It’s a stance he has boldly maintained ever since, even though it put him at odds with many in his party.

Now, Coleman’s spokesman said the senator is planning to vote for a bill that would allow drilling. That’s because the [Arctic Refuge] bill is being included by Republican leaders in a major budget bill. Coleman says there are too many important items in the spending bill to vote against it.

That, of course, is why President Bush and GOP leaders slipped the oil drilling bill into the budget bill. They know it would again fail to pass if considered on its own merits.

... Coleman should ... remember many Minnesotans who voted for him did so in part on his stance on the important issue of [the Refuge].

Print these articles, make your comments and then send the printouts to the Senator's field offices.

----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dawn Goracki EMAIL: dgoracki@hotmail.com IP: 207.195.192.13 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 04:40:37 PM Keep your promise Norm!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Terri McShane EMAIL: terrileemc29@aol.com IP: 10.0.20.1 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 04:46:02 PM Be a leader. Set a positive example for government. Keep your promise Norm. Don't let us down. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pastor Dale E. Howard EMAIL: dehoward14@juno.com IP: 65.25.228.69 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 04:59:32 PM As a resident of St. Paul, I have supported you from the time of your first run for mayor. Don't let me down now! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Virginia Severud EMAIL: v.severud@comcast.net IP: 24.118.164.161 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 05:28:22 PM Keep your promise Norm. Be a leader whose word we can trust!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kristin Urquiza EMAIL: kristin.urquiza@gmail.com IP: 207.173.201.60 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 05:32:23 PM For the greater good of Minnesota means listening to Minnesotans, Norm. We are being clear: Don't vote to open the Arctic. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anna Gray EMAIL: annargray2001@yahoo.com IP: 24.163.245.241 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 06:26:41 PM FOR MY CHILDREN, vote against drilling in the artic. This vote is crucial to me and I will remember your vote on election day and I will let my friends know how you voted as well. My name is Anna Gray. I live in Eden Prairie and I am watching all the trees turn into parking lots in the name of economic growth. My children can not realize that fall is here if there are no trees. Please leave the precious artic alone. I am seeing new fuel alternatives and viehicles all the time.. let this process go and stop exploiting nature(the same as ourselves) for a short-sighted, short-term solution. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: m m shermock EMAIL: PShermo9@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 06:47:25 PM Pleae! Remeber the wildlife you represent & that you have direct control of their future. Who are we to deny their continuing? And for what? Six months of Republican oil, please look at the larger picture. Please don't let us down in MN who have faith in your conscience, please remember when you voted Democratic & the noble issues you stood for. This is none the less. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Heidi Hartman EMAIL: nachurgrl@yahoo.com IP: 172.175.97.188 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 06:50:56 PM Do the Right Thing! This moral issue should be black and white - don't drill! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Shawn Roed EMAIL: shawn.roed@duluth.k12.mn.us IP: 209.240.238.17 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 06:55:37 PM Senator Coleman Keep your promise on ANWR That was one of the reasons I voted for you. By standing by your word – you will show that you take serious the promises you make to Minnesotan’s. Stand up – even if you stand-alone. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: katiefinch EMAIL: katlynfinch@yahoo.com IP: 66.103.161.12 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 07:01:37 PM coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm this istheplace to email norm coleman about his stance on the artic digging. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barbara Davis EMAIL: wlf@execpc.com IP: 208.38.92.131 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 07:15:54 PM Do NOT break your promise. You got my vote because I believed your word. The budget does NOTHING for MN that can't be done elsewhere - without drilling in the Refuge. Keep your word, Sen. Coleman! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Brandy Sweeney EMAIL: beesweeney@hotmail.com IP: 12.215.89.178 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 07:35:58 PM After previuosly applauding your efforts, I received a rote email relating your staunch stance NOT to support ANWR drilling. This letter outlined your reasons. What has changed? It (ANWR) wasn't then and it isn't now going to even make a blip of difference with the oil crisis ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gail Hughes EMAIL: hughe038@umn.edu IP: 65.124.139.139 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 08:44:23 PM I hope you will act as a statesman when it comes to the Arctic Refuge. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: D. Nadeau EMAIL: jnadeau@smumn.edu IP: 65.162.44.57 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 09:53:13 PM Senator Coleman, Maybe this quote will inspire you to vote no to drilling in Alaska: "In the end, our society will be defined not only by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy." Deedee Nadeau ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Stacy Nguyen EMAIL: stacynguyen53@hotmail.com IP: 71.32.131.32 URL: DATE: 10/06/2005 11:21:55 PM If you ever expect Minnesotans to trust you again, stick to your promise! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: heidi schleicher EMAIL: info@indigaart.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: http://www.indigaARt.com DATE: 10/07/2005 09:53:48 AM please do the right thing. this is pristine wilderness, let's put our efforts towards other forms of energy instead! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patricia Mundy EMAIL: pattyjomundy@yahoo.com IP: 172.136.11.242 URL: DATE: 10/07/2005 11:08:21 AM Please Mr Coleman: Do not go back on your promises as you will be doing a great injustice to yourself & to all of Minnesota!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Margaret Legault EMAIL: pattyjomundy1@netscape.com IP: 172.136.11.242 URL: DATE: 10/07/2005 11:10:15 AM Please do not make my grandchildren more dependant on oil!!! Please stick to your promises!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Eila Miller EMAIL: Eila3@juno.com IP: 4.159.165.156 URL: DATE: 10/07/2005 11:12:05 AM Please, please keep your promise to save the Artic Wildlife Refuge ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Eila Miller EMAIL: Eila3@juno.com IP: 4.159.165.156 URL: DATE: 10/07/2005 11:12:07 AM Please, please keep your promise to save the Artic Wildlife Refuge ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: louise waddick EMAIL: lawaddick@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 10/07/2005 11:18:24 AM Keep your promise to protect the arctic refuge! i will not vote for you if you don't. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol Mitchell EMAIL: mitchartfubar@netscape.net IP: 63.169.24.193 URL: DATE: 10/07/2005 11:19:29 AM Do the right thing and honor your promise. It's not just the future of Minnesota that depends on it! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jean Williams EMAIL: haven59@yahoo.com IP: 65.112.121.29 URL: DATE: 10/07/2005 12:41:57 PM We are depending on you to keep your campaign PROMISES! To do so, you MUST vote against opening ANWR to distruction by greedy oil companies. PLEASE keep your word and vote AGAINST drilling in the Refuge! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: LuAnn Strauss EMAIL: luann_strauss@yahoo.com IP: 67.131.111.98 URL: DATE: 10/07/2005 03:10:56 PM Do the right thing and honor your promise. I have children who are very concerned about the wildlife everywhere. The artic is a pristine place which I hope to see in the future. There are other fuel alternatives which we need to pursue. Remember we are the custodians of this land. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nancy Moore EMAIL: nanc_moore@hotmail.com IP: 141.224.149.198 URL: DATE: 10/10/2005 10:42:15 AM Please don't be like the typical politician who has no back bone - keep your promise and vote AGAINST drilling in the refuge! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dale Hadler EMAIL: dale_Hadler@hotmail.com IP: 216.17.51.34 URL: DATE: 10/10/2005 03:10:44 PM Minnesota has a long tradition of environmental cocern,a vote to preserve the Arctic Refuge is the only correct vote for a Minnesota senator. Vote to keep big oil out of the refuge. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patricia Smith EMAIL: starry_amethyst_sky@yahoo.com IP: 64.122.224.2 URL: DATE: 10/11/2005 02:00:39 PM Mr. Coleman, please follow through on your promise tol protect the Arctic Refuge. What little oil is there would last the U.S. only 6 months. The refuge's environment took millions of years to create, and would be lost forever. It is not worth it. Please vote NO on drilling in the Arctic! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Adele Binning EMAIL: adeletom@bitstream.net IP: 216.243.165.169 URL: DATE: 10/13/2005 06:21:32 PM Senator Coleman, I can still see your billboard high above University Avenue proclaiming your green promises. Now I say "please keep your promise." If we drill in ANWR, we get some oil and spoiled wilderness. Once the oil is gone, we're left with a spoiled wilderness. Keep the promise you made and we have wilderness and a renewed enthusiasm to develop sustainable energy policy. VOTE NO. Your constituents have good memories. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sgt Stephen K. Nicklay, USA Ret-med EMAIL: sgtnick1951@yahoo.com IP: 24.117.137.207 URL: DATE: 10/13/2005 06:29:36 PM Senator Coleman, I can still see your billboard high above University Avenue proclaiming your green promises. Now I say "please keep your promise." If we drill in ANWR, we get some oil and spoiled wilderness. Once the oil is gone, we're left with a spoiled wilderness. Keep the promise you made and we have wilderness and a renewed enthusiasm to develop sustainable energy policy. VOTE NO. Your constituents have good memories. The above is a copy and paste job, but the message is so clear-as in ANWR, why mess with perfection. Keep your promise, or was that just more campaign hot air. If we could collect all the "gas" emitted in stump speeches during the seemingly continual campaign seasons, we'd have no energy crisis at all. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dan Nelson EMAIL: dannelson@tcinternet.net IP: 66.173.57.2 URL: DATE: 10/13/2005 07:28:46 PM Follow-up on this Mr Coleman. Minnesota clearly is behind you so stand up for your promise. I have been starting to think I'd even vote for you next election. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rob Davis EMAIL: rdavis1@mn.rr.com IP: 24.163.210.8 URL: DATE: 10/13/2005 08:49:32 PM Senator Coleman, We trust you not to let the Republican manipulation of the current oil situation dissuade you from keeping your promise to protect the ANWR. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gail Hughes EMAIL: hughe038@umn.edu IP: 65.124.139.139 URL: DATE: 10/13/2005 08:52:26 PM Norm, Be a statesman; not a sell-out! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Teresa Fortino EMAIL: taaf5446@hotmail.com IP: 24.23.226.247 URL: DATE: 10/13/2005 08:54:54 PM Americans have a responsibility to protect our awesome gifts of nature. We not only treasure them as much as our jobs and economy, we need them and our natural resources and wildlife as much as we need clean air and water to survive. Americans are not so shallow and blind; we do know what makes this country special. Without all of us fighting for what is truly important, this country would be a huge wasteland, void of natural beauty, just one big concrete, toxic spewing dumping site. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Deb Krolick EMAIL: icerink@msn.com IP: 4.142.222.116 URL: DATE: 10/13/2005 10:31:26 PM Please keep your promise to oppose drilling in the Arctic Wilderness. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Craig Stockwell EMAIL: Craig.Stockwell@ndsu.edu IP: 134.129.113.28 URL: DATE: 10/13/2005 11:34:38 PM Senator Coleman, You could help lead the republican party back to the roots of Theodore Roosevelt by standing by your promise to vote to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I will publically promise that YOU WILL HAVE MY VOTE WHEN YOU RUN FOR RE-ELECTION, if you oppose the reconciliation bill and continue to support the protection ANWR. This is not a small comment as I am a serious democrat. However, I am equally concerned that most republcians have turned their back on environmental protection. Thank You, Craig Stockwell, Moorhead MN ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Craig Laughlin EMAIL: srcfunding@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 10/14/2005 09:27:05 AM Senator Coleman, If Jim Ramstad can do it, why can't you? Respectfully, Craig Laughlin Plymouth, MN ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marilyn Victor EMAIL: marvic51@msn.com IP: 67.4.172.142 URL: DATE: 10/14/2005 10:18:42 AM Sounds like flip-flopping to me. It's time to stand up to this administration and vote for what's right. And drilling in the Arctic isn't right. Keep your promises. It's time Americans looked at alternative sources of enegy -- not new sources of oil, especially at the risk of our so-fragile environment. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nickie McClure EMAIL: nicmcclure@edina.k12/mn.us IP: 64.8.133.231 URL: DATE: 10/14/2005 04:47:08 PM DO NOT DRILL IN ALASKA. THAT IS CRAZY. WE CANNOT RELY ON OIL ANYMORE. HOW ABOUT WE THINK OF WAYS TO NOT DEPEND ON OIL. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nancy EMAIL: NEvans26@mchsi.com IP: 12.218.166.55 URL: DATE: 10/14/2005 10:57:27 PM PLEASE keep your promise Senator Coleman. Block drilling in the Arctic Refuge. Remember we are watching, this is one of the reasons that we voted you in!! Please keep your word, and help protect the arctic and the animals that inhabit it's beautiful land. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laurie EMAIL: demonic_angel40@hotmail.com IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 10/24/2005 10:22:05 AM For all of you who have posted on this page: please contact Norm Coleman in his district or DC office and tell his staffer that you want him to vote "NO" on the Budget Reconciliation Bill, or any other bill that includes ANWR drilling. If he does vote to pass this bill, tell him he's lost your vote! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: tina EMAIL: tinal6@msn.com IP: 65.148.158.195 URL: DATE: 11/02/2005 06:05:45 AM Senator Coleman- set yourself apart from your party. Be a leader. Vote your conscience and against oil drilling in the arctic. I know you will do the right thing when you really think about the future of our children and those who you represent. Thanks for listening. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Don Ellis EMAIL: ignition@catlover.com IP: 172.142.243.138 URL: DATE: 12/11/2005 12:33:01 AM Go for it Norm! Screw these dumb hippies. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: At Home in the Arctic Refuge: An Inupiaq Perspective STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: guest_writer_at CATEGORY: Notes from the Wildlife Refuge DATE: 09/26/2005 05:12:00 PM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Robert Thompson, Inupiaq resident of Kaktovik and wilderness guide

I would like to let people know why the preservation of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is important to me. I’m an Inupiaq person who resides within the boundaries of the 1002 coastal plain area, where oil exploitation has been proposed. While many aspects of our culture have been lost through the adaptation to new ways, there is a very strong desire to retain certain core elements of our culture.

Hunting is one aspect of our culture that is essential to retain. Subsistence hunting is what defines us as a people. It gives us our identity. The hunting culture has sustained us for thousands of years. To be hunters we need our lands and ocean. It will not do to have a land that is filled with industrial activity and an ocean that has the threat of catastrophic oil spills that will disrupt the marine animals. This culture that has sustained us for thousands of years gives us our pride and self esteem.

If an Inupiaq man is able to provide for his family and community, it gives him a feeling of self worth. To derive this feeling from the ability to provide for a person’s family and community from the land is different than the larger society but the concept is universally understood. Self reliance, independence, self confidence, happiness: we derive all of this from our land. Our land should not be sold to the highest bidder for oil exploitation.

This is the land of my people and should be preserved for future generations to enjoy in its natural state. As we proceed into the modern era it becomes more and more important to retain that what gives us peace and tranquility. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is such a place. My people and all the people of the United States will be able to enjoy this land if we stop the oil companies from destroying it. I do not want to live in an oil field, nor do I want my future generations to.---

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----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Linda Corbin EMAIL: jstamessngr@rbbmt.org IP: 67.128.110.2 URL: DATE: 10/13/2005 09:02:27 PM I totally agree. I believe the Native people of the Arctic need to be able to sustain their life style as they have known it over hundreds of years, if not more. Look at what "progress" has done to the Native Americans in the lower 48!! It's one of the worst crimes ever committed by the white man's "industrial progress", and the future generations of Native Americans all over are paying, and paying and paying....and the gov't. continues to lie today and every day. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David McFarland EMAIL: nek50@yahoo.com IP: 24.164.74.58 URL: DATE: 10/18/2005 11:15:40 PM I too am concened about the preservation of wildlife in ANWR. But the national security of this nation rests in a large part on our being energy self sufficient. I believe that drilling and oil production and nature can and must coexist in a way that will protect the wildlife not only in ANWR but in the lower 48 where we have the greatest concentration of oil shale in the world. Every American must support the extraction of these precious resources for our own use, so we all can be safe from anti-american extremists including the Marxists in charge in Venezuala to the Ismalist extremists running Iran, to the evil criminals blowing up oil fields and killing America's sons and daughters in Iraq. They would use our dependence on foreign oil to destroy us. We can get the oil and protect our precious wildlife resources at the same time. If America is to survive as the greatest nation the world has ever seen, we must succeed at getting the oil while protecting our wildlife. It is a battle worth waging. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laura EMAIL: lakiesel@gmail.com IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 10/26/2005 03:09:42 PM David: The U.S. only possesses 3% of world's oil reserves. This includes ANWR, offshore drilling and those reserves in the Rocky Mountain West and in the National Parks. No amount of drilling will ever bridge this gap; we will always be vastly dependent on foreign oil as long as oil is our main source of energy. This is just a simple fact. Also, oil is put on the world market, so there is a good chance that a substantial percentage of oil produced from ANWR, should it be drilled, will be exported to China and India. And a good chance that the state of Alaska will sue to secure 90% of the oil/revenue (a right alotted to them by the Alaska Statehood Act). In Prudhoe Bay there are 400-500 oil spills a year. In 1989, the Exxon-Valdez spill killed roughly 250,000 animals, including many endangered species and ruined the marine habitat. Currently, as the Arctic Refuge is included in the Budget Reconciliation Bill, there are clauses to exempt drilling from NEPA (the National Environmental Protection Act) review and U.S. Fish and Wildlife intervention (which is instead shifted to the Secretary of the Interior, who does not have extended knowledge of the biodiversity of the plain). How can we "get the oil and protect our precious wildlife resources" while at the same time waiving many the existing environmental regulations? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Clia Toris IV EMAIL: amyjohn00@yahoo.com IP: 24.11.134.195 URL: http://www.dungtongue.com DATE: 12/31/2005 11:51:57 AM My response to: The Wisdom of Arctic Oil - The Luxury of Running Water by Tara Sweeney The crazy thing is if we would have started drilling under their igloos - they wouldn’t have known what we were doing anyway. Remember these are people who, until very recently, used whale blubber, caribou meat and seal fur as currency. Who is claiming they’re owed something? Tara Sweeney- right wing stoolie? It’s not them telling us we owe them, it’s us telling them we owe them. Call it white man’s guilt or, if you’re a liberal politician, come up with something more politically correct to call it. Either way it’s ridiculous. Here is another analogy - to the Indians of the great plains (circa 1870): Relax we don’t want your buffalo (number one food and material source) we just need your South Dakota uranium. Do we really owe them? Did they have a practical use for uranium anyway? Catch my drift? Oh, Hmmm, I get it. We don’t really feel like we owe them shit. We just want to pretend we do. It’s a sympathy play. Who is against poor Indians living in poverty? Not me. Wait a minute. Just imagine that these really are real Indians jumping up and down on an ice flow chanting, “exploit us, exploit us, exploit us!” We ought to give them what they want you say? Beads for Manhattan? If you would have polled the Manhattan Indians around 1680 they would have insisted up and down that they got a fair shake. Arctic drilling as reparations? I’m not sure if it’s a conservative or liberal argument. No one told the Inuits that they had to permanently settle and stay around the Arctic circle. Plenty of their relatives headed a lot further south after they migrated over the Bering Sea thousands of years ago. It’s hard to feel sorry for them. Hey, life’s a bitch anywhere above the 60th parallel. Certainly, it’s difficult to make an argument supporting Arctic drilling on their behalf. Surely, someone can come up with something better. Call me (email me - you know what I mean) when you do. In the mean time… http://www.dungtongue.com ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Action Day Photo Gallery STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: action_day_phot DATE: 09/22/2005 01:06:45 PM ----- BODY:
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The rally on Sept. 20 went off like a charm. To give you a flavor of it, we've set up this gallery of photos taken on the scene. Enjoy, and remember to do your part — click, call and report today! ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Linda Jones EMAIL: whitefurrybears@sbcglobal.net IP: 66.122.5.110 URL: DATE: 09/22/2005 05:12:31 PM great pictures. Glad things went well in D.C. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Urban Environmentalist in Chicago EMAIL: mkvazquez@yahoo.com IP: 68.20.35.113 URL: DATE: 09/22/2005 05:14:05 PM I am so sorry that I could not be with you all on the day of the action in D.C. I didn't see any coverage of it on the news, of course. Channel 7 did a lame, lame, lame mention of the transportation bill in the wake of Katrina... the only thing they mentioned is whether Alaska would give up a bridge of some sort -- they didn't even mention where. Then they focused in on cutting programs that are concentrated in the lower 48 cities... That's where we need a habitable transportation system !!!!! The news is sooooo mentally crippled that they can't even articulate the issue! Or perhaps talking around the issue serves a corporate purpose -- to make it seem like they are doing their job without ACTUALLY do it. With Rita coming they will continue to redirect attention and misinform while they try to sneak through their greed bills to benefit the Oil Kings. Environmentalists ALL OVER THE WORLD must aid the US Environmentalist in their effort to bring the Bush Administration and its supporters into reality. It can't be done without accurate and thorough journalism. Humans and Wildlife DEMAND environmental justice NOW. Environmentalist must push for a sane rebuilding effort which includes perhaps not rebuilding where much needed natural environments need to serve as buffer zones as well as replacing much NEEDED ecosystems. Perhaps a national park system along the Gulf could serve to preserve Historic New Orleans and the other historic destroyed areas in the meanwhile use much needed funds for rebuilding in areas outside of the hurricane and levee danger zones. Perhaps the Oil Kings could build ethanol refineries or other alternative fuel industries and employ thousands of displaced Gulf evacuees and other unemployed Americans-- finance an updated, new and improved industry. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Urban Environmentalist EMAIL: mkvazquez@yahoo.com IP: 68.20.35.113 URL: DATE: 09/22/2005 05:15:18 PM I am so sorry that I could not be with you all on the day of the action in D.C. I didn't see any coverage of it on the news, of course. Channel 7 did a lame, lame, lame mention of the transportation bill in the wake of Katrina... the only thing they mentioned is whether Alaska would give up a bridge of some sort -- they didn't even mention where. Then they focused in on cutting programs that are concentrated in the lower 48 cities... That's where we need a habitable transportation system !!!!! The news is sooooo mentally crippled that they can't even articulate the issue! Or perhaps talking around the issue serves a corporate purpose -- to make it seem like they are doing their job without ACTUALLY do it. With Rita coming they will continue to redirect attention and misinform while they try to sneak through their greed bills to benefit the Oil Kings. Environmentalists ALL OVER THE WORLD must aid the US Environmentalist in their effort to bring the Bush Administration and its supporters into reality. It can't be done without accurate and thorough journalism. Humans and Wildlife DEMAND environmental justice NOW. Environmentalist must push for a sane rebuilding effort which includes perhaps not rebuilding where much needed natural environments need to serve as buffer zones as well as replacing much NEEDED ecosystems. Perhaps a national park system along the Gulf could serve to preserve Historic New Orleans and the other historic destroyed areas in the meanwhile use much needed funds for rebuilding in areas outside of the hurricane and levee danger zones. Perhaps the Oil Kings could build ethanol refineries or other alternative fuel industries and employ thousands of displaced Gulf evacuees and other unemployed Americans-- finance an updated, new and improved industry. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jonathan TS Morse EMAIL: shajon@hotmail.com IP: 67.183.69.216 URL: http://home.comcast.net/~shajon/index.html DATE: 09/24/2005 05:16:27 PM Why nO news coverage CNN was full of our elected officials telling us how hard tey were working to save us from enviormental desaster but not one word about ANWAR or oils contribution to global warming but plentey about OIL PRICES to me the only bad thing about high priced oil is more money for big oil.maybe the prices will force us to demand alternative energy. we should also demand the media cover the news. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Copper EMAIL: werelion@earthlink.net IP: 65.110.133.188 URL: DATE: 11/10/2005 03:53:29 PM I agree. How come the news cannot show anything on this? In the wake of katrina, I guess no one cares. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Arctic Refuge Action Day: Live Blog #2 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: arctic_refuge_a_3 DATE: 09/20/2005 12:11:33 PM ----- BODY:

Congressman Ed Markey and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of the Waterkeeper Alliance just spoke -- and taking us home right now is Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), who just called the idea of drilling the Refuge "a snare ... a delusion." He's giving a great speech -- and hammering away at the point that drilling the Refuge won't do a whit for energy prices.


His plan: fuel efficiency, conservation, and common sense. That echoes one of the earlier speakers -- a youn girl who runs the site Pump It Up, which explains how keeping our tires inflated could save Americans four million gallons of gas per day. It pains this blogger to admit it, but I did not know that. Time to break out my tire gauge ...


Out at the back, the Gwich'in Steering Committee is here in force, well-represented and keeping vigil. And at the NWF table -- still a line of pwoplw, all signing up to join us at Arctic Promise. Awesome.


Photos coming later — on the stage, they're gearing up for a speech by Rep. Betty McCollum (Minn.). Away we go ...

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anne from Virginia EMAIL: senft@nwf.org IP: 68.67.235.51 URL: DATE: 09/20/2005 10:40:08 PM I attended the rally today; it was great! I was particularly inspired by the children and young adults who spoke. BTW - The site for Pump 'Em Up is http://www.pumpemup.org/ ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: TB2 EMAIL: bd@bd.now IP: 131.225.176.69 URL: http://www.biodieselnow.com DATE: 10/03/2005 03:04:27 PM Did anyone drive there using alternate fuels? Bicycles? Were any generators being used and fueled with biodiesel? How about photovoltaic ("solar") panels? Were you practicing what you were preaching? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Arctic Refuge Action Day: Live Blog STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: arctic_refuge_a_2 CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 09/20/2005 12:09:00 PM ----- BODY:

It's just past 11 on Sept. 20 here in Washington--and the rally to save the Refuge has gotten underway. A crowd of people is still streaming in from the Metro station, and another bus has just started to unload behind me.

I see a sea of people--including four pro-drilling counterprotesters (one in a suit and tie)--and tables from an array of people in the conservation community. We've got a line of people stretching out in front of the NWF table, getting water and using our bank of laptops to join Arctic Promise. That's gone really well--Adam Kolton says we've had a line here nonstop since 10:20.

On the stage, they've just segued from a kickoff speech and talk about Katrina into an invocation. Before that, we had a middle school marching band rouse the crowd. (Right now, they're over in front of the pro drilling four, who I think are feeling really intimidated. Poor guys.)

More updates--plus photos--to come.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tina Louise EMAIL: tinal6@msn.com IP: 65.148.158.195 URL: DATE: 11/02/2005 05:39:25 AM hi. I called my Representative Loretta Sanchez and her office stated she is undecided about the issue of oil drilling and the budget. I don't believe this. Isn't the vote taking place this week? On a positive note, Senator Boxer said she would vote against the budget if it includes drilling in the arctic. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: For Our Children's Future STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: guest_writer_fo CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 09/16/2005 04:54:09 PM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Susan Alexander, San Francisco

Caribou_and_calf I have had the honor to spend considerable time in the Arctic Refuge, much of it on the coastal plain. I'll never forget my first backpack. As we emerged from the glorious mountains, I thought to myself the plain will be a letdown. How wrong I was.

The coastal plain has a unique magic that can be seen in the distant, watery eyes of those who have experienced it. Its tundra is a tiny, delicate forest dotted with nests and burrows. Its rolling expanse made intimate by the sea ice to the north and the ragged mountains to the south. On one of my trips that started in the mountains and headed south, I found myself yearning to head north to the plain. I felt the pull of the pregnant caribou.

It has been 10 years since my last trip there. Each year when I know the caribou are arriving to calve and nurse their young, my soul travels with them to its true home. I relive my many wonderful adventures backpacking, rafting and kayaking in the refuge. But my body aches for not being able to join them. And my need to share this special place with my almost 9-year-old daughter is overwhelming.

The thought that it might be lost for a few months of oil and corporate profit--and that it might not be there to share with her or her children--horrifies me. That Congress could be so ignorant and shortsighted is unfathomable. I can only hope they open their eyes to what is at stake in our Far North.

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----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Witnessing the Migration STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: guest_writer_wi CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 09/16/2005 04:37:51 PM ----- BODY:

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A guest post Bruce Hiscock, children's book author and illustrator

In June of 1998, I rafted down the Kongakut River with a small group from the Sierra Club. Our plan was to float through the Brooks Range, and then backpack across the coastal plain to the Beaufort Sea. There, we hoped to glimpse the huge numbers of caribou from the Porcupine Herd on their calving grounds. Since I was writing a children’s book about caribou, The Big Caribou Herd, I particularly wanted to see this great herd for myself.

Hiscock_cariboukongakut_1 On the river, days never passed without seeing a few hardy caribou, stragglers catching up with the herd. But in two days of backpacking on the coastal plain we had not seen a single caribou. The third day was cool and misty. As we started out, a few caribou trotted over a hill from the west. More caribou followed, and soon there were caribou as far as we could see in all directions. The bulls, calves, and cows regarded us with casual interest as they grazed and moved eastward. Stunned at our good fortune, we just stood there, marveling at this spectacle. Then we took a lot of photos. Finally, with more caribou in sight, we shouldered our packs and walked amidst the herd. By evening they had moved on.

As a former Alaska resident, I have traveled the North from the Aleutians to Labrador. But this sight and this unspoiled land are truly unforgettable. I urge everyone to protect the Refuge as wilderness forever.

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----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Thanks for Letting Your Voices Be Heard STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: people_who_have CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 09/16/2005 03:41:00 PM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Lynne Cherry, author of The Great Kapok Tree; A River Ran Wild and other environmental children's books

People who have reached 100 years old remember growing up in a very different world. Generation by generation more of the natural world is drilled, mined, paved over, flooded by dams or otherwise destroyed. We only remember the world the way it was when we came into it. If we, instead, could see the world before our ancestors came here, before the advent of the car and the industrial revolution, before we became an oil economy, we would be shocked and horrified at how much habitat, how many species and how much beauty has been destroyed through "white man's footprint."

Those who set aside land and created our national parks and wilderness areas were able to understand this "shifting baseline" which I first read about in the book "Marine Reserves" by Jack Sobel. We need to take the long view and continue to protect the small percentage of our country and of the world that remains untouched wilderness.

I am at Cornell Lab of Ornithology this year as artist-in-residence and a few months ago the world was excited about the discovery of a living Ivory Billed Woodpecker. For me, the discovery was bittersweet. So much of the cypress swamps that comprised Ivorybill habitat were destroyed that the Ivorybills were driven nearly to extinction. If one or two Ivorybills have managed to survive can we consider this a victory? Instead, I see the state of the Ivorybill as a failure--a terrible failure to protect unique habitat that allows unique species to survive.

For those who believe in a God or a higher being, how could it be right to destroy God's great creation? In the story of Noah, God makes not only a covenant with Noah and his family but with all the animals and every living thing. Whether we look at this as "saving God's great creation" or saving the unique and marvelous panoply of living things on this wondrous planet earth--apparently the only planet with life as we know it--it is our responsibility to save it.

Hence, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is as unique as the cypress swamps that the Ivorybill needed to survive, as complex as the rain forest that the marbled murrelet needs to survive, and it is intricately woven into the fabric of life that humans need for continued life on this planet.

Please encourage everyone you know to speak out for the Arctic--Please ask your children to write letters to their representatives in Congress about how the fate of the caribou, muskoxen, polar bears, migratory birds and Native people depends upon our protecting this critical habitat. Consider joining thousands of Americans in Washington D.C. for Arctic Action Day on September 20th. Thanks for letting your voices be heard.

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----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gary Burdette EMAIL: naturesartphotography@msn.com IP: 71.101.129.64 URL: http://www.garyburdettephotography.com DATE: 09/22/2005 07:37:43 PM Reading the words of Lynne Cherry made it seem as if I was talking to myself. What has happened in my home state of Florida is the same thing that is happening all over America, and will happen in the Artic Wildlife Refuge if we don't stop this. My work as a wildlife photographer has taken me all over my home state. In no way does it resemble the beautiful place I knew as a child. The children of Alaska will be saying the same thing if this administration, and "big oil" have their way. Man can be a terrible and greedy species. This is what is destroying our national treasure. Lynne Cherry knows what it means to be a good steward of our planet. All of us who are fighting for the preservation of ANWR knows what it means to be good stewards. It's a shame that the President has no idea what that means! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: theresa EMAIL: abyrnsie@localnet.com IP: 66.155.160.230 URL: DATE: 09/26/2005 04:40:48 PM After I heard we were drilling in the artic I was totally against it. I live in Pennsylvania and it made me ,a thirteen year old girl, relize what our parents are leaving us with. A lifetime of trouble that seems to only be growing. These words that Lynne Cherry has written has openned my eyes and since I heard of this terrible mistake I have been devoted most of my time to nature I understand that feeding a few birds in my backyard will only do so much good. But when my friend read this paragraph she too saw what was happening, I guess what I am saying is that the turning of a few heads is a great start and what you are doing here is awesome and I hope that someday when I am older I will be able to help and make a controbution to this earth just like you have, Thank you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cara EMAIL: chads_baby89@yahoo.com IP: 172.20.35.140 URL: DATE: 10/20/2005 02:16:12 PM I THINK THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID IS TOTALLY TRUE AND I WOULD LOVE TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION AND HOW TO HELP. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tina Louise EMAIL: tinal6@msn.com IP: 65.148.158.195 URL: DATE: 11/02/2005 05:54:29 AM I am moved by Lynne Cherry's words. I have written letters, made phone calls and e-mailed many friends about this issue. I hope it is enough to stop this devastating provision in the budget bill. Surely, the national disasters of late and our weather changes point to the fact that our natural resources are not unlimited. I am a lawyer yet I feel our government has not learned the importance of protecting sacred places like the Arctic, Yellowstone and other national treasures. This issue has so moved me that I am considering environmental law as a change. Please tell your friends about this vote. I do believe we can all make a difference. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: NO, it is not a "flat, white nothingness." STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: guest_writer_no CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 09/14/2005 11:23:00 PM ----- BODY:

Banerjee A guest post by Subhankar Banerjee, photographer and author of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land

NO, it is not a "flat, white nothingness."

Imagine a land so remote that few have ever visited it except the indigenous peoples. A land so harsh that life exists in a delicate ecological balance. Yet this land has inspired the imagination of millions around the world to fight for its preservation. Unlike any other place on the planet, this is the crown jewel of the circumpolar Arctic, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

I was fortunate to have spent fourteen months on a photographic journey through the Arctic Refuge. I traveled with my Inupiat Eskimo friend Robert Thompson from Kaktovik, and later with my Gwich’in Indian friends from Arctic Village. I brought back a holistic story of this magnificent land that includes wildlife, landscape, plants and flowers, and indigenous cultures that have lived in harmony with this land for thousands of years.

NO it is not a "flat, white nothingness" or "frozen wasteland of snow and ice" as described by oil drilling proponents. It is a living, breathing place in every season. Not only does life thrive there in winter, but new life is born during these harsh months (polar bear and muskox). The coastal plain is indeed the biological heart of the refuge. Polar bear, muskox, caribou, Arctic fox, and more than 100 species of birds from six continents give birth and rear their young on this land. It is both an environmental issue as well a human rights issue. The indigenous people depend on this land for their subsistence and cultural needs, and their spiritual health. We must not allow oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge. Please join millions of other Americans to voice your opposition to drilling. You can visit my web site for more information. THANK YOU!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Crea EMAIL: johncrea@comcast.net IP: 69.180.169.196 URL: DATE: 10/16/2005 12:00:46 PM Keep your promise, and keep the oil companies out of the Alaska Nat'l Wildlife Refuge. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: We Are Part of a Larger Natural World STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: guest_writer_we CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 09/14/2005 02:48:00 PM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Laurie Hoyle, Santa Barbara, CA

In summer 1990, I backpacked about 55 miles in the Arctic Refuge starting from the Canning River, cutting through the Sadlerochit Mountains, then hiking across the tundra to the Arctic Ocean. The trip remains with me in a series of images: Caribou emerging from the mist; a grizzly bear running from our camp, her two cubs in fast pursuit; a tundra swan on a freshwater pond, flushed with a rosy glow from the long-angled light of the sun circling the horizon. I remember also the intense color and startling clarity of the land under a cloudless sky. My shadow stretched out before me with seemingly nothing between it and the distant horizon. That trip tested me both physically and emotionally, and it gave me the greatest sense I have ever had of being in a truly wild and remote place.

At trip's end, we were picked up and flown back to Kaktovik. Our pilot told us the news we had missed, that Iraq had invaded Kuwait, and that the U.S. had gone to war against Iraq. I knew then that this tricky balancing act we're attempting--to get at the resources we need to fuel our economic development and maintain our "way of life" without destroying ourselves and our world in the process--had become more precarious than ever.

Now, fifteen years later, we find ourselves in circumstances new but strangely familiar, with issues of national security deeply intertwined with those of economic interest. It is no surprise that the Refuge is again at risk. Earlier generations have understood that we can heal political divides, we can use our intelligence and initiative to increase energy efficiencies and develop renewable resources. But those generations also understood that some things we cannot do: Once we destroy a wilderness, we cannot recreate it. Let us follow the lead of these earlier generations and act courageously to save the Refuge now. If we do not, we lose that which wilderness makes exceedingly clear: we are inescapably part of a larger, natural world and we simply cannot survive without it.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Leave the Arctic Refuge Alone STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: guest_writer_le CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 09/12/2005 01:47:00 PM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Maggie Sharp, San Francisco

I recently returned from a 10-day float down the beautiful Kongakut River. Our trip gave us plenty of time to hike in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and to experience the feeling of the place as well as the sights and sounds.

It is, quite simply, one of the most stunningly gorgeous places I've ever been! (I have traveled widely, both in the U.S.A. and abroad). With the exception of the Serengeti in East Africa, I have never seen so much wildlife in one place, and so much richness and stark beauty. We saw more than 60 species of plants in flower! Many of them were tiny, but their bright yellow, lavender, pink and white blooms created a lovely miniature garden in the soft moss and lichens.

We saw wild animals every day, including 5 grizzly bears, thousands of caribou, wolves, moose, foxes, ground squirrels, Dall sheep, a wolverine (!), and a lone musk ox on the flight into the valley. I was so thrilled to see them!

The birds were amazing. We saw bald and golden eagles, merlins, peregrine falcons, and many species of nesting shorebirds (such as spotted sandpipers and wandering tattlers). Several species of gulls were nesting along the river, and we were lucky enough to see the American dipper on her nest, and gorgeous red-breasted mergansers and Pacific loons with their chicks. Many migratory birds were taking advantage of the abundant seasonal food supply.

The Refuge is so rich and unspoiled, so WILD, that there is nothing left quite like it. Most of the world is so humanized and "developed" that there are few places where the creatures can roam freely. It would be a tragedy of the highest degree if this place was filled with drilling rigs and gravel pits, roads and truck parts. There is enough of this in the world already. Leave the Arctic Refuge alone!!

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Larry Schweiger TITLE: Arctic Refuge Action Day STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: arctic_refuge_a CATEGORY: Larry Schweiger DATE: 09/08/2005 01:00:00 PM ----- BODY:

On Tuesday, thousands of Americans will come to Washington, DC, to tell their leaders to protect the Arctic Refuge. You can sign up to join them by clicking here.

Drilling in the Arctic Refuge, which by conservative estimates could reduce gas prices by about one cent per gallon beginning twenty years from now, is a mere distraction from the real discussion we need to have in this country about reducing our dependence on oil.

Congress needs to hear that message directly, from Americans everywhere.

I hope you can join us in Washington for Arctic Refuge Action Day. If not, you can still make a difference by using the call-in tool on this site to contact your member of Congress, find out where they stand on Arctic drilling, and report back what you've learned.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Some Places Should Be Left Unspoiled STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: guest_writer_so CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 09/08/2005 10:12:00 AM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Scott Freeman, Biological Sciences Technician

I'm back in town after a busy and interesting 2 months working in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It's an amazing place and an amazing experience to have the opportunity to work with animals in such a beautiful and wild area. It's also an experience that may soon be a thing of the past. The area in which I was working might be opened to oil exploration this year if both the House and Senate can agree on a budget resolution containing language to this effect.

My experiences don't change my opinion on this issue, but they do give me a much better appreciation for what is at stake, and a sense of obligation to share my experiences. The coastal plain is an important and fragile place, one that supports a wide variety of wildlife, one that is largely unspoiled, and one that is far more valuable as a wilderness and wildlife refuge than as a source of oil. Flying out of our field camp gave me a great appreciation for the contrast between protected land in the Arctic Refuge, and North Slope lands that have been developed. As soon as you cross the Refuge boundary the tundra is scarred with vehicle tracks, evidence of past oil exploration activity.

If you were to fly west along the northern coast of Alaska from the Canadian border, you wouldn't see much land outside of the Refuge that doesn't show impacts of drilling. Directly west of the Refuge is state land, much of it leased out for oil extraction. An extensive web of roads and pipelines connects 27 producing oil fields. This industrial zone consumes 1,000 square miles of pond-specked tundra. West of the oil fields lies the vast National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. This Indiana-sized area is also on the table for petroleum exploration and future development.

No doubt these industrial areas still support a lot of wildlife. But development activities condition predators to garbage dumps, and disturb the wary wolverines, yellow-billed loons, and sensitive caribou with calves. This is the way of humans, to modify our environment for our benefit, exploit its resources, turn it into something tamer, different. There are good reasons to do this, and good reasons to recognize that we should leave some places wild and unspoiled, such as the Arctic Refuge.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Adam Kolton TITLE: Top Spy Says Why Arctic is not Worth the Try STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: top_spy_says_wh CATEGORY: Energy Policy DATE: 09/02/2005 02:19:00 PM ----- BODY:

The hawkish former CIA Director James Woolsey may not fit the mold of your stereotypical environmentalist. But he’s come out against Arctic drilling, arguing as other national security advocates have, that it would only exacerbate our dependence on a resource that we, in the U.S., have precious too little of.

Woolsey favors far greater investments in renewable energy and alternative fuels as a way to lessen our dependence on the OPEC cartel. He’s also made a point that has largely been absent from the public debate and that is, in the wake of 9/11, it would be unwise to become even more dependent on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which winds and weaves for 800 miles, through largely remote and unpopulated terrain, before arriving at the Port of Valdez in Prince William Sound. To be sure, even the Pentagon has acknowledged that the pipeline is largely indefensible. As perhaps evidence of this, a mentally disturbed drunken Alaska resident named Daniel Carson Lewis used his .338 caliber rifle to shoot a hole in the structure that caused more than 285.000 gallons of oil to spill and forcing the pipeline to be shutdown for several days in 2001. I’d hate to think what an actual terrorist could do.

Of course U.S. oil infrastructure is not just vulnerable to terrorists. Hurricane Katrina has brought oil operations in much of the Gulf of Mexico to a halt, causing further spikes in already crushing fuel prices. The Alaska pipeline, which crosses several major fault lines, could similarly fall victim to a major earthquake.

Woolsey argues that renewable energy sources like solar and wind and agri-based alternative fuels are easier to defend, less vulnerable to natural disasters and of course better for the environment. That’s not to say Alaska oil hasn’t made a vital contribution to our nation’s energy needs. But allowing drilling the Arctic Refuge – as Dr. Amory Lovins from the Rocky Mountain Institute suggests – would be "a fool’s errand," that would only exacerbate our dependence on oil, and as a result, make us more vulnerable to not only the OPEC cartel but potential acts of terrorism and natural disasters.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gary Burdette EMAIL: naturesartphotography@msn.com IP: 71.101.129.64 URL: http://www.garyburdettephotography.com DATE: 09/22/2005 07:01:24 PM Mr. Woolsey seems to have things in good perspective. In addition to the destruction of this pristine environment, Mr. Woolsey has taken a no nonsense approach with his comments. Obviously, a most imtelligent and wise man, Mr. Woolsey's thoughts make perfectly good sense. He has given the administration something to think about, and I hope they will heed his advice. Something has to serve as an occasion to bring those in power to their senses , or to their knees...which ever works. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Clyde Boudreau EMAIL: cjbou@hotmail.com IP: 162.39.196.60 URL: DATE: 09/23/2005 06:46:04 AM Mr.Woolsey's observations are right on target but unfortunately this administration is uncapable of thinking of anything except their own greed. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: On My Way to the Arctic Refuge STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: guest_writer_on CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 09/02/2005 12:29:00 PM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Greg Scott, Evergreen, CO

As I plan for my fourth solo backpacking trip to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, both excitement and apprehension abound. I’ve never been to the Arctic in late August. The attractions include fall colors and the aurora borealis. The downside is cold, wet weather and hungry bears. I got scared and bought a minus 20-degree sleeping bag. I’m investigating how best to photograph the aurora.

In 58 days and over 400 miles on foot in the Arctic Refuge, I’ve come to expect certain things: clean air and water, awesome silence, a chance to view the elusive wolf, muskox and wolverine, curious grizzly bears, and tens of thousands of caribou. There is, of course, the unexpected. It is a place to renew the senses and ground the soul – true wilderness with an unaltered ecosystem. A globally rare environment.

All that would change forever if energy exploration were ever allowed. I truly don’t think most government officials realize how very special the Arctic Refuge is, or how fragile. Some would sell the soul of America’s premier wilderness ecosystem for 229 days of SUV fodder, although we have made virtually no effort to reduce our voracious energy appetite. In reality, the Arctic Refuge doesn’t belong to the people; it belongs to the wildlife that eke out a meager life in that harsh, pristine environment. Hopefully, people of wisdom will find a way to preserve it; not for people, but for itself. If it weren’t for people, we wouldn’t need to save it from them.

Note: Look for future blogs from Greg after he returns from the Arctic Refuge in later in September.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: George EMAIL: nhfaq@mailkzt.com IP: 190.16.92.153 URL: http://ya.ru DATE: 11/10/2007 02:29:42 AM Good site! I'll stay reading! Keep improving! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Larry Schweiger TITLE: Katrina STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: katrina DATE: 09/01/2005 03:51:10 PM ----- BODY: Our hearts go out to the millions of American affected by the tragedy unfolding in Katrina’s wake. As the President stated yesterday, America is a strong, resilient nation, and although the going will be tough, we will get through this. Beyond those directly impacted by the hurricane, much of the country is being hit by spikes in already-high gas prices, partly due to the fact that the hurricane struck drilling platforms and refineries. Even before Katrina, it was becoming clear how vulnerable our energy supplies are to even small disruptions. Katrina underscores our pressing need, as a nation, to free ourselves from our overwhelming dependence on oil. We do this by diversifying our energy portfolio, investing in renewable energy and making our cars go farther on a gallon of gas - not by drilling in America’s last wild places. In the coming weeks and months, there will be time assess the lessons we’ve learned from this disaster. In the mean time, please consider making a donation to the American Red Cross: www.redcross.org ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ledra Tanner EMAIL: leesframery@1st.net IP: 209.240.20.159 URL: DATE: 09/01/2005 06:56:26 PM Katrina proves how important it is for all communities, regardless of size, to have a disaster preparedness plan. What happened in LA, AL, and MS should not have happened, nor should it happen again. I plan to encourage my township trustees to get prepared. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol Ann Lantz EMAIL: rllantz@peak.org IP: 64.28.54.21 URL: DATE: 09/03/2005 11:20:12 PM I hope that the Louisiana disaster is a wake-up call to the need to protect the wetlands that provide protection from disasters of the sort that Katrina inflicted upon the people and upon the wildlife of Louisiana. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Larry Schweiger STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: larry_schweiger CATEGORY: Larry Schweiger DATE: 09/01/2005 10:11:12 AM ----- BODY:

As the National Wildlife Federation’s President and CEO, Larry supervises a staff of nearly 600 located in eight field offices across the country, as well as Washington, D.C., and the organization’s headquarters in Reston, Va.  He also coordinates the National Wildlife Federation’s work with 47 state and territorial affiliates. The National Wildlife Federation’s award-winning education programs and eNature.com also come under Larry’s watch.

Larry is an avid angler, enjoying fly fishing in Pennsylvania’s trout waters and Western rivers and streams. Having learned to hunt and fish at his father’s side in western Pennsylvania, you can sometimes find Larry fishing rock fish at his favorite spot on the Chesapeake Bay. He also likes to hunt waterfowl and upland birds in the Midwest. When not hunting or fishing, Larry likes to hike, canoe, kayak and dabble in nature photography.

Larry and his wife Clara have three adult daughters.   

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Adam Kolton STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: adam_kolton DATE: 09/01/2005 10:09:16 AM ----- BODY:

Adam Kolton is the Director of the National Wildlife Federation's Office of Legislative and Congressional
Affairs in Washington, D.C.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Shalen Fairbanks STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: shalen_fairbank DATE: 09/01/2005 10:08:35 AM ----- BODY:

Shalen Fairbanks is the senior manager of the National Wildlife
Federation's grassroots program.  She lives in Maryland with her husband
and seven-year-old niece, who happens to be a huge polar bear fan and
one of the youngest Arctic Refuge advocates.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Revenge of the 'Gullible' STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: revenge_of_the_ CATEGORY: Getting Involved CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 09/01/2005 10:02:14 AM ----- BODY:

You responded massively last month when the Anchorage Times questioned your campaign, and your motives, in a sneering editorial. Hundreds of you called the editors out for their fact-free case for drilling the Arctic Refuge — and you published your responses here for the whole community to see.

In the process, you proved:

  1. That we know the facts — facts that tell us that drilling the Refuge is pure folly; and

  2. That no pro-drilling paper slinging tired talking points can cow us from telling the truth.

Now we consider that fine and dandy, rest assured. But why not clue in the guys in Anchorage — the ones who need to hear your message the most?

Here at Arctic Promise HQ, we put our heads together about how to deliver the thoughts you shared with us to the Anchorage Times. nd we hit on a solution of which we think you'll heartily approve.

It almost brings to mind a line from the Princess Bride: "What is this word, 'gullible'? I do not think it means what you think it means."

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Memoirs From the Last Great Wilderness STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: guest_writer_me CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 08/31/2005 01:12:00 PM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Doug Plummer, phtographer, Seattle, Washington

Dougplummer Imagine a herd of shaggy, Pleistocene-looking muskoxen sharing your campsite (safely across the river, anyway.) Snowy owls perch on tussocks, patiently waiting for a vole. Buff-breasted sandpipers silently standing, wings outstretched, in courtship display. The Brooks Range, a wall of mountains to the south, often dusted with new snow no matter what the month. The sun casts a big oval in the sky for 24 hours. The riparian areas of knee-high willows, as close to a forest as you get, thick with longspurs, redpolls and ptarmigan.

In 1985 I was a volunteer for the US Fish and Wildlife Service on a tundra bird study of the 1002 area. Our camp for the summer was at the mouth of the Sadlerochit River. When we arrived in late May, snow still covered much of the tundra, and high ice walls bordered the river. But the landscape was alive with birdsong. Massive waves of migratory geese, swans and ducks swept over our heads. Over the following weeks we watched a season progress in fast forward, life lushly exploding around us, then the coming of autumn and a multitude of birds departing by early August.

This is the last truly wild place in North America intact from seacoast to mountain divide. My heart breaks imagining the toll development would take on this land. Those riparian areas, dense with wildlife? They'll be mined for gravel to build pipeline supports and drilling pads. A spiderweb of roads and pipelines will spread across the skin of the tundra. It will be one of the deepest tragedies we could commit against our landscape.

Photographs and my memoir are at: http://www.dougplummer.com/anwr/anwr.html

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Drilling backers claim that deciding the fate of the Arctic Refuge as part of the massive federal budget bill is appropriate, in part, because leasing the area will generate new revenue for the treasury – which is what budget bills are supposed to do. They estimate such lease sales would generate $2.4 billion, which admittedly sound like a lot.

But, according to Dr. Richard Fineberg, a former oil and gas advisor to the State of Alaska, it’s unlikely even a fraction of this revenue would ever materialize. That’s because big oil corporations like BP and Exxon are bidding less than $100 an acre for leases on the North Slope. Similar bids for the Arctic Refuge coastal plain – assuming all 1.5 million acres are leased – would only generate $150 million. However, proponents plan initial leasing for between 400,000-600,000 acres. To arrive at the $2.4 billion figure then, oil industry bids would have to average 40 to 60 times the going rate on the North Slope.

Of course, drilling proponents will argue that the prospects for a big discovery in the refuge make these seemingly wildly inflated revenue projections realistic. Yet lease sales for areas immediately offshore and adjacent to it on-shore, have yielded either no revenue or sums well below the North Slope’s going rate.

With Congress inching ever closer to this fall’s budget debate, we’d hope that those who claim to be fiscal conservatives – no matter how they feel about the merits of Arctic drilling – would at least agree that the budget of the United States should be built on real, honest accounting and not a pipe-dream.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jaen sidney EMAIL: sidney@wvutech.edu IP: 157.182.180.86 URL: DATE: 09/15/2005 08:34:49 AM The policy makers in Washington really aren't concerned with balancing the Federal budget or with the welfare of the American people. Much less do they care about the life & health of the natural world. That FEMA's poor response to Katrina was due to its highest offices being held as sinecures by Bush family appointees is indicative of how much real concern this administration has for the success of even its purported intitiatives. So much for homeland security. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Doug Cruickshank EMAIL: thegreatduggo@optonline.net IP: 67.81.185.197 URL: DATE: 09/17/2005 09:43:45 AM If all the American people realized that this is simply another giveaway of their resources and their land to giant self-serving corporations, there is no way that this proposal would be allowed to proceed. That's aside from the fact that the oil will take 10 years to bring to market and will only satisfy the US's demand for oil for one year. More shocking than this is the fact that there is nothing in the current Energy Bill to reduce oil consumption. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: An Open Letter to President Bush STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: guest_writer_an CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 08/30/2005 02:03:19 PM ----- BODY:

Dear President Bush,

As a supporter of the Athabaskan Gwich'in people of Alaska and Canada, I implore you to stop pushing to turn the calving grounds of the Porcupine Caribou herd in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge over to the oil companies. That is not what President Eisenhower intended when his administration established the original Arctic Range in 1960. This extraordinary place was set aside to protect its unique wilderness, wildlife and recreational values.

The Gwich’in people know that they only have a future if they can maintain their traditional lifestyle that is based on hunting the caribou that are born in the Arctic Refuge. They are the people of the caribou. One needs to go no farther than the slums of Alaska’s cities to see what happens to Native American people who have been deprived of this lifestyle.

Would you please explain how I can continue to be a proud American if we allow this to happen?

Sincerely,

Ken Dawdy, San Ramon, California

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Senator Collins: "You Can Count on My Vote" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: senator_collins CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 08/30/2005 12:04:11 PM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Erica Heuer of Being Caribou.

Being Caribou is a few things: 

  1. Two people (Karsten Heuer and his wife, Leanne Allison) who migrated on foot for 5 months with the Porcupine Caribou Herd from the Yukon to their calving grounds in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and back;

  2. An award-winning film and an about-to-be-released book of the same name, journey and experience that are proving great communications tools, passing on all the statistics and rhetoric to speak straight to the heart (by the way, we don't own the film so in promoting it we do not personally gain anything. Our efforts really are all about the caribou); and

  3. A website and variety of efforts to use the film and book  -- and work with the opportunities they create -- to help protect the Refuge.

So ... as part of our activism efforts, I (Karsten's sister and the Being Caribou publicist) try to meet up with as many as possible of the interesting or influential people who come through the Yukon -- including, on Aug. 15, a reception being held at the High Country Inn in Whitehorse (Yukon, Canada) by the premier of the Yukon for the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, David Wilkins. This coincided with the visit of four U.S. Senators -- Hilary Clinton, John McCain, Susan Collins and Lindsay Graham -- on a fact-finding mission to the north to see for themselves if there were any noticeable signs of global climate change. Three of the four senators attended the reception.

There were only about 100 people at the reception, so I had a chance to talk with Sens. McCain, Collins and Graham, and the U.S. Ambassador to Canada. 

I prepared packages for each of them and the Ambassador that said, on the outside with a picture of a baby caribou: "Canadians Beg Americans to Say No to Drilling in the Arctic Refuge" (this is true!). Inside, there was a package of Bean Caribou fair trade coffee, plus an information booklet, a SAVE ANWR bumper sticker, a copy of our Arctic Truth fact sheet, and a copy of the Agreement Between the Governments of Canada and the U.S. on the Conservation of the Porcupine Caribou Herd -- all available on our website. We also included a copy of the International Migratory Bird Convention, and a copy of the Polar Bear Treaty.

Senator Collins took the package and read the plea from Canadians. I told her a bit about the film she was getting a copy of and how badly Canadians want the calving grounds protected. I hoped she would find time to watch the film, would enjoy the coffee and find a good place for the bumper sticker. She shook my hand, made great eye contact and said, "You can count on my vote." I said "Really" (yes, I know, a bit naive), she said "Yes", and I said "Great! Thanks".

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John McCain also accepted the package and engaged in a chat. He said, "You know you are preaching to the converted." I replied that I really hoped so but wasn't sure how Senators were voting on something as big as the budget. He repeated, "You are preaching to the converted." I must have looked happy because he laughed and said he would enjoy the coffee.

Hilary Clinton retired early and didn't attend the reception, but we managed to get a copy of Being Caribou to her, as well as the package and talk to her about the demonstration on September 20. She hadn't known about it and was glad something was happening. She said she would be certain to attend.

Lindsey Graham was nice but our toughest senator in terms of not being "converted", as Senator McCain called it. We talked a bit about the issue but mainly I wanted to stick to talking about Being Caribou because that's a different kind of message. So I told him about Karsten and Leanne's expedition and the film. He said he would watch Being Caribou, that he was still thinking about the issue and how he would vote, but that he thought the budget vote would pass even with the language to open the Refuge. We parted with me asking him to "just watch the film first and then decide", him agreeing to do so, and Steve Cardiff (territorial MLA) suggesting they put it in the plane's DVD player and watch it together on one of the flights. What a great idea!

All the guests of honour left still carrying their great smelling (coffee beans) packages.

Anyway, it would be great follow-up if people wrote to these Senators to thank them for their commitments either on the vote, or even on watching the Being Caribou film before they vote.

For more information on Being Caribou, please visit our website.   

Currently, we are working on screenings of the film in 13 key cities in the U.S. -- and are trying to put together enough money to purchase airline tickets and hotel accommodations for 13-50 people, so we can run a radio sweepstakes giveaway in conjunction with the screenings to send at least one person from each community to the Sept. 20 demonstration in DC. We are budgeting $1,000 per prize. If you or anyone or any organization you know would like to get involved in this campaign, which we see as a very public way to rally the troops for Sept. 20 and create a bit of a buzz, we are looking either for donations, or for co-sponsoring of the sweepstakes in any community. Please contact us at erica -at- beingcaribou -dot- com, or by phone at 867.393.4440.

----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: linda Eells EMAIL: eellslindaj@peoplepc.com IP: 24.123.35.206 URL: DATE: 09/02/2005 03:37:45 AM I stand with Sarah. Stop this invasion of the Artic. Take control of excess greed and find some alternative sources of fuel. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Witness to an Epic Migration STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: witness_to_an_e CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 08/29/2005 10:34:00 AM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Paul Ollig of Seward, Alaska

It was midnight on June 21, 2002. I was lying in my tent several hundred yards from the Kongakut River in the Arctic Refuge at a place called Caribou Pass. I listened to the snow blowing outside while trying to shut out the light of the midnight sun. Then I heard something strange on the other side of the thin nylon material. After gathering my courage, I slowly unzipped the tent door and peaked outside. Thirty feet away, eight pairs of eyes stared curously at my stocking cap-covered head. They lowered their antlered heads into the wind and resumed their steady eastward march. After admiring these caribou for a few moments, my gaze wandered across the snowy wilderness and I gasped.

In every direction I looked, I was surrounded by caribou. Cows mooed and grunted to their 10-day old calves. Stoic bulls, with their impressive velvet-covered antlers, were scattered throughout the huge herd. Every single caribou marched eastward. They paused every dozen steps to paw through the fresh snow for another bite of lichen and grass. The cows stopped every few minutes to give their hungry calves a chance to suckle their rich milk before resuming their relentless and epic migration. Several hours into the unbelievable spectacle, while still lying in my sleeping bag with my head poking out of my tent, I felt something nudge my leg as one exhausted calf curled up against my tent to rest for a few moments. I have never felt so alive ... so much a part of nature.

For eight hours I observed one of nature's most undisturbed spectacles. Forty thousand members of the Porcupine Caribou Herd migrated past my tent that night, following an ancient pathway traveled by their ancestors for thousands of years. I was a witness to something most can only dream of experiencing. Let's hope and pray that we can have the foresight to protect the Arctic Refuge from the ravages of greed and insecurity. Let's fight and win to ensure that the incredible migration which passed outside my tent that snowy summer solstice will continue always.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Adam Kolton TITLE: Let's Win This One for the Gipper STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: lets_win_this_o DATE: 08/28/2005 10:42:46 AM ----- BODY:

I was heartened by a report in Wednesday’s Toronto Globe and Mail that Canada’s Prime Minister Paul Martin won't sit idly by and wait for the U.S. Congress to pass legislation to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "We're not going to give up. I can tell you that -- we are not going to give up…."We will pull out all of the stops in trying to maintain the ecological integrity of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge," said Mr. Martin.

Well, I don’t know what "all the stops" means (send in the Mounties? Threaten to ban the export of hockey players?), but it’s sure nice to hear tough talk from a head of state on the environment. The fact is Canada has a lot at stake and a proud history here. Around the same time that President Dwight Eisenhower set aside the Arctic Refuge, Canada also agreed to establish conservation areas on its side of the border. Today these areas -- Ivvavik and Vuntut National Parks in the Yukon – enjoy permanent protection from development. Taken together with the Arctic Refuge, this area represents the largest pristine protected landscape in North America.

More importantly for Canada, the Arctic Refuge and the adjacent Canadian parks protect the most critical habitat for the Porcupine Caribou Herd, which the Gwich’in people of the Yukon as well as Northeast Alaska depend upon. In some of the Gwich’in villages, up to 80% of their diet comes from caribou and other wild meat. The Gwich’in consider the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge "the sacred place where life begins," and fear drilling the coastal plain would adversely affect the successful calving of the herd.

In part reacting to the concern of the Gwich’in people, the U.S. and Canada signed a treaty in 1987 specifically calling for the protection of the Porcupine Caribou Herd. You might ask what left wing President willfully risked U.S. sovereignty by signing, of all things, a treaty to protect caribou of things? That’s right, it was the "great communicator" himself, Ronald Reagan who made the commitment; a commitment that would, in Canada’s view, be violated if Congress allows drilling on the coastal plain.

Reagan Now here’s a thought: what if we renamed coastal plain after the 40th President of the United States; a president who, after all, had the foresight to negotiate this important international treaty (arguably make more sense than the renaming of National Airport given the late president’s summary dismissal of air traffic controllers)? Most enticingly, this would allow all of us – liberals, moderates and conservatives alike to join together and say "let’s win this one for the Gipper – no drilling in the Reagan Refuge!"

Photograph courtesy of the Reagan Library Archives http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/photographs/large/c584-12.jpg

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Molly EMAIL: boxing_baby86@hotmail.com IP: 142.177.108.124 URL: DATE: 08/31/2005 03:34:22 PM It was a very nice article, and it really got the point across, but, being Canadian, I did not appreciate the line in which the author indicated that the biggest thing Canada could do to help would be to stop supplying hockey players or to 'send in the Mounties'. I do realize that some Americans like to make fun of our Mounties, but since Canada is against the drilling, I don't think that it was an appropiate time to poke fun. Of all the governments, Canada's seems to be doing the most right now for this, and I think that it's about time for America to have some respect. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michael EMAIL: nanimwe2@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 09/01/2005 05:39:58 AM I agree with Molly. We should not be dividing ourselves at a time like this by making fun of our neighbors. It is not "neighborly". Everytime I have been to Canada or have met a Canadian, I have found them to be very neighborly. Perhaps, it would be a good idea to rename the refuge the Ronald Reagan Arctic Refuge. After all, George W. Bush considers himself to more a disciple of Reagan politically than of his own father. Maybe he'd stop and think if his idol's name were attached. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robert Spencer EMAIL: spence57@floodcity.net IP: 198.93.210.120 URL: DATE: 09/02/2005 08:41:52 AM this is a letter to the editor I just wrote. God Bless America! I wonder what people really mean when they say this? Is it “Please, God help America”; or is it “God Blesses America because we are who we are. A couple of the most popular televangelists have suggested that God punishes us for our straying from the path. Perhaps he does as even insurance companies call hurricanes an act of God. In recent centuries though, people in this country and many the over world have embraced science and discounted God’s influence on the natural world. We trust lightning rods, weather satellites and computers and only invite God for weddings, funerals and wars. If God has been punishing us, it seems that he’s been getting more upset as of late. Hurricanes has been horribly punishing to many areas in the Bible belt. People who moved south for milder weather are seeing devastating hurricanes hit year after year. The south, which elected and reelected a president who certainly had more faith and less intellect than his opponents, is struck again and again. Or could it be global warming that’s providing the energy for the storms. Ocean levels are rising. The hottest years on record have been the last ones. We’ve taken carbon that was sequestered over millennia and dumped it to the air in decades. While solar and wind energy battle our south, our government invades Iraq and Alaska looking for more carbon to burn up. Should we fight nature like this? The answer is blowing in the wind. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: What's At Stake STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: whats_at_stake CATEGORY: Politics DATE: 08/26/2005 02:04:49 PM ----- BODY:

U.S. National Park Service logo; credit - public domainWe talk about the need to defend the Arctic Refuge — but news in the headlines today shows us again why this fight is about so much more than that.

The prevailing winds inside the Washington Beltway right now blow against respecting all wild places, including ones we can camp in, play in, and visit in our own backyards. As if we need a reminder, this story from the Los Angeles Times is a case in point:

A series of proposed revisions of National Park policy has created a furor among present and former park officials who believe the changes would weaken protections of natural resources and wildlife while allowing an increase in commercial activity, snowmobiles and off-road vehicles.

National Park Service employees warn that the changes, which were proposed by the Department of the Interior and are undergoing a Park Service review, would fundamentally alter the agency's primary mission.

"They are changing the whole nature of who we are and what we have been," said J.T. Reynolds, superintendent of Death Valley National Park. "I hope the public understands that this is a threat to their heritage. It threatens the past, the present and the future. It's painful to see this."

The potential changes would allow cellphone towers and low-flying tour planes and would liberalize rules that prohibited mining, according to Bill Wade, former superintendent at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

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Larry Whalon, chief of resource management at Mojave National Preserve, said the changes would take away managers' ability to use laws such as the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act to oppose new developments in parks.

... Since its inception in 1916, the Park Service has been charged with maintaining parks "unimpaired" for future generations to enjoy. According to current policies, when park officials determine an activity may lead to impairment, officials are authorized to ban the activity.

The proposed changes would alter the definition of impairment from "an impact to any park resource or value [that] may constitute an impairment" to one that can be proved to "permanently and irreversibly adversely [affect] a resource or value." Critics say the new definition would set a standard that is impossibly high.

... Despite his brief tenure with the Interior Department, Hoffman is familiar with controversy. He has weighed in on issues at Mojave National Preserve, opposing the park staff and siding with ranchers and others on grazing and water issues.

It's this trend — which could rob future Americans of all sorts of national jewels — that we have to reverse. By working together to win this fight to protect the Arctic Refuge, we can begin to do just that.

[Hat tip: Kevin Drum of The Washington Monthly.] ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Filling up at the pump: a college student's perspective STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: filling_up_at_t CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 08/26/2005 01:18:00 PM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Elizabeth Jordan of Healy, Alaska

I am a college student, who drives a car. When I pull up to the gas pump and have to scrape my pennies together to afford enough gas to get home, I do not complain. I do not complain because some say the solution to lower prices at the pump is to drill in the Arctic Refuge. Whether or not this solution will lower the price I do not know. What I do know is the opening of the Arctic Refuge for oil drilling will create a false belief that our oil problems are over. It is ignorant to think we will never run out of oil. Or that opening of the Arctic Refuge would dissipate our reliance on foreign oil, because it is not true.

My reasoning against drilling in the Arctic Refuge is more than the environment and ecosystem which will be destroyed in the process. I feel unless something drastic happens, we as Americans will not find the desire to look for alternatives. If the Arctic Refuge is not drilled I believe there would be greater effort made towards finding alternative energy sources. Today there is not one great solution to alternative energy. I blame that on lack of research, and the lack of research funding, which will not be there until there is an urgent need. Because the Arctic Refuge issue has become the nation-wide symbol of our country’s "oil crisis", not opening it for drilling might help create the need, funding, and research required to find safe, and environmentally friendly alternative energy.

Allowing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge solves nothing. It at best will force future generations to have even greater oil problems. Instead of choosing the easy, ineffective route of drilling, we need to force a better solution that does not destroy the Arctic Refuge. And until that solution is found I will continue paying the high gas prices and smile when they go up.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jennifer EMAIL: jennifer.lantz@insightbb.com IP: 12.220.253.227 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 03:57:20 PM Amen to that sister!! Please mail this to as many Congress people as you can afford. It is well written and stated. Thank you for standing up!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rose Barragan EMAIL: Rosaiti@yahoo.com IP: 69.236.86.131 URL: DATE: 08/31/2005 12:42:29 AM Hi I wholehartedly agree with Jennifer. I will also be smiling when the gas prices skyrocket because as nation of high user of gasoline and oil products, we the U.S. will come to realize that we will run out of gas or oil. We need to be less reliant on this non- renewable resource and start using alternative sources in our daily lives. Until we adopt an environmentally friendly approach to our daily existence we will see more problems concerning our heavy oil and gas reliance in this country. It is time for change and the time is NOW! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Claudia Jenkins` EMAIL: cjenkins@towson.edu IP: 136.160.144.61 URL: DATE: 08/31/2005 10:36:47 AM Jennifer, I had not thought of it that way. I totally agree. What a great way to see it...it is true. I too will stop complaining and see these problems as the impetus to find alternative source...backed by all the grumbling people at the pumps. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: B100 EMAIL: soy@bean.org IP: 131.225.176.69 URL: http://www.biodieselnow.com DATE: 08/31/2005 01:57:25 PM Jennifer & others, please try to become part of the solution by using available renewable fuels such as ethanol (E85 for a flex fuel vehicle) or biodiesel (for diesels). VW has made diesel cars for many years that can get over 50 mpg - no extra research $$$ needed! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Derek EMAIL: Schuman_05@hotmail.com IP: 216.176.78.208 URL: DATE: 08/31/2005 02:30:14 PM I totally Agree, I have never really seen it that way. But now that I do I wont be complaining. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Emma EMAIL: arabiandreamz@hotmail.com IP: 65.95.126.54 URL: DATE: 08/31/2005 03:21:50 PM Congrats! That's great! please email it to as many congress people, it is a great article. God bless you! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lee EMAIL: antonitigris@juno.com IP: 4.245.164.21 URL: DATE: 09/01/2005 10:44:35 AM Brava for the insightful comments. The only thoughts I might add are that our self-indulgent society give up its desire for SUVs (and especially Hummers)for more economical vehicles; our auto manufacturers put a moratorium on larger-than-needed vehicles; a $5.00 surcharge at the gas station be put on SUVs with fewer than three occupants. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lance Whitwell EMAIL: lancewhitwell@yahoo.com IP: 148.64.35.88 URL: DATE: 09/01/2005 05:16:46 PM Jennifer, Great testimony. I live in Venetie Alaska, our sister city, Arctic Village, is home to Sarah James who is our tribal spokesperson on this issue. The decission to view this issue as a positive step in the weening off of oil is true. We in our communities pay $5.50 per gallon for gasoline, as everything has to be flown in on cargo planes. This has not deterred our efforts to stop the drilling in the refuge. As most Alaskans know, the availability of crude oil has not kept our Alaskan fuel prices low, we still pay higher prices at the pump than anywhere else in the USA. And the oil is coming from our backyard. The price of and or availability of gasoline in our communities has always been " use only what you can afford to buy". So we do not have such a waste problem as other areas with highways, and other infrastructures. We use our fuels to survive by hunting fishing, gathering. These things, we are capable of doing without fuel, we can use dogsleds, packs, and other traditional resources. But, if they drill the Arctic Refuge, and the caribou change thier migration route, then we would have to go hundreds of miles farther to maintain our subsistance way of life. This would be devastating to an already economically challenged society, who live in a community where hamburger can cost more than $6.00 lb On the other side of that coin, we are also operating 2 of the worlds farthest north solar tracking arrays, which provide free electricity to our community water treatment plants. And we are always looking at other renewable resources to provide the energy needed to offer comfort, and sustainability to our communities. It is very refreshing to hear a young college student who has already made a personal committment to change the world, starting with herself. keep up the good fight Lance Whitwell Native Village of Venetie ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ken Smith EMAIL: ken.smith@thermo.com IP: 67.36.216.194 URL: DATE: 09/02/2005 03:29:30 PM In the 70's people were saying the same things I am reading here. That we will run out no matter what. But technology in auto making averted that short term "crisis". And now there is research that is indicating that oil may be even more plentiful than people have ever thought as we are able to probe deeper into the earth and as we get more information about the geological age of oil coming up in previously "dry" wells. I would much rather see oil exploration in the US that can help us extricate ourselves from the choke hold of the Middle East than continue to rely on nations that show dubious enthusiasm for the survival of the US. And it would seem that more oil coming from Alaska would benefit Alaskans first and foremost. When you look at alternatives such as hydrogen powered vehicles, can you guess where the best sources of hydrogen is from? (Hint - hydrocarbons) I am from the Midwest where we are producing corn for ethanol. Unfortunately it takes more energy to produce the ethanol than the ethanol provides. Alternatives have been research for decades but we still get the most bang for our fuel dollar from petroleum, not to mention the huge number of other products that are made from petroleum. The ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene hip implant that lets a senior citizen continue to be mobile and hike in our national parks comes from oil. There are of course numerous examples of medical devices that have petroleum origins from syringes to heart valves. The article listed below also sheds some light on the impact of oil for the people in Alaska. It seems likely that our penny scraping college student is enjoying the benefits of existing oil drilling efforts in Alaska, especially if she is a citizen of Alaska. it is time to begin drilling in that area that represents 0.45% of the total land area of Alaska. ARCTIC OIL Oil is the lifeblood of Alaska, with residents ready to drill Zachary Coile, Chronicle Staff Writer Monday, August 29, 2005 ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: William Stebbins EMAIL: nicebill@moose-mail.com IP: 64.107.134.2 URL: DATE: 09/02/2005 06:36:51 PM I agree about not drilling for oil in Alaska because we should save it for the animals. Also, using gasoline causes global warming. I read that products made from crude oil will go up if the oil prices go up any hire and they just did. I read about DVD players are also made from it. Some people are using vegtable oil or grease for fuel. I also read that peanut oil used to be used for a diesal tank. I also read about ffvs that run on what would other wise go to a land fill. We could car pool ride bikes or walk. If we live with in one mile we should ride bikes and if we do not have a lot to carry. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: William Stebbins EMAIL: nicebill@moosemail.com IP: 64.107.134.2 URL: DATE: 09/02/2005 06:39:44 PM Sorry, I press stop in order to change hire to higher. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dan Bonello EMAIL: dbonello3@comcast.net IP: 68.42.95.189 URL: DATE: 09/04/2005 01:50:07 PM Are you all so naive as to think that the automakers are NOT doing anything to research alternitive fuels and energy for automobiles? They are aggessively seeking new technologies. Think about it, Do you really think they would allow their multibillon dollar industries to go down the tubes because they are ignorant or asleep at the wheel when it comes to oil supplies. You need to give them a little more credit than that. As far a drilling in the Artic and Alaska, I'm all for it. We need to get all the oil we can so we are less dependant on forigen oil. Do you realize how quickly OPEC would reduce their oil prices to us if we started refining and using our own gas. I would be willing to pay the high dollar for U.S. oil than Arab oil and support Americans and our economy than to pay money to countries that are unstable and harbor terrorists. The amount of land proposed for drilling in Anwar and the Artic are a tiny fraction of the vast amount of land there and it would provide jobs for those there that desparately need them with a positive impact on the Wildlife. The same arguements were used against the Alaskan pipeline and because of the pipeline wildlife now abounds around it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: william a.hughes EMAIL: williamjoyceh@hotmail.com IP: 147.182.5.50 URL: DATE: 11/04/2005 10:38:49 AM What i want to know is what is the immediate benefit?what is the profit when the first shovel of dirt is turned. The benefits,if any, are at least 20 years away. And the USGS estimates 3 years of benefits. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cody Reinert EMAIL: one800codyreinert@yahoo.com IP: 12.207.132.249 URL: DATE: 12/04/2005 11:24:03 PM sorry but you really should research before you ramble at the mouth about alternative fuels. Ethanol actually is the most promising of them all. if you really want the info on the situation you should visit www.ncga.com to see what they have to say. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Larry Schweiger TITLE: It's About...Well, Everything STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: its_aboutwell_e DATE: 08/26/2005 11:06:36 AM ----- BODY:

I’ve always believed there’s no such thing as just an “environmental” issue – if it’s about protecting the environment, chances are, it’s also about protecting someone’s health, way of life, quality of life, the economy, or all of the above.

Our nation’s energy policy is a perfect example.  Fighting against drilling in the Arctic Refuge is about much more than protecting a pristine wildlife habitat, as important as that is.  It is about pushing our leaders to wake up to the reality that they need to find actual solutions to our nation’s energy needs.

High oil prices are hurting our economy.  Our dependence on oil poses risks for our national security – as a nation, we’re funneling billions of dollars in oil money every year to turbulent regimes in the Middle East. Our reliance on fossil fuels is contributing to global warming, and impacting the air quality in our most populous cities. And now, it’s giving the oil industry an excuse to try to pry open our nation’s largest, most pristine wildlife habitat.

Our nation can do better. We must – for a host of reasons.  Together, let’s make sure our leaders get that message.  Will you do your part?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Erin Karp EMAIL: BMarley271@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.196 URL: DATE: 08/27/2005 11:38:29 AM I have to say I think Denise Lytle had a really great idea....Has everyone seen the Truth.com commercials--the anti-smoking campaign? It would be amazing if we launched, or pushed to launch, commercials just like them, but about the environment!! about what we're doing to this planet! Does anyone have connections with a TV company/producer/whatever? I wonder if the Truth.com creators would be interested in picking up a project like this....putting a bunch of senators and law-makers and a Bush look-alike in a room full of all the pollution Denise described and more, with windows facing out to a city that just shows more buildings and smog and little sky, no trees...maybe flashing or speaking environmental statistics throughout or something about energy conservation/renewable sources, etc.; then, at the end, a really catchy, impressive, jaw-dropping line/phrase would come up on the screen and I think it could make a very serious impact on the community in general....we HAVE to do something about the wastefulness of the members of this society--especially that of the current political administration. Bush is a believable lier to some; he's not fooling me, but there are tons of people who are under his spell. We have to forage change now or we, our children, our grandchildren, etc., will be eternally doomed. The earth is a precious place. And it came before we did; we must respect! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Ann Hamer, OSF EMAIL: hamerosf@sbcglobal.net IP: 68.75.46.53 URL: DATE: 08/31/2005 05:41:50 PM Who are we to believe we have a right to use up all the oil on the planet? It is not a renewable resource. When it is gone, then what? Our current situation is a clarion call to turn our attention to alternative fuels, and to conserve and protect our planet for future generations. At the rate we are going, we are in danger of destroying it, or at least making it uninhabitable, in this generation! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rose Barragan EMAIL: Rosaiti@sbcglobal.net IP: 69.236.83.188 URL: DATE: 09/01/2005 03:08:56 AM Hi I totally agree with Erin and Mary Ann. I think there needs to be attention focused on the Bus Administration and his tactics to fool the American public that the U.S. is doing fine now even as we see before us the economical hardship rising gas and oil prices will have on this country. I am nervous now because if we do not do something now to use less oil and gas in our daily lives the situation is only bound to get worse. The solution is simple: start using nonrenewable energy resources now!!! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: We Want You ... and Your Ideas STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: we_want_you_and CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 08/25/2005 12:01:33 PM ----- BODY:

  light bulbFighting to protect the Refuge involves more than talking to members of Congress. We have to win votes at the United States Capitoland we have to win the battle of public opinion.

People are already gearing up. In New England, Matt Prindiville of the Natural Resources Council of Maine,  tells us he's planning a rally in Portland in early September. With two United States Senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, who have been friends of the Refuge — but have yet to commit to the upcoming vote — the people of Maine need to know the facts about this debate.

musk oxenThey need to hear those facts from you.

It's a tall order, though. We are up against some of the most well-funded lobbyists and corporations around. With ExxonMobil alone earning profits last year worth more than the entire economy of Vermont, the folks raring to park oil tankers in the Arctic Refuge have loads of money to throw around.

How do they spend it? By bamboozling Americans with misleading statements and outright myths about the Refuge — just like the editorial that attacked you last week.

They may have money, but we have a much more valuable asset: our collective ingenuity, and the ability to inspire thousands of smart, innovative people who know their neighbors and communities.

You're here at this site. You're passionate about the Refuge. And you have a chance to share your thoughts with thousands of people like you, all wondering: what can we do?

Tell us now. You have the floor — and everyone's attention.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sharon Hanoca EMAIL: GWPro@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.196 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 04:23:39 PM Please send all Senators photos of the area, and get impact statements from Natives who fish and live off the waters. Tell them a vote for drilling is the loss of a vote in any future elections no matter who they are. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Judy Erp EMAIL: judy.erp@honeywell.com IP: 199.64.0.252 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 04:24:14 PM Let's see ... The frozen tundra is already losing some of it's solidity due to warming trends caused by fossil fuel consumption; and yet we are gullible? You cannot restore things to the exact original once the damage is done. The number of water resources in trouble world wide speaks to this quite eloquently. The facts of the available oil in the Refuge should make not drilling there a no brainer. But then when it comes to $$$ for the oil companies, good common sense has never applied. Do you suppose when the pipelines start sinking into the ground, they have no clean water to drink or air to breath, these people will wake up - although it will be way too late. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dina Bertolini EMAIL: dmechanics@yahoo.com IP: 68.117.124.155 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 04:25:54 PM The loss in what is there now will never be replaceable. The gain will not really be a gain at all. The cost to construct will exceed our benefits in oil (excluding the cost to repair the wildlife and habitat). Can't we look outside the box? If we invested this much money into a sustainable energy, it would be first of all ...sustainable... second, it wouldn't disturb a beautiful habitat, lastly it would positively perpetuate our economy. Lastly, while are we still fueling the corporate beasts that still rape us of the values this earth possess when there are so many other alternatives. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jim Donovan EMAIL: jim@jimdonovan.com IP: 68.83.235.79 URL: http://www.jimDonovan.com DATE: 08/25/2005 04:28:39 PM How long are we going to be conned by big oil and big business? In the 1970's when gas llines were a mile long, there were tankers sitting off the coast of California, waiting for the prices to rise. The so called shortage was a myth. Now, those in power, fortunately, not forever, want to destroy one the the few remaining natural resources as though they own it. This must be stopped. We don not own the earth. We have been made guardians of it and, as far as I can see, we're doing a pretty poor job of it. Unfortunately, I live in Pennsylvania where we have two moron senators. fortunately, my congressman, Mike Fitzpatrick, has the courage of his convictions and will vote against drilling in the Arctic. If you doubt the power of one, try sleeping with a mosquito in the room. We can take back America and proctect our natural resources by speaking out and getting out to vote. In the meantime, what about boycotting gas stations, say by refusing to fly or drive on Mondays? Remember Chavez and the grapes! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Allison EMAIL: william2@mymillsaps.com IP: 167.102.133.163 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 04:34:39 PM Oil is not a renewable source, as evidenced by the many abandoned drills throughout the country/world. What are the corporate goonies going to use then?? We SHOULD fight for a sustainable/renewable energy source, while leaving pristine natural areas as they were meant to be..... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Keplin Schwick EMAIL: KaySchwick@Webtv.net IP: 209.240.207.41 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 04:34:57 PM I think it is sad to think that the big oil companies are getting richer at the loss of our natural landscape. When are they/we going to wake up? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: CGARDNER EMAIL: CGARDNER@AOL.COM IP: 63.65.14.195 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 04:38:54 PM We Americans have a tendency to assume all good things will continue unfortunately when a species dies out it cannot be restored and we have lost a precious resource.To look at animals in the wild, trees in the forest, cacti in the desert and marine life in water is a God given gift, we must not throw it back it His face by destroying everything just for a dollar. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michael Spitale EMAIL: mspitale@columbus.rr.com IP: 24.208.172.63 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 04:39:23 PM We must make people understand that even if we do drill in the Arctic region it will not lower gas prices at the pump. Nor will the amount of oil up there ever fix the shortages that are around the corner for the entire world. The government wants the common person to beleive these high gas prices can only be fixed by drilling in the Arctic when that is not the case. The worst part is if the drilling takes place we will lose certain wildlife forever. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: CGARDNER EMAIL: CGARDNER@AOL.COM IP: 63.65.14.195 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 04:39:29 PM We Americans have a tendency to assume all good things will continue unfortunately when a species dies out it cannot be restored and we have lost a precious resource.To look at animals in the wild, trees in the forest, cacti in the desert and marine life in water is a God given gift, we must not throw it back it His face by destroying everything just for a dollar. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Therese Dowd EMAIL: therese44325@yahoo.com IP: 130.101.152.101 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 04:47:21 PM Isn't it a shame that improving mileage requirements which alone would save more oil than what can be found in the Artic, is so difficult to accomplish? It is time to set priorities so that we reduce comsumption of oil, support the introduction of less harmful biodiesel fuels, and other energy alternatives. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nycole Plough EMAIL: nycoleplough@yahoo.com IP: 134.139.124.71 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 04:48:16 PM Our culture is famous for making hasty decisions that we regret generations later. My generation has spent a great deal of time trying to "fix" the mistakes of my grandparent's generation, but still without considering future ramifications. It’s the norm to address problems with the mind set at immediate gratification. But why? If my generation has had to worry about lead paint, DDT in the ocean, freshwater contracts between states, plastic on our beaches, mercury in our fish, glaciers disappearing, and holes in the ozone getting larger - why why why don't we change our mindset to think about how our decisions today affect the lives of others five, ten, fifty years from now? Will we ever learn? Is the majority of our population so small-minded and egocentric that they turn deaf ears to anything that doesn't immediately reward them? I just can't believe that we are more self-absorbed than we are benevolent. Drilling in the Artic Refuge has immediate gratification that might solve our oil problem for five to fifteen years. What then? Then, the oil problem will return. And with it, it will bring other problems that the drilling and oil lines created. This isn't a solution. It's only a band aide. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Denise Lytle EMAIL: squishytart@moose-mail.com IP: 206.132.236.70 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 04:49:52 PM Maybe we should take all the anti-environmentalists/pro-Arctic Refuge drilling, put them in a huge room with similated skyscrapers/factories emitting smog/oil wells, use a fog machine, & get a lot of smokers in there. I think they'll realize how much they'd hate living in a world with no trees, no wildlife, no clean air, no pristine land to escape to, nothing but chemicals to eat (we're all connected, they'll realize that when one animal is extinct, it's a chain reaction-so they would be no more meat or plants & we'd eventually perish). They'll see how depressing it would be & how important it is to protect the environment. With all the technology we have today, we can use clean energy (like wind energy or solar power). We have no good reason to be dependent on oil. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathy DeMey EMAIL: kdemey@calvin.edu IP: 153.106.144.55 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 04:56:11 PM Untouched wild places are becoming more and more rare around the world. What value do they have? One of the inestimable values is simply the power they have to touch our hearts deeply with the beauty they posess and to fill us with AWE. Our political leaders use the word "awe" in the phrase "shock and awe" to describe a vehement, violent power play. Perhaps that's the only definition they know. But what about awe as in the wonder we feel in the face of beauty so magnificent, words cannot adequately express it? It's important to cultivate that sense of awe in our society which is so filled with violence. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Justin Henriksen EMAIL: justin.henriksen@co.anoka.mn.us IP: 156.98.103.2 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 04:57:28 PM Perhaps taking the high road in these preceedings is no longer the feasible option. Perhaps we should attack oil companies in the same manner which they attack the refuge. Why not run a smear campaign against Exxon? Why not doctor photos and statistics, lie and cheat our way to victory? Because we are decent human beings. Real people who have souls and morals. Unfortunately, the opponents have no scruples. They will do whatever is required of them to suck our earth dry and line their pockets. The only way to stop the oil companies is to find more efficient and more abundant energy sources. This summer, the Big Summer Classic, a touring rock festival featuring The String Cheese Incident, Yonder Mountain String Band, Umphrey's McGee, and many other National Acts, went back and forth across this country in busses running on vegetable oil, and the electricity used to put on their performances was largely wind generated. For all they did, this tour received very little publicity. I think we should try and help spread positive actions like these to the masses. Willy Nelson also tours on a bus converted to run on vegetable oil. Speaking of vegetables, why not try to form an alliance with the farmers of this country? I know here in Minnesota the farmers are very interested in seeing ethanol being used to cut our dependence on oil... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Elaine K. EMAIL: Samiecats2@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:00:24 PM People must understand that drilling in the Artic will take 10 yrs before operation begins and the amount of oil will only last for 6 months. Being a oilman himself, this is clearly just a favor Pres. Bush is giving Exxon/Mobile for the large campaign contribution to him and not running again for office, he doesn't care what most Amaericans think about this terrible destruction of the Artic Refuge for the polar bears and other animal life. Please help stop this insanity before it's too late. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Milica Barjaktarovic EMAIL: milica_b@earthlink.net IP: 4.32.26.218 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:02:30 PM I just talked with a woman who lives on the edge of tundra in Alaska, in a town full of scientists studying the effects of global warming etc. She told me how ice is thinner because of global warming and how polar bears cannot go hunting anymore and are starving to death. They are all over town looking for garbage. She said they will be extinct in 10-15 yrs. Then their beach, which keeps on disappearing. And tundra, where each step takes 400 years to re-grow. Everyone knows that but people still drive their ATVs all over. Such people feel grief. Only someone with a frozen heart can watch this and participate in it and not do anything. A healthy human being needs the healthy and happy environment, because we all feel everything. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jonie EMAIL: jonieD33@yahoo.com IP: 205.181.102.119 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:02:38 PM Let them get oil from the Middle East & Iraq...not our natural treasure!!! We must find other sources of energy for our future!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: arlene f. clayton EMAIL: swanforest@eudoramail.com IP: 206.253.56.185 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:14:48 PM The destruction of the habitat of animals whose only wrong is being born in the Artic Refuge is another senseless waste of natural habitat for results that will not fix the problem of high priced gasoline. The global use of ethanol and other renewable energy and smaller vehicles is the answer to the present high prices at the pump. If you have ever loaded a van with a few female soccer players and stashed their equipment in the back of the seats, the room is no more than would be in a four cylinder vehicle that is getting 30 MPG. Bigness has always been a wonderful advertisement of wasteful use of natural resources. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Angela EMAIL: ncwf_angela@mindspring.com IP: 165.247.186.91 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:16:33 PM Why do we have to drill in an area meant to provide crucial and ideal habitat for our arctic wildlife? Aren't we loosing open spaces--forest to prairies to arctic tundra-- at a fast enough rate? I feel that we should stop opening up new areas for drilling. There will NEVER be enough oil to continue supporting the demand of the world, or even our country. Oil is a natural resource, not a renewable resource. All natural resources are limited and must be understood, conserved and protected when the need arises (which seems to be everyday). We (as a country) must move towards renewable energy sources. We need our elected officials to take the lead on this issue. It is up to the citizens of this country to open our eyes, use our voice and make our elected officials act in a favorable way. Whether we voted for the person in office or not, they are there to represent us when important legislative decisions are being made. The only way our elected officials know what their constituants want is when we tell them. LET THEM KNOW!!! Call, write, e-mail-- whatever it takes to have your voice heard. Encourage your friends, family and co-workers to take action. It is up to us as individuals to move the masses and change the focus from: use as much as we can as fast as we can-- to conserve what we can while we still have the chance. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pamela Conley EMAIL: pamela@chukartales.com IP: 67.180.50.10 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:18:35 PM We invaded Iraq and by that invasion, we hurt their citizens. If we invade the Arctic, we will then again, be responsible for harming another group of people, the Native people that live off that land. Stop hurting people! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Christine Lemons EMAIL: ctlemons@highstream.net IP: 4.154.72.188 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:24:26 PM Let's start a campaign to restore the diesel engine to it's original design vegetable oil. That would alleviate a lot of problems not only for the refuge but the planet as well. The economy and farmers could get a much needed boost and our troops would no longer be needed to wage a war for the oil in Iraq and other foreign nations. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: J. Goodman EMAIL: jpg56good@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.202 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:25:44 PM If and only if these current Morons in Washington allow the drilling AGAIN in the Alaskan Arctic region {(at one time 90% of the crude pulled out of Alaska went to the Far East---what happened to the promise that was made to Americans and "their" oil)}---then it will be time to stand in front of the trucks-and prevent the construction....does anyone remember the young Chinese male standing alone in front of the Red Chinese Tank!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ron Blase EMAIL: blazes@allwest.net IP: 216.250.33.20 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:29:33 PM The attempted destruction of the Arctic Refuge is just one more example of the shortsightedness of the current administration. Instead of promoting conservation and funding other forms of energy exploration (realistically), Bush and his allies in congress would rather line the pockets of the already wealthy oil barons. The solution to our dependence on foreign oil is not destroying pristine land for a thimble full of future energy. The key to our future survival is to seriously curtail our energy consumption and fund programs that encourage that goal along with promoting the use and exploration of alternative forms of energy. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Val Anderson EMAIL: vlabeads8@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.196 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:35:04 PM Oil is NOT a renewable resource~~isn't it about time that this country realizes this? It will not as long as the Oil companies and their major stockholders want yet more money, and have the government in their hip pocket. Some of the large oil companies do NOT want to drill in the arctic. Why? Because they already realize that the costs of drilling, etc are going to be astronomical,that it will take around 10 years before they even see any oil, and they already know that the oil return will be minimal. Now is the time to really get going on truly sustainable energy sources, and they are out there! Wind power, solar power, ethanol, vegatable oil fuel, and, yes folks, even oil and fuel made from hemp!! Wake up America, this land is our land, and it is being trashed to the point of NO RETURN at an alarming rate. Once it is gone, it will NEVER be there again, once any animal species is gone, it will NEVER be there again, and once ALL of the above is gone, WE will be gone too. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gordon Fritz EMAIL: seaislandman@islc.net IP: 216.16.209.18 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:37:26 PM I hate to through cold water on an idea - especially when it is a good idea. But... We are naturalist or environmentalist or, as in my case, Biologist. We think of things in terms of time. Lots of time. We want the world to be special through our preservation efforts even after we are gone. A legacy! But we keep "giving ground". There seems to always be another threat to something we hold as being special. It is never ending. Our adversaries have a different concept of time and that is where we fail to effectively confront their attacts. It is next years corporate profits or personal income that motivates their actions. They care not for what we call the future. They don't even care about the oil - its the profits or expense involved in getting to it. They are shortsighted and only see the trees. We will not really succeed until we find a way to instill responsibility for a future beyond their financial incentive and effectivly teach them the concept of cause and effect. Do we really think we can have an impact on our wealthy counterparts activities without creative new approaches to counter their limited goals? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Linda EMAIL: lidol3@triad.rr.com IP: 65.188.185.194 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:37:51 PM Alternative energy and a focus on mass transportation that is user friendly need to be the focus of government policy and funding. Adding further burden to the environment is not the solution. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lisa Warner EMAIL: dazeemai@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:46:56 PM You know, I have been touring the United States for the last couple of years, visiting the State and National Parks where the animals are supposed to be protected and I found that there are people living in those parks. I was amazed! I what really bothered me was the fact that the people who lived there often complained when an animal turned up in their backyards; they said they were afraid their children would be eaten by the animal. I wondered whose sactuary it was, the animals or the peoples? It really made me mad. People should not be allowed to live in these places. The animals always get the short end of the stick because they get shot for getting too close to the people or going outside the park. So, what makes the Arctic Refuge any different? Obviously nobody cares whether people come in start messing with the environment and killing off the animals. Big business and the governement has the power here. Money is the name of the game. They don't care if it a beautiful place or if they kill off a couple of species of animals. I don't know what we can do. My Senators are against the drilling, thank God, but is it enough? I hope so. Smart people know that Ethanol is a sustainable resourse; I think it's been known for decades. But who is the stronger and richer power? Oil. But the lazy and most prevalent among us just don't care. They want their SUVs and they don't care where the gas comes from. And most of them don't even vote. So all we can do is hope and pray and keep our fingers crossed for the Arctic because that's probably the only chance it's got. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Edwin West EMAIL: ehw68@yahoo.com IP: 209.220.12.15 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:49:07 PM The bottom line to all this is that America needs to kick the oil habit. The best way to do this is to eliminate the need for it. To think that we still use gas-engines is so yesterday. In fact, the operation of an automobile is essentially the same since the birth of the automobile, namely, it needs gas, needs oil, needs 1800's style mechanical parts, all out-dated. We need to develop, and quick, new mecanisms for running a car, a tractor, truck, etc. Whether that's through hydrogen cells, electricity or whatever, our dependency on gas is causing a significant problem for America. Unfortunately, the Bush administration is more interested in profits than for the people of this country. After all, they'll all be dead after 50 years or so, what do they care about what happens after that? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sue Cottrill EMAIL: scottrill1@woh.rr.com IP: 71.65.72.253 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 06:03:52 PM Larry You need to read your e-mail that disagrees with you as well as that which agrees with you. After two e-mails with no response, as a former resident of Alaska who sees things a little differently, I am disturbed by your rants on artic drilling. As a member of the NWF and the leader's club who can not get a response to my opinion, I will be canceling my membership. Sue Cottrill ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anne Hinderliter EMAIL: anne.hinderliter@ndsu.edu IP: 134.129.118.240 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 06:05:37 PM The loss of wetland habitat through melting of permafrost is of increasing concern. Why are we not examining the role of climate change induced by hydrocarbons instead of just drilling more and more? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Steve Wilson EMAIL: safe_drvr@yahoo.com IP: 71.113.13.180 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 06:14:38 PM Tell your Senators and House Representatives to support Jay Inlee's New Apollo Energy Project! Help reduce dependence on foreign oil! www.house.gov/inslee/issues/energy/new_apollo_energy_act.html ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Steve Wilson EMAIL: safe_drvr@yahoo.com IP: 71.113.13.180 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 06:41:46 PM http://www.house.gov/inslee/issues/energy/ntl_anwr_essay.html ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Loretta Zoldak EMAIL: lmarks3@sbcglobal.net IP: 68.94.226.211 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 06:45:02 PM The more I hear about the drilling in the arctic, the more it seems hopeless. If the oil mongers want to drill up there-they will drill up there. We have seen it time and again. Money always wins. It is sad that it will probably happen. But maybe when just about everything is destroyed, man will come to his senses, but by then-it will probably be too late. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Burr C. McFarlane EMAIL: daisym@comcast.net IP: 69.139.140.15 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 06:45:08 PM Seems like there are always people out there trying to make a buck by screwing up the environment. The oil companies and those in Congress (that vote to spite the environment) are major culprits in the so-called search for OIL. I say let them start drilling smack dab in the middle of Washington DC - plenty of oil there. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jossina Gonzalez EMAIL: JOSSINA@JUNO.COM IP: 24.26.244.209 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 06:52:20 PM The same capitalism that is sadly fueling our dependence for oil is degrading and insulting American ingenuity. The destruction of irreplaceable gems of wild freedom is uncalled for when hybrid technology, etc. exists to combat a vicious cycle of destruction and dependence on oil -- a dependence that not only threatens our nation's strength but also the world as we know it. Why invest in destruction when we have the power to create and expand sensible engery-wise technologies to combat a dependence that can only be intertwined with regrettable acts? Our politicians -- our voice -- need to adopt policies that stop insulting the ingenuity that put a man on the moon. We must save the Artic to save our humanity. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Wendy Slepian EMAIL: wendy@skibees.com IP: 71.128.108.248 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 07:00:13 PM The state of Maine is an incredible paradise for tourists because of the special protections that they have taken to preserve the wildlife, like the bald eagles on the islands around Bar Harbor (I was amazed to see three bald eagles there this June and it was a heart-stopping moment!). They've also made changes in the lobstering industry to help protect the lobster long-term. If any state understands the beauty and fragility of nature, it's the people of the state of Maine. Let's thank their senators for all of their good work and ask them to extend their influence to help protect the last great refuge, our national treasure, the artice refuge. We really, really need their assistance and expertise. Their actions now can change the fate of our nation. And it's only with their help that we can make this happen. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Della Irvin EMAIL: Della1741@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 07:08:49 PM We still don't have the true picture of what destroying our environment is doing to us. The weather all over has gotten so severe and the situation with the global warming is herendous. We should have considered who we were putting in the office when we voted for president and put someone in there that was concerned about our environment and the long term effects of destroying it. Next time we vote if there is still something left to protect let's do the right thing. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jobekah Trotta EMAIL: beargrasswoman@yahoo.com IP: 24.10.76.91 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 07:15:17 PM Big business herded by big bucks. Like the pursuit of the Lemmings and their pell mell run to toss themselves over a precipice, we are following suit on a genocidal misson of doom and failure should we even consider all of the ramification of destroying the pristine and valuable Tundra by allowing a presidential urging to destroy what ever is left of the integrity of this rare and beautiful land. This president will be out in a few years and then another and another. In the mean time it is you and I who will with out prompting of money, business profits or personal motivation of gainful aggrandizement, it will be all of us who will hunger and remember while future generations will have to be satisfied with pictures in a book, old film and stories from any of those who knew and remember. Please stop! Stop now! Stop Today! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathryn Sawyer EMAIL: KathrynSawyer3@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 07:16:45 PM Enough already using non-renewable resources like oil. By using renewable resources like solar power we have a constant supply of energy, and we don't hurt our environment! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: bruce l nowak EMAIL: b1now@juno.com IP: 4.225.245.227 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 07:20:30 PM The attack on our wilderness preserves proceeds in the name of greed when viable alternatives to oil exist. They exist in the grease traps of our fast food diners to the corn and soy fields covering the this blessed land. Unless we proceed with alternative fuels and vastly improved mass transit systems, we will leave nothing for our children's children to enjoy. Stop the Lies - Impeach Bush Cheney NOW ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Ann Diekmann EMAIL: malke10@earthlink.net IP: 72.44.13.244 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 07:21:33 PM Recently I made a second trip to Costa Rica. While I may not be totally informed of all I need to know, I do know that this lovely, environmentally rich country has chosen to have no military in order to have peace from drug lords and dictators, and in order to also protect the beautiful rain forests, rivers, and wild life and most importantly themselves and their future. Why am I mentioning another country? They know that it is time to protect things now, not after this wonderful heritage has disappeared because of neglect, misuse and thoughtlessness of its importantce to their citizens. In America we all think of our country as strong, intelligent and involved. Why do we not want to do what a small country like Costa Rica is already accomplishing. I visited Alaska twice, also. It had been important to me since I first learned about it at 8 years of age. When I visited Prudoe Bay after flying over Denali and then following the pipeline to Fairbanks, I learned it was even more astonishingly amazing in its beauty, wildlife and clean water and air. My heart almost stopped at the site of an entire herd of the endangered Wild Musk Oxen and an encounter of over a half hour (more if we had chosen to remain) with a young golden grizzly bear. None of these animals were sighted in the oilfields or near the immediate area of the pipeline. In fact I only saw two caribou (separarely) over hundreds of acres of the Prudhoe Bay pipeline area while visiting Deadhorse, Alaska. Only when we were miles and miles away from this area did we begin to see the wildlife in any numbers. Gravel roads interrupting the permafrost "hills" where migrating birds lay eggs, artificial material like the pipeline and buildings, drills for oil fires (I witnessed one spewing black smoke into the most beautiful, blue sky I ever saw), separate airfields for oil industry planes, waste from human habitats there, and too many things to enumerate make me wonder how an educated American can condone drilling for oil (which will be gone in 20 years!) in one of our last, pristine areas. This wildlife is important to the chain of life that feeds us as well as gives us mental relief from all of our modern stress by its incomparable beauty. Even for those who are never blessed to visit and see with their own eyes, our wonderful photographers and movie makers of wildlife and parks, continually show our nation the beauty of Alaska and its Arctic Refuge. Hasn't the oil industry been given enough when they are allowed to drill over almost the entire coastline of Alaska except for the Arctic Refuge? I guess our children and grandchildren will have to visit or live in Costa Rica (guess what! Many Americans, I talked to some while I visited, and they were young, are already doing this. They want clean air, beauty, and sensible life for their young children.) My ancestors fought with George Washington and in all wars to protect America. They today treasure a document of their purchase of land in the Shenandoah Valley from Lord Fairfax. Their pioneering took then all over America and they always took part in good government and especially protecting their heritage. I weep that I may not be successful like they were if you do not help us save the Arctic Refuge and find other sources of energy for transportation that will not ruin our clean air and water. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Ann Diekmann EMAIL: malke10@earthlink.net IP: 72.44.13.244 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 07:24:56 PM Recently I made a second trip to Costa Rica. While I may not be totally informed of all I need to know, I do know that this lovely, environmentally rich country has chosen to have no military in order to have peace from drug lords and dictators, and in order to also protect the beautiful rain forests, rivers, and wild life and most importantly themselves and their future. Why am I mentioning another country? They know that it is time to protect things now, not after this wonderful heritage has disappeared because of neglect, misuse and thoughtlessness of its importantce to their citizens. In America we all think of our country as strong, intelligent and involved. Why do we not want to do what a small country like Costa Rica is already accomplishing. I visited Alaska twice, also. It had been important to me since I first learned about it at 8 years of age. When I visited Prudoe Bay after flying over Denali and then following the pipeline to Fairbanks, I learned it was even more astonishingly amazing in its beauty, wildlife and clean water and air. My heart almost stopped at the site of an entire herd of the endangered Wild Musk Oxen and an encounter of over a half hour (more if we had chosen to remain) with a young golden grizzly bear. None of these animals were sighted in the oilfields or near the immediate area of the pipeline. In fact I only saw two caribou (separarely) over hundreds of acres of the Prudhoe Bay pipeline area while visiting Deadhorse, Alaska. Only when we were miles and miles away from this area did we begin to see the wildlife in any numbers. Gravel roads interrupting the permafrost "hills" where migrating birds lay eggs, artificial material like the pipeline and buildings, drills for oil fires (I witnessed one spewing black smoke into the most beautiful, blue sky I ever saw), separate airfields for oil industry planes, waste from human habitats there, and too many things to enumerate make me wonder how an educated American can condone drilling for oil (which will be gone in 20 years!) in one of our last, pristine areas. This wildlife is important to the chain of life that feeds us as well as gives us mental relief from all of our modern stress by its incomparable beauty. Even for those who are never blessed to visit and see with their own eyes, our wonderful photographers and movie makers of wildlife and parks, continually show our nation the beauty of Alaska and its Arctic Refuge. Hasn't the oil industry been given enough when they are allowed to drill over almost the entire coastline of Alaska except for the Arctic Refuge? I guess our children and grandchildren will have to visit or live in Costa Rica (guess what! Many Americans, I talked to some while I visited, and they were young, are already doing this. They want clean air, beauty, and sensible life for their young children.) My ancestors fought with George Washington and in all wars to protect America. They today treasure a document of their purchase of land in the Shenandoah Valley from Lord Fairfax. Their pioneering took then all over America and they always took part in good government and especially protecting their heritage. I weep that I may not be successful like they were if you do not help us save the Arctic Refuge and find other sources of energy for transportation that will not ruin our clean air and water. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patricia Abbott EMAIL: pmabbott@earthlink.net IP: 66.32.0.141 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 07:28:11 PM It is the governor of Alaska, who is looking for oil drilling in his state, to bring millions into the states economy. He has completely disregarded the damage to the Arctic Refuge for the money that his state will receive. Millions of dollars and ten years of destructive drilling - all for six months of oil!!! It is plain to see that the almighty dollar is the bottom line - not the preservation of land and wildlife that can never be replaced. Somehow, the Governor of Alaska needs to recognize that the damage caused to the Arctic Reserve is not worth the money and jobs that he is looking to provide for his state. And so do all of the other members of Congress who support this drilling plan. No amount of money is worth the long range damage that will occur. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patricia Abbott EMAIL: pmabbott@earthlink.net IP: 66.32.0.141 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 07:28:46 PM It is the governor of Alaska, who is looking for oil drilling in his state, to bring millions into the states economy. He has completely disregarded the damage to the Arctic Refuge for the money that his state will receive. Millions of dollars and ten years of destructive drilling - all for six months of oil!!! It is plain to see that the almighty dollar is the bottom line - not the preservation of land and wildlife that can never be replaced. Somehow, the Governor of Alaska needs to recognize that the damage caused to the Arctic Reserve is not worth the money and jobs that he is looking to provide for his state. And so do all of the other members of Congress who support this drilling plan. No amount of money is worth the long range damage that will occur. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dave Sinha EMAIL: dakshsinha@yahoo.com IP: 68.122.238.59 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 07:36:12 PM The step towards drilling is definately a wrong thing. Our government is overlooking prospects such as wind energy, solar, nuclear. Small steps can lead into big discoveries. Drilling in the arctic is not a permanent solution of our energy crisis. To destroy the landscape of a beautiful wildlife park, just to extract a few barrels of oil is not worth it. The people should step forward to save this landscape from moneyhogling oil drilling companies. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Wren Siegel EMAIL: wrenbeth@yahoo.com IP: 24.8.176.4 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 07:39:12 PM IDEAS: - Take out an ad in the NY Times, questioning the entire list of fence senators: 'How will YOU vote?' (likely you've that of that!) Yet it was so effetive when Brower did it for the Yampa, and then Glen Canyon. 'Who holds the fate of the Refuge in their hands?' - TEAM with the MANY other orgs. working on this issue's behalf to pay for the cost of such an ad. Coalitions of orgs. are so much more powerful, and great publicity for all involved - Have Maine and other fence states' major TV stations been targeted? TV is so expensive, but one ad/interview can go such a long way and TV is all so many people hear from. - Get some money facts towards the forefront. What is gas costing us now, and what are projections for it to cost WHETHER WE DRILL OR NOT in the future? This is key. The inherent and intrinsic values are not unfortunately what most people care about or can relate to. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Timothy Shanahan EMAIL: TCSHAN@aol.com IP: 67.49.122.178 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 07:44:09 PM I agree with Nicole Plough's idea, only with just the smokers. Let's ask all the smog-producers if they've ever spent time in an office, or boardroom, etc. with smokers. All that smoke builds up after a while. As Captain Planet once said, "It may not look like much when it's in the air, but *this* is what gets into your lungs!" ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Macon Phillips EMAIL: macon@bluestatedigital.com IP: 67.103.144.50 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 08:13:32 PM Good ideas Wren! I think the the advertising ideas you have are great, but few things beat the impact of one-on-one contact about the facts of the matter. I'm thinking we could have tables set up at gas stations -- catch people when they are frustrated at high gas prices and explains to them just how WRONG this whole idea is. The trick is to get more people -- especially thought that might not normally be part of the conservation movement -- to join us. They need to understand that the Refug is going to fall victim to a boneheaded policy. We've got to do something to stop this terrible waste? How to we reach new people? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Garry & Nola Gentry EMAIL: garryl44@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 08:17:15 PM I find it hard to believe that we are not 100% committed as a nation to preserving our world and our resources. Please be an activist and speak out everywhere we(you) go. Vote Green. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: BlondeFemaleBear EMAIL: marilyndin@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/TenInYellowstone/ DATE: 08/25/2005 08:23:28 PM I am happy to join you. I haven't read the ideas of others yet, but no doubt there are some very good ones already. I have a couple of ideas. I think a Power Point Demo ought to be presented to the senators and anyone else of influence who will save the Arctic Refuge. The Power Point Demo could be called the Buffer Zone Idea, The Buffer Zone Factor, The Buffer Zone of The Human Spirit, or just the Buffer Zone of The Far North, or something like that. If you have a better idea for a name, that's fine with me. It could show different flashes of the sky over the refuge such as different displays of the Aurora Borealsis from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It could show the stars in the Arctic night and the midnight sun. It could also show the seasons on this yet unspoiled refuge and the scenery in the seasons. It could show the wildife and have music and sounds or just the silent display. I think music and sound would help. It could also show the wildlife. I think that would make a great impression. My second idea is that you may have heard of the Y2Y program. Yellowstone to Yukon. I have an idea along this line not to trump the Y2Y concept but to strengthen it. I have read that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is not far from the Yukon on the Canadian side. Therefore, the Refuge also needs to be annexed to the Y2Y region. Our idea would be Yellowstone Buffalo Herd to Porcupine Caribou Herd. Both are endangered and both need protection. YBH2PCH, but I have even a better idea below which is not so many letter. Native Americans are on both sides of the spectrum. Gwich'in in the North and Tribal Native Americans to the south end of the spectrum in the Yellowstone Region. We need to work with these native peoples to protect the Y2Y region plus the Artic Refuge that is contiguous to it. We need to protect this whole area from oil drilling for all time. This should be eligible for International Designation and Protection. The Gwich'in will become aware of Native Americans efforts in the Yellowstone Region to protect the Yellowstone Buffalo to the south. Conversely, Yellowstone Region Native Americans will be alerted to the situation in the Arctic. Or if you want an abreviation it can be: Buffalo2Caribou or B2C concept. This will protect the Northern Buffer zone while Yellowstone to the South is protected. It will also include the Northern Rockies in the US and Canada and the Yukon. Imagine a continous protected wilderness area and linkage zone and we will wonder why these areas suddenly got wilder. Just an idea and I hope it helps out. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: john roark EMAIL: john_r_46075_2000@yahoo.com IP: 69.11.148.25 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 08:31:41 PM worse case scenario,if its is drilled who would over see it?in my home town there were oil wells years ago and the same in my wifes home town.you would need to search very close to even find a trace that they were there.if the worse case happens,lets be prepared with who would over see it.john ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jerome wilensky M.D. EMAIL: jmwilensky@earthlink.netthe IP: 4.227.169.5 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 08:38:00 PM the vast expanse of land,the sublime magical area that we call Alaska and its eons old GOD given heritage that has remained unspoiled for countless previous, current and future generations could be altered in the near future and irreparably harmed for a very small amount of oil. This national treasure does belong for our future generations of all Americans.Development of more efficient vehicles ,alternate sources of energy,slight reduction of the thermostat can obtain the same results as the minimal recovery of the intended future oil Appeal to these realities of the political mind when they contemplate casting their vote. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Harry Rutten EMAIL: harryrutten@optonline.net IP: 68.193.127.212 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 09:12:31 PM Remember what Mahatma Ghandi said; "The future depends on what we do in the present." This man brought the British Raj to its knees without firing a shot or breaking a head. We want to stop ANWR drilling if it happens, stand shoulder to shoulder and block their way. The truth cannot be defeated if it speaks AND ACTS loud enough. If it passes the plane leaves at once. Remember the colonists at Lexington. They stood their ground and began our nation. Let us stand against the tyranny of the corporations and their government friends. ORGANIZE TO GO. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Judith Newman EMAIL: jnaomi@juno.com IP: 4.231.236.46 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 09:18:50 PM I just read a short news article about the Italian government encouraging private Italian citizens to install solar panels, which will provide them with the energy they use and excess which they can sell. If it is possible to get in touch with mainstream journalists, to write articles connecting an examination of the value of the Arctic Refuge with the possibilities -- so unexplored in this country -- for producing renewable energy, this might bring the issue to the public's attention. The politics of renewable energy as a self-sufficient resource, combined with the beauty of bio-diversity, combined with corporate corruption and irresponsibility should not be such a tough sell to the American people. It's time to make a case for solar and wind -- again! -- and question directly why it must be given public backing and support now! People tend to think if it hasn't been done it's because it can't be done. What they don't realize is how much power they have to demand something and get it. Explain clearly whether these things are possible and what needs to be done to make them real sources of energy, commonplace sources of everyday light and power, so that there can be no excuse for not doing it. If people don't demand that their energy be renewable, wildlife and its environment will always be under attack. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Donna EMAIL: ohdonna04@sbcglobal.net IP: 69.177.23.87 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 09:24:03 PM I believe that every voting member of the senate and congress should be asked point blank by their constituents: Do you support oil drilling in the artic refuge? If the answer is yes; write a scathing letter to your paper labeling them as betrayers of our natural resources and vow not to re-elect them when their term comes due. If they are voting against oil drilling in the artic refuge, send a letter of praise to your paper in support of their vote. I think plastering tv, newspapers, billboards, etc. with the slide show of pics available on this website, will prompt people with a voice AND a conscience into action. Call your senators and congress-people today. Point blank them. We have a voice. Those inhabitants of the Artic Refuge are depending on us to save them. Not Bush Greed, Cheney Greed or Big Oil Greed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: angelyncampbell EMAIL: angelyncampbell@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 09:33:04 PM Send pictures to the senators the president is trying an end run to get this through pictures are worth $1000 words could some of the senators be taken to alaska to see the havoc that would be wrecked? I have visited alaska once and it was beautiful. The animals are depending upon us to save them lets do it they cannot do it for themselves ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: angelyncampbell EMAIL: angelyncampbell@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 09:33:35 PM Send pictures to the senators the president is trying an end run to get this through pictures are worth $1000 words could some of the senators be taken to alaska to see the havoc that would be wrecked? I have visited alaska once and it was beautiful. The animals are depending upon us to save them lets do it they cannot do it for themselves ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Susan EMAIL: sd-o@juno.com IP: 141.156.251.157 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 09:49:01 PM Let's all write the governor of Alaska and disocurage him by showing public opion againist drilling in his backyard. Let's explain to him what the consequences could be to that beautiful land, that I am sure he loves along with everyone else that lives there!It would be a shame to ruin the quality of life of the population ..both human and animal! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michael Christian EMAIL: michaelchristian@juno.com IP: 67.150.36.52 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 09:51:34 PM I read some of the Comments, and most of the Ideas are just Complaints about Big Oil or our Congresspersons. I think WE all need to do our part about this "Oil thing". Unfortunately, not driving on one day of the week won't do it. Most people are so tied to their cars, they can't get around without them. Here's my proposal: 1. Accelerate more slowly when you start out from a stop sign or traffic light. 2. Drive no more than 60mph on the Highways/Freeways. I know this works. I've got a Chevy Truck rated at 13 city and 17 Highway, and I'm getting 18mpg OVERALL (Highway and City combined). My second car is a Honda Civic (not a Hybrid) rated at 30 City and 38 Highway. I'm getting 38 OVERALL. That's about 10% to 20% increase in fuel mileage. Which would equate to a 25 to 60 cent per gallon cost savings in gasoline cost, depending on where you live and buy gas. This works for me, and it will work for EVERYONE IN AMERICA. Give it a try, you'll see (and save). To calculate your gas mileage, divide the Miles Driven by the Gallons (350 miles / 10 gal. = 35 mpg). Mike PS: I'm not in favor of oil (although it's a great lubricant). I think we should convert all our vehicles to run on Alcohol (Ethanol). M. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sylvia Arizaga EMAIL: arizagasil@yahoo.com IP: 24.14.102.125 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 10:16:31 PM I can't believe they are doing this again. The Artic region is irreplacable. When will we learn that when it is gone we can never get it back. A war is being fought for oil, that isn't enough we have to put a hole in the Artic. If this is done animal habitat will be lost and it will cause a dominoe effect. This Earth is not ours it belongs to our children and our grandchildren. I have a animal lover son who can not bare to see animals get hurt. What will we say to our future generations." We were looking for oil so that we can drive giant size vehicles to the corner store. Why don't we ask the children what they want for their future: oil or animals in natural habitats. When they ask:" What did you do to stop this?" Why didnt you voice your opinion? We can say we did everything we could.We need to hear their voices. We can start a campaign that allows this, with drawings, letters amd whatever it takes. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: valerie wey EMAIL: valeriewey@yahoo.fr IP: 151.203.78.129 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 11:06:54 PM I think that boycotting gaz stations on Mondays is a great idea !! finally we are upset because they want to destroy this refuge for oil, we tell them that we are not satisfy but we still are going to the gaz station to fill our car. They must be laughting about us, it seems completly contrary. Just recently I decided to do not take my car and use my bicycle. It is hard a little but I do execice and really tell them I don't care about their oil. If we stop going to the gaz station their pocket is going to feel light and when they are losing money, then they are ready to pay attention to the problem. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kitsune EMAIL: Trailfox7@cs.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 11:15:12 PM Sometimes I'm just so embarrassed and disgusted by my own species, even the 'rulers' of my own country (US). I just had to walk over two miles in over a hundred degree heat with my son because I was waiting until payday tomorrow morning to get some much needed gas--but my car had other ideas. If I had the money, I would get a hybrid in a heartbeat!!!! Perhaps the government should be more concerned about alternative energy sources than oil, but since we are not, those energy saving cars are way above my, and most peoples, heads!!!! But hey, why save our resources? No one makes money that way and people like my son and I will just have to keep on walking! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anca Vlasopolos EMAIL: Vlasopolos@sbcglobal.net IP: 69.209.160.162 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 11:24:30 PM And when the Arctic Refuge runs dry? What will we do for fuel then? Should we not think of ways in which to decrease our dependence on fossil fuel? We see the extraordinary popularity of hybrid cars. Why is not the government offering incentives, both to consumers and researchers, to work toward less consumption and to develop alternative sources of energy? If Americans saw that there is a choice between battling other nations for resources or fouling our own ever-decreasing pristine habitats AND energy conservation, many Americans would be patriotic enough to make sacrifices. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Karen Chase EMAIL: karen_chase@sbcglobal.net IP: 66.159.178.3 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 11:29:35 PM It was a Republican president, Dwight Eisenhower, who divided the artic into 2 areas, one where the oil was to be taken and the other area, the Artic National Wildlife Refuge was to remain "Wild & Free forever." Forever seems to be a short time. Do the Republican Senators from Maine want to go back on president Eisenhowers promise to the American people, who purchased the ANWR with their tax money and who in effect are the owners of this property? If the oil companies drill for the oil in ANWR which is oil owned by every American citizen then we should demand that it be given to us FREE of charge as we have already paid for it several times over. The ANWR is my and children's and thier childrens heritage, even if I never see it I know I own a part of something special in the world and it would be a national tragidy if we had to explain to future generations why we had to spoil what little is left of the wild places for a few more gallons of oil rather than finding another source of renewable energy. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Katherine Northcut Sallee EMAIL: knsall@juno.com IP: 4.226.195.9 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 11:36:29 PM Let's see if I have this right: If we drill in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge--our last pristine, undeveloped northern area, habitat to endangered and environment-specific wildlife of diverse species, a natural landscape of astounding beauty, and a rare, ethereal retreat for spiritual renewal--Biggie Oil/Fatty Corporate Greed can extract ONLY ENOUGH OIL TO FUEL THE U.S. FOR 12 TO 38 DAYS? (Time Magazine, Aug. 29, 2005, pp 32-33.) And this makes economic sense? Already the above immoral corporate/government alliance has fouled its own nest with artifical oil crises, and now with gasoline prices that are leaping and bounding like mule deer--and this from oil we already have on hand. Isn't it ironic that now we're buying foreign cars, even scooters--to cut back on foreign oil. And a dirty, rotten, gassy shame it is, when America has had the know-how to produce fuel-efficient cars for decades, instead of trashing the land and sea shore--with which we were charged to be good stewards. I am insulted by how stupid Biggie Oil/Fatty Corporate Greed thinks we, the people, are to allow it to continue stomping its steel-toed boots over the landscape. to fall for its incessant, battering rap of "Gotta-drill, Gotta-spill-our-oil-and-blood." Any legislator who betrays the American people, AGAIN, by voting for drilling this time in the ANWR--should be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail. Or, my second choice: Be thrown out of office and banished forever to Death Valley where, perhaps, they can do no more harm. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marilyn Dinger EMAIL: marilyndin@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 11:50:11 PM Some places are just meant to last in perpetuity -- through all of the natural disasters, through all of human history, even when there is a new heaven and a new earth as some religious scholars have mentioned. Some of the people with the right-wing fanatic ilk that Bush is and the oil barrons and much of the GOP Congress have people of that ilk who actually pray that there will be a nuclear war. Bah Humbug! I think this is one time, whether we are believers or not, that we all need to pray with all our might that there NOT be nuclear war. I think we need the Lord, the Great Spirit, or whatever name we call our Creator by on our side and our prayers should be just as loud and just as concentrated as those who are praying for a nuclear war, a rapture, or an apocalypse. If we believe in the Creation, no Creator would want us to blow up our world! But unfortunately, that scenario is possible, but it does not hae to happen and we can make a difference. If we believe in evolution, who would want to bring about our extinction sooner than it needs to happen? Either way or both together, nature or God, simply did NOT design this earth to be blown up or vaporized. So # 1 -- concentrated prayer. Let our Creator know that nuclear war is not an option to us and that we care very much that there is never a nuclear war which would destroy all of humanity and also our planet. #2 -- Like I said initially in this discussion, we need to try to designate ANWR in Alaska and Y2Y (Yellowstone2Yukon)as one protected Wilderness/wildlife complex with the absence of oil exploration and drilling, mining, road buidling, war zone, industrialization, military instalations, commercial establishments, malls, logging, and curtailed grazing. We need to end extraction altogether and end any further increase in roads, obliterate some existing roads, and prohibit any further industrialization and commercialization of these areas. We need to designate it as the designated Buffalo To Caribou wilderness area. To give you an idea of what I mean further, there will be polar bear on the north end of the conituous linked wilderness area and grizzly bear and black bear throughout the entire region. The United States and Canada would not own the area, but it would be a World Wilderness/Wildlife preserve where the tribal peoples and the environmental organizations would work together to manage the area. The time has come, I think. We would still have national parks, national forests, ect. But in this area as the premeir area of this kind in the world, there would be no such thing as oil shale mining and slaughter of wildlife except for subsistence purposes. Some of you are undoubtedly aware of the Buffalo Field Campaign. The Yellowstone buffalo is severely threatened with extinction under the false guise of posing a brucellosis threat which is really not a threat at all and which really is all about greed. The Department of Livestock is so worried that the buffalo are going to eat all of the grass so that the cattle that come to graze on the lands of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem just outside of Yellowstone National Park near West Yellowstone, will be deprived of grass. But that is not true. The buffalo have never robbed the cattle of natural forage even when they must go outside the Park to keep from starving in the wintertime. The bison, better known as the buffalo, are in fact posing no such threat and do not diserve to be slaughtered, tortured, rounded up, and traumatized as they are. The Buffalo is the great icon of the Temperate Yellowstone Region and the Caribou is the great icon of ANWR. Therefore, neither does the domain of the Porcupine Caribou herd deserve to be threatened because of oil drilling. Global warming is bad enough and it is real. We will need such a protected, continuous wilderness buffer zone to slow the effects of global warming and to set an example of trying to halt global warming. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the Northern buffer zone of the far North and also of the lands further to the South. If we industrialize the Far North which is already being done at Prudhoe Bay, that will have its profound effects in global warming as does deforestation and every kind of extration and development. These areas are contiguous areas, which means that you should be able to walk from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem all the way to the Yukon and continue on to ANWR withoutleaving a wildernes area or crossing any barriors. There and manmade barriors but some of those need to be let down and so Buffalo To Caribou needs to be protected as one, continous wild area where mankind lives lightly on the land and natural processe prevail. That does not mean we need to go back to the dark ages, or back to the age of the caveman. It just means we need to change some of our lifestyles where we now consume fossil fuels and extractive materials instead of developing renewable energy -- a change that is possible to make and make fairly quickly. And we need to learn to be satisfied with less in those areas. We need to park our cars outside of the National Parks and Refuges and take a bus inside, or use a tour bus to get into the Park. If we do decide to camp, we should maybe think about getting a hybrid van instead of using oil and gasoline to take our vehicles to the Parks. My web site is under construction. It is not up yet, but when it is, I will give it to you. Then you will know who I am and that I highly value protecting our wild areas. I work with Yellowstone issues, but working with the buffalo issue in Yellowstone, I, along with the Tribal peoples there can understand how the Gwich'in Native Americans must feel when they value the caribou for spiritual and subsistence purposes. The Native Americans in and around Yellowstone want to be able to manage the buffalo and establish a National Bison range to restore their numbers. We believe that would be a far better form of managment than that which is imposed by the Department of Livestock and right-wing political interests. Native Americans, who believe in presrving ANWR should have a part in the refuge's management policies, as well. * Think concentrated prayer against nuclear war and agains war without end and pray for world peace and peace in our nation. * Think of the buffer zone concept and use a Power Point Presentation on a screen with the best footage of the Refuge. We need to begin to look at these still ecologically-intact areas as buffer zones for climate protection, for protection of solitude and biodiversity, for protection of the environment, and for the protection of the human spirit and what is good in humanity. * Think of an International Buffalo to Caribou Wildlife/Wilderness complex that is relinked so that a person can walk from Bear Lake in Northern Utah to the Artic without ever walking on a road, even though some roads must remain and where it is continuously wild with linkages to the Polar Bear on one end and black and grizzly bears throughout most of the complex as well as all of the native wildlife allowed to remain or restored. Ask the Yellowstone To Yukon founders what they would call such an area. Maybe there is a better word than "complex" like "International Wilderness Area" or something simialar. Feel free to come up with some ideas there. I know I am just going over my ideas the first time I commented today, but along with all of your ideas, I think we must think on this grand of a scale to get the protection designation we need for these two premier world areas. We need ANWR,Yukon, and Yellowstone to remain intact and unimpaired in perpetuity. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Melissa Miller EMAIL: memiller123@yahoo.com IP: 159.169.57.3 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 11:57:00 PM I've heard a lot of people state that drilling in the artic really won't cause that much damage. But where do we draw the line??? If we take a small step to damage the Artic Wildlife Refuge today, and then another step later, and then another,...well, pretty soon there will be nothing left. We are stewards of this planet and with that stewardship comes a responsibility to protect it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patty O'Connor EMAIL: dogsonthesave@juno.com IP: 4.249.114.218 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 12:00:06 AM It is allmost unimaginable--oil derrecks against a beautiful mountain backdrop, spills in pristine bays. And this ONLY after we have run across the glaciers with heavy equipment and trucks--forever changing the face of the wilderness. It makes me cry to think that people don't care about these events...about the loss of habitat and wildlife that will never be, can never be, replaced. Perhaps we should show people what the refuge will look like once all of the wells are in place, the animals gone or diminished to less than they are, and the oil ships docked--before and after photos of the coveted Arctic wilderness. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Powell EMAIL: threefawns@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.196 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 12:11:25 AM Today we are in Iraq fighting a war for oil, not democracy. For thirty years we have known we couldn't depend on oil to run our country, yet we have done nothing. We now have a president who thumbs his nose at anyone who disagrees with him. The only people he listens to is big business. Exon-Mobile is making over a billion dollars this year, not only on our fighting men and women, but on each of our citizens. Now this administration wants to destroy ANWR and then go to the oceans on our coasts and the gulf. These are beautiful, irreplacable areas we should be leaving to our children, grandchildren and all future generations. How much longer are we going to tolerate the greed of our big businesses and our representatives? We can go into outer-space, the depths of the oceans, build buildings in the clouds and transplant human organs, but we can't find a safe, dependable source of energy? Of course we can! But the oil companies and the car manufacturers will hear nothing of it, until they can bleed the earth dry and bleed the peoples around the world, too. And now we have an administration who is as corrupt as they are. I wish the American people would wake up and start speaking out more. Maybe we are, we just can't get our voices heard by a media who is also willing to silence those voices. We must keep speaking up...there are more of us than we realize. And we must start voting. That is how we can be heard. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: LaVonne McCombie EMAIL: lavonnemm@juno.com IP: 63.27.243.205 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 01:37:39 AM How sad that our government is even considering allowing the big oil companies to drill for oil in one of our last pristine areas. We need to be researching renewable energy sources not destroying the breeding grounds of the caribou. This just to increase the income for the greedy big oil companies. The benefit to U.S. oil supplies will be minimal, at best. Most, if not all, of the Artic Oil will be sent to China! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rachael EMAIL: yumyum_gummiebears@yahoo.com IP: 12.219.111.205 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 03:26:44 AM It's great that all of these thought are being shown on a page. This is probably the most progress for ANWAR that I have seen in a while. I live in a small college town and I have discuused these issue with many friends and collegues. The problem is that no one knows the issue. People are ignorant to what is really being lost. ANWAR hold special intrinsic value and that is why it should be keep alive and not degraded by men. I have not heard word about the issue at hand except from this website and few mentionings in internet articles. The excecutives of this organization should come to colleges and give brief lectures. This will raise awareness once again. It has died out and peole are beginning to think it is a lost cause. Most people are only activists when it comes to current issues. WELL, bring the issue back. Show people what they don't know. Yes there is a lack of funding- as with every environmental orginazion. Sending a newspaper a bunch of blogs is not going to do anything except waste paper. Where there is a will there is a way. Make people care. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: JDGardiner EMAIL: juliedean@earthlink.net IP: 4.228.165.74 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 03:49:45 AM Encourage people to contact their representatives with the use of----Flyers, folks, flyers. Everyone who cares can distribute as many single sheet flyers as they can, door to door, in their own neighborhood. A whole lot more people who need to know, will become informed. Pass them out on the street. Or at your local Exxon Mobile station. This will get attention, and raise awareness. The media are simply too fragmented to effectively reach enough people, to make the difference! Perhaps the National Wildlife Association can provide us with a single sheet page original to copy and distribute. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Davi-Ann EMAIL: daviann_mason@yahoo.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 05:43:31 AM 3 things, A. Ask if a promise made to protect the Artic refuge in 1960 by Pres. Eisenhower is worth anything. Is any promise made by our gov't worth anything? Maybe we should ask the Native Americans... 2. Let it be known that any of the criminal corps behind this underhanded tactic or any corp. that even looks at the Artic Refuge with greedy lust will be the target of all-out boycott by the 70% of the public against drilling. C. Remind our officials of the past disasters like the Exxon Valdeez. That even with record profits Exxon is refusing to pay ordered compensation for the Natives who lost their livelyhood and that the damage is still present. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jon Stewart EMAIL: jon_m_stewart@yahoo.com IP: 216.118.190.9 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 07:28:49 AM The administration and media are making a big noise about how the land of the "Marsh Arabs" is being restored after being decimated by Saddam Hussein. Is this an omen of what future generations will be doing for Alaska and Maine's wilderness post-Bush/Cheney? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Chris A. EMAIL: callgeier@shrinenet.org IP: 12.8.233.147 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 08:03:24 AM Ideas. First I'd like to see the youth of America strongly involved in this. Several small record labels (FAT records) oginized anti Bush campains during the most recent presidental election. It got kids involved and spreading the word and talking about it. The independent scene can reach out to many individuals. How about getting in touch with some large musical acts who support preservation and/or are antiBush and have a huge fund raiser and reach millions with the facts. There also is always the standard bumper stickers (or now I guess it's the ribbon magnets). Hell even putting flyers up on telephone poles with the facts can reach people. Just brainstorming here.... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Eileen B. EMAIL: deburnell@metrocast.net IP: 65.175.177.118 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 08:07:44 AM Although I am now a NH resident, I was a constituent of Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins for years. They gained my respect for crossing party lines and "doing the right thing" time after time. For this extremely critical issue, I am shocked that they are both not acting to protect the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge. They both know that protection is the right thing to do, and we must appeal to their moral and ethical sense of right and wrong. My parents who reside in Maine echo our belief of preservation in Alaska. Eileen ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Paul D EMAIL: pandkdimarco@cox.net IP: 70.161.19.126 URL: http://members.cox.net/journeyhome/ DATE: 08/26/2005 08:08:48 AM I've always advocated just flipping the roles of the loggers. Look these guys need jobs so what should be done is to take the chainsaws out of their hands and give them careers that last a life time monitoring migration, trails, and the health of the species that occupy the forest. Tax payers would much rather subsidize the preservation and the health of the forest than big oil. This is an idea that would work. We could put all the geology and biology majors to work educating and certifying the loggers. They would have year round, life long jobs. Instead of the boom, bust cycle with logging, and we could afford it by moving the tax dollars from the subsidized timber, and oil industry directly to the loggers. You have to get the loggers on board and make it their idea. America would rather take care of these individual hard workers than subsidize the failing timber industry and pad the enormous bank accounts of the big oil and timber CEO's. I call it the "Rescue the Loggers" campaign. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robin K. EMAIL: robin19@ameritech.net IP: 69.218.221.45 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 08:50:53 AM I just wanted to let everyone know that Representative Patrick J. Tiberi in the Columbus, OH area is not opposed to drilling in the Arctic National Refuge. Anyone in his district should call or write to let him know that his constituents do not feel the same way. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cathy EMAIL: Cathyfalcon1@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 09:17:52 AM It seems to me that our government is trying to solve a problem the wrong way. Destroying an amazing ecosystem just to get a little oil that in a few years will run out and we will be back to were we are right now is not the answer. We the people of the US must find other sources of engery to survive on destroying the environment is not the answer. If we continue to destroy all the habitats of the world we soon will have nothing left and we will destroy the world. Conservation needs to be more of a way of life for people not just something you throw around when you want a vote. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barb James EMAIL: jamesxx@sbcglobal.net IP: 68.79.52.102 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 09:23:10 AM Unfortunately profits rule far too many decisions in our government. It is so sad to think of the animals whose lives are going to be so disrupted. They have lived there in tranquility for thousands of years - what right to we have to push them out for our selfish needs. That has happened so many times already in so many places, can't we do the right thing this time? Drilling for oil in the Arctic Refuge is not going to end our dependence on foreign oil. With all the technology and resources available to us for alternative fules there is absolutely no excuse why we have not been weaned off of oil by now. The public needs to be educated to understand that drilling in the Arctic Refuge is going to do nothing to lower gas prices. There is a segment of our population that is as much to blame; those who insist on buying bigger and more powerful vehicles. You see ads on TV for vehicles with more and more horsepower, that go faster and faster - WHY do you need these? Get away from the bigger is better mentality. Auto manufacturers make what people buy - if we demanded more vehicles with alternative fuel sources, they would be making them by now. You shouldn't see ads for bigger trucks and cars with more horsepower; you should see ads for the most efficient vehicles to drive. Of course, now that gas prices are getting so high, the car companies are scrambling to advertise what few gas efficient vehicles they have to offer. Why do we always wait until the problem is here rather than be pro-active and have a solution first? Could no one see this was coming? Global warming is a scary thing - if the violent weather is any indication of changes to come. If every individual person made some very basic changes in their lives we could reduce a huge amoung of carbon emmissions. Drive more efficiently; combine your errands when you can, don't leave your engine idling, don't stomp on the gas to speed to the next red light. Buy flourescent light bulbs to replace your incandescent bulbs next time they burn out; turn lights off when you're not using them. Recycle everything you can; don't automatically throw old stuff out and replace it with new stuff - get creative and see how you can reuse things. Put your thermostat just a couple of degrees lower in the winter and higher in the summer. If EVERYBODY made small changes it could have a huge impact. Most of all people need to be educated - some people are abusers of fuel and energy because they just don't care, but many are just plain ignorant of how they could make simple changes to help. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lorraine McFarland EMAIL: birdymac@rollanet.org IP: 131.151.65.161 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 09:45:12 AM I encourage anyone who has the ability to draw a group - your Audubon, Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy chapter perhaps - to purchase the film "Being Caribou" and to show it to as many people as you can. Encourage the viewers to contact their senators and reps if they want to preserve the Arctic Refuge. To purchase the film or to get info about having the film makers speak at your function go to www.beingcaribou.com. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Leigh McKeirnan EMAIL: Lmckeirnan@yahoo.com IP: 69.169.9.237 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 09:57:12 AM People are often labeled radical by the press for wanting to save wildife and the environment. But not saving our environment is much more costly. An example is where I live. Loggers were going to log an 8 ft across old growth tree with eagle's nest behind us. Weyerhaeuser, whose attorney admitted in a letter to bankrolling Eagleridge to log there even though it wasn't logged 90 years ago due to slides,screamed at me that there were no eagles here. I sent a photo of 4 bald eagles out of 8 on our ridge above the Columbia to wildlife. They logged the buffers,in the codes, the nest, clearcut the slides and the creek and the pipeline that slid out. FEMA paid milllions to the homeowners that were loggedout of their homes and the timber companies paid nothing. A salmon creek was lost. The great horned owl and smaller owls are gone. The pipleine slid and had to be reburied 150 ft deep. 300 ft+ trees are gone and now we hear the freeway. Everyday we listen to our home creak as we wait to go over the cliff. I later found out looking for a home that Weyerhaeuser bankrolled Eagleridge logging to log all over the county and several states and they have connections with Waterfront Recreation and the US Forest Service. Eagleridge just goes bankrupt and starts up again with the latest bankruptcy having more than 200 enitities against them.Yet even though a University of Washington professor said the slide was a clearcut case of illegal logging, the lawyers for the homeowners wouldn't sue the timber industry. They said I was radical to want to sue them. They sued the city and judges lost due to the "old boy system"and now the city's attorney says there is a precedence in the law and the city can do whatever they want in the slide areas.So last year they waived the environmental review and scraped them off again. It didn't rain last winter.I wonder how many millions it will cost this time, never mind the irreplaceable environment. SAve what you can, greed is not the answer and costs more in the end. Iraq is a perfect example. We didn't want them to have the euro control the oil market and they were going to switch to it and that's why we went in. Don't let the oil companies win and control us, and postpone looking for alternative fuel sources. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David EMAIL: domos@qwest.net IP: 130.13.24.30 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 10:48:44 AM Seems like the leaders of this country try and upsurp what has been in existence long before we arrived. The Artic Refuge. With poor gas mileage, and the technology out there to use an alternative source for fuel, it appears that wasting a refuge with holes drilled in the earth is the easy way out. Maybe its becasue big name company's do not want the alternatives, since it might just make the global warming subside a little, let the inhabitants of the refuge live a long and good life, and then again, maybe it is because they see huge profits while the rest of us pay the price. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Karen Rubio EMAIL: karenr@phc.net IP: 38.113.228.29 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 11:03:32 AM The only solution is to organize individually and as a group. Come Monday, when school starts, I'll be walking or biking with my elementary school-age son to school. My middle schooler and high schooler will also walk or bike. I will consolidate my errands and bike whenever possible, and take the new light rail into work when I need to go into the office (I work at home part of the time). As a group, we must reduce our oil consumption and hit 'em where it hurts--in their profits. Then maybe our elected officials will wake up to the realization that we mean business. Until we reduce our oil consumption, our words will only be that--just words. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lori EMAIL: bass3927@juno.com IP: 206.148.16.9 URL: http://www.gonative.4t.com DATE: 08/26/2005 11:05:09 AM It would be soooo nice if on huge issues, like this one, everyone could get together... By that I mean that all the environmental websites I visit are doing their part to stop this nonsense, but what if they all got together? What if NWF, WWF, Greenpeace, the Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club, the Wildlands Conservancy, the National Arbor Day Foundation, PennEnvironment, WildOnes, Ladybird Johnson, etc., etc. What if they all got together and formed ONE BIG MOTHER of a defense against corporate environmental ruination like this??? HHHMMM??? I think we need our own monster to fight theirs! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Martin Kearns EMAIL: IP: 206.151.87.226 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/kearns/ DATE: 08/26/2005 11:21:20 AM The greatest threat to our quality of life, health of families and security of our nation is not from a small band of whackos living in tents. The threat to America is from blind addition to power and lack of leadership committed to solving the problem of our dependency on non sustainable energy. Giving us more energy is like trying to help a drunk by offering them a bigger bottle. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: staci-lee sherwood EMAIL: slsrescue2000@yahoo.com IP: 129.44.122.107 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 11:44:30 AM Drilling in ANWR or anywhere in the U.S. will NOT do anything about the pending energy crisis. Higher standards that are mandatory for cars/trucks/suv's is a start. Hybrid vehicles, trains and boats that run on hydrogen, solar or a combo of alternatives is another progressive step forward. More efficient appliances like refrigerators and stoves. More solar for home heating. These collectively will help. However, petroleum is used for alot of other products like plastic so we need to look at what products are truly necessary and how can we make them without using petroleum. Switching from flying (which can only use oil for fuel) to hybrid trains and cars is another idea whose time has come. The more we waste oil the more we waste billions of taxpayer $$$ on wars like Iraq. Now that we have pissed off the Russians and the Venezuelans they are making secret deals with China about their oil reserves. Bush has aided the enemy - the REAL enemy here is China and North Korea. But because we are a debtor nation we can no longer compete in securing oil for our economy. The government refuses to push industry to modernize for the sake of our security and economy, not to mention the environment. So we are screwed unless corporate america suddenly becomes principled. ANWR will maybe produce a years worth of oil in the coming decade. The U.S. only has 3% of the worlds oil - so we are forever dependant and addicted to foreign oil and their policies unless we look to ourselves to solve this mess. One must wonder what Bush & Co's idea of a good christian is because POLLUTING THE PLANET FOR PROFIT IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE MORAL CHRISTIAN VALUE. NOR IS STARTING A BULLSHIT WAR OVER OIL. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jaimie Johnson-Shaw EMAIL: spiritbear1@comcast.net IP: 67.177.63.161 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 01:26:18 PM I live in Utah and have been very pro-active in contacting my Senators and Representatives. Unfortunately, this State is run by Republicans, mostly due to the high population of LDS people who still think that they have to vote Republican no matter what. (I'm a Democrat despite the opposition of my family.) Senator Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett stand behind the president all the way. Not only do they support drilling in the Arctic Refuge, they support drilling in Utah's pristine lands for sources of fuel. I have written so many letters over the years about saving a living planet for our grandchildren. The last correspondence I received from Senator Orrin Hatch was very unsettling. He does not believe that Global Warming exists and thinks that the damage was done 50 to 60 years ago, when Americans used coal and there were no regulations on environmentally safe fuels. How can we change the minds of Republicans such as those in Utah? It is very frustrating for those of us who want to leave a living planet for our children and grandchildren. Hydrogen power is real and here today. And though the leaders are acknowledging this, they fear that the oil companies will suffer if they introduce this technology too soon. Interestingly enough, the US Military is already using hydrogen powered Hummers and other vehicles. Obviously, Bush thinks its good enough for the Military but wants to ease Americans into its full use so that the oil companies, who support him, won't take such a hard hit. The time is now! Not only do we need to do everything we can to save the Arctic Refuge, we need leaders that support the people and not the political agenda of King George, which is our new term when referring to President Bush. The world is looking at America and shaking their heads in disapproval and disbelief. By drilling in the Arctic, King George is not just giving the OK to global warming in the U.S., he's giving approval to ruin the entire world. Luckily, we do have some Democrats that support saving the earth through environmentally smart legislation and practices. If we as a nation would say enough is enough and demand that the Electoral College be retired for good, we can get the president we want. Our leaders should be chosen by the people, for the people. Not by the archaic system of the Electoral College, which basically ignores States with lower populations. That is Democracy. Our right to impeach a President is a very much talked about item these days. I agree with the comment made that we should pull all of the forces of conservation together, NWF, NRDC, Defenders of Wildlife, WWF, Vital Ground, Audubon, Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Land Trust, The Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, The Predator Conservation Alliance and the many more that exist. United as a Group, we can have a larger voice. Even if you don't like him, I believe John Kerry could help us with this battle. I say we all send a copy of our comments to a democratic Representative or Senator who will support this effort of the Arctic Promise. Since this action will affect the World as well, maybe The United Nations should step in and pull King George off his pedestal and not allow him or his constituents to pass laws that affect the health of the entire planet and its populations. We must pull together as a world community if we are going to put an end to the destruction of the Earth. This is not a time for war, this needs to be the century where the World pulls together for peace and for a dying planet. I am sending this to everyone I know, and hope you do the same. Send it to your State Representatives, and whomever you think will help in this cause. The Arctic must be protected. Its Native population knows this. The creatures that are unique to this pristine area need our voice to be heard. Our President is so intent on his ‘holy war’, that he’s not paying attention to us. I think he just doesn’t care or he’s just a stupid man. Oh, that’s right……..this is why he is dubbed King George. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sunny Hill EMAIL: sunnyandanthony.1@netzero.net IP: 24.7.88.223 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 01:44:49 PM To me,saving the refuge is about preserving clean air, clean water, normal global temperatures, quiet, and species diversity. I work at a wildlife rehabilitation center in California, and 99% of the animals we receive have been negatively impacted by humans. Be it through pollution, collisions with cars and houses, caught by our domestic pets, a drop in food supply due to global warming or urban sprawl, or having nests cut down( which is illegal under the Migratory Bird Act). Also, I moved here from Canada and am amazed by the level of noise, pollution, and cancer in the San Fransisco Bay area. We need to keep some areas on the planet free from human pollution and destruction for the welfare of the entire planet. And let's not forget the essential nesting grounds for most songbirds and waterbirds is in the boreal forest and along that most northern coast line. Are we willing to see the extinction of hundreds of species, the excelerating of global warming due to the pollution, and the ripping up of that prestine area for a one year supply of oil? I THINK NOT! I personally am making a commitment to drive less, to make friends with a bike that was given to me from a friend, and to continue taking BART to the city. I am urging other people to do the same and to ask for more alternative fuel research and development. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sandra Riker EMAIL: skycat@ttlv.net IP: 67.136.134.152 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 02:05:13 PM To be honest, I don't even know where to start. Trying to save the Refuge is of upmost importance. At some point, we must make a stand and demand a better future with renewable energy sources. The earth is a small ball whirling around in space, where there are no other planets we know of similar to it. This is the only place we have to live. With the continued dependancy on oil and other fossil fuels, we are choking this planet. There are changes taking place in our environment that cannot be easily fixed. There are species of animals and insects changing because of the changing climate. The ocean's temperatures are rising at an alarming rate and changing its ecosystem. There is evidence all around the world showing the affects of global warming, and if it is not stopped now, it cannot be reversed. This will ultimatly affect humans, not just the animals and the small "protected" areas of wilderness and will eventually cost more in the long run. I am not trying to sound all "doom and gloom" but I have researched the evidence, and it is there. The lust and greed for the liquid gold needs to be lessened and reshifted to one of a safe and renewable resource. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lisa EMAIL: suiteoutdoors@yahoo.com IP: 68.23.37.68 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 02:36:07 PM One would think that our country's so-called commitment to democracy could include the support for energy sources that are clean, safe and based on something other than greed, but apparently this is not so and thus beautiful, pristine places like the Arctic Refuge are threatened. Having lived on the coast of Maine, I know what wilderness looks like, and an oil slick on top of it wouldn't be pretty! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: J.D.Podesta EMAIL: JDPodesta@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 06:11:31 PM Since G.W.Bush took place in the White House, nothing good happened to our country, unfortunately, nothing good. Who benefit from the high oil prices? Bush, Cheney, Norton, Delay, oil companies and a lot of more oily people (called The Bush Network)... but NOT you! Drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)have been the biggest dream of The Bush Network, a dream of money! Have them been thinking about your concerns? About the consequences of destroying this magic and pristine area? NO... they don't care about you, nor about the life. If they begin to destroy it today, it will take "10 YEARS" to see the first drop of oil, and will last only 6 month to the last drop. Makes it sense? NO... absolutely NO! Because drilling the ANWR is not for a lifetime, it's only for six months. The reason for drilling is to be less dependent from Middle East Oil. Then, if this were true, why The Bush Network is selling the Texas Oil to latin countries? Why not using the Texas Oil for our own consume? It's simple... they buy cheap oil (or steal from Irak, the war reason) and sell the Texas Oil to latin countries at higher prices. Great profit, right? Who benefit from this practice? The Bush Network... NOT you! Instead of drilling the ANWR, we should ask the government to stop selling our Texas Oil and use it us. It makes no sense to destroy the ANWR, it was a GOD gift for us, to enjoy it, to preserve the animal life, not to kill them. If The Bush Network is thirsty of money, they should find it in another place... but not by destroying our Artic National Wildlife Refuge... the "LIFE" is our profit!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ed taub EMAIL: etaub@sbcglobal.net IP: 128.107.253.44 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 06:14:33 PM The arguments for drilling in the ANWR all imply a belief that financial and human needs are the only valid factors to be considered. The arguments against imply balancing the short term needs of human industrial society against the long term needs of ecosystem survival. To defeat drilling we must force policymakes to consider environmental costs as part of the real costs of a given decision. This will require a law (the Realistic Costs Of Natural Destruction Act) which counts the value of "externalities" (i.e. impact to natural systems not currently accounted for in our economic system). This will require electing people who actually care about the future health of our planet. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jace Iversen EMAIL: jaceiversen@earthlink.net IP: 4.243.7.209 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 07:44:23 PM It is difficult to determine the truth without having all the facts. Since the corporate media must print what is demanded by the interests who own them, a cavalier disregard of and twisting of 'facts' prevails in their publications. In order for the people of Maine, or anyone for that matter, to come to know the real on-the-ground situation in any environmental arena they must have access to facts unabridged by vested interest. NWF doesn't have to reinvent this wheel to provide this needed information, but could partner with any number of journals that would enable readers to form a more balanced opinion and approach the truth. Journals such as Harpers, Nation, Mother Jones, National Geographic, OnEarth (NRDC), and many regional environmental publications as well offer this opportunity. Why not refer readers of your magazine and website to such journals and/or their websites. This is akin to what Lori posted on August 26, suggesting that environmental organizations join together in this fight. A coalition of organizations brings strength. This would be a similar media coalition. Join forces. And remember the power of the boycott. Educate people to the reality that their interest does not lie in supporting the destroyers of the planet, and they will become aware of the need to boycott those who destroy. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Caroline EMAIL: Pinevalleyfan@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.196 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 07:45:13 PM Our politicians would love to have us believe that drilling in the Arctic would solve all our energy problems. This is a fallacy proliferated by the oil companies lobbying in Washington. Drilling in the Arctic is not the answer! Finding other energy sources that are cleaner is the answer. This would not ruin the economy, as Bush would want you to believe; it would only stimulate it! Why anyone would want to trade crude oil for pristine natural beauty is beyond me! The Arctic is one of the few unspoiled places on the planet! Some people won't be happy until everything is gone, and the planet is full of concrete and sweltering heat! We need to send a strong message to Washinton that our planet and the Arctic refuge is 100% worth saving! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: hannahbates EMAIL: hannah@comcast.net IP: 69.181.98.7 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 08:58:54 PM I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAVE ARTIC WILED LIFE.IF WE WORK TOGETHE WE CAN. I WANT TO HELP SAVE WILDLIFE. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Katie Thomas EMAIL: eeore_chick@hotmail.com IP: 168.103.222.87 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 10:30:23 PM I think we should do more than just sit here and debate over the outcome. We should bring all of the hard facts listed above to D.C.! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Steven Thomas EMAIL: thethomas5@comcast.net IP: 24.60.205.151 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 10:57:00 PM President Bush continues to lie to the American public. The War (there were no weapons of mass destruction) Artic Drilling. How can he honestly say that the Artic Wildlife will not be affected. Man must awake and learn to understand how little time there remains before he becomse the cause of his own downfall. We must respect Mother Earth who has given life to everything. We must take care of and maintain the delicate balance of Nature for the sake of the wellbeing of our children and all future generations.(Circle of Life) Do what you can! We must not be afraid to use our talents. The woods will be very silent if only the birds with the sweetest songs are heard. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: C. Owens EMAIL: chicao@att.net IP: 12.77.38.79 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 11:52:48 PM Enough is enough! We are tired of deception, knowing full well that drilling will have an impact on the Artic. Are we to accept it and later on hear the excuse, "Oops, we made a mistake." No! The drilling should not be allowed just to satisfy selfish interests. Conscience, prevail! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laura EMAIL: kroper1@tampabay.rr.com IP: 70.119.72.85 URL: DATE: 08/27/2005 12:14:15 AM Lets hope that their are MORE conscientious figures that will truly follow their heart than not. Honestly, if you look around your own state, how many office buildings, strip-malls, housing developments are going up taking the land away from the aniamls? These animals don't have anywhere to go. How are they suppose to survive? What gives us the right to take the land away from God's creatures? Those of us that pray, lets pray for these political figures that they will follow the Holy Spirit and vote the right way. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Shirley Robbins EMAIL: lavenderpod@cox.net IP: 68.226.108.77 URL: DATE: 08/27/2005 11:20:54 AM My idea is have the French to do a low budget movie then sell it at the movies...to show how Congress is not protecting our beautiful country. And at the end sell the best idea of all "No more oil, Americans want alternatives" ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: M. Bray EMAIL: melinda@diveabaco.com IP: 4.238.26.198 URL: DATE: 08/27/2005 12:05:22 PM It seems to me that the current administration (deep in the pockets of 'big oil') refuses to look at the big picture. Rather than exploiting our natural resources, their emphasis should be on promoting conservation. Rather than encouraging outrageous energy and fuel consumption, they should be encouraging businesses to concentrate on energy and fuel efficient technology. It's no secret that car manufacturers can build more fuel efficient cars. It's no secret that solar power is readily available, but how often do we hear about it? We don't! If anything, we hear the negatives - it's more expensive to install than traditional power. So what? After that, it's free. Why not correct the inequity by rewarding those who conserve (tax credit) and penalizing those who guzzle (hefty tax). Let's face it, Americans are gluttons. And unfortunately, we've been encouraged, trained and rewarded to be so by government leaders who've had their own interests in mind, rather than the interests of what's best for our country. We have no one to blame but ourselves. We put the idiots in office and until we wise up and vote them out, expect nothing more but the status quo. We have only one earth, and it seems we should be doing everything possible to preserve rather than destroy it. And, by the way, we're not just gluttons when it comes to energy consumption. It's our entire life style. Look at our waistlines! Maybe that's what has made us comatose!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: P Carey EMAIL: pecarey@netzero.net IP: 4.225.215.108 URL: DATE: 08/27/2005 12:11:13 PM The oil in the ANWR will not reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The estimated supply would only last 6 months. Furthermore, it wouldn't be available for 10 yrs. even if we started drilling now. Renewable fuel sources and conservation of energy are the answers. Not more drilling in priceless places. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carley EMAIL: catsuninc@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/27/2005 12:42:51 PM Who owns the arctic land? Is it possible to buy it up to shut the politicians and cutthroats up? It's not to make money, but to leave it alone, so the animals can live without fear. It's in line with a project I put together but has yet to be realized for lack of funding. I'm trying for grants to see this through, and it may be possible for you to get grants easier than I can and to buy the area up, and save the arctic as a result. Just an idea. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anne Hadley-Rockwell EMAIL: wahpoose2003@sbcglobal.net IP: 64.252.215.168 URL: http://www.yahoo.com DATE: 08/27/2005 01:09:00 PM Dear National Wildlife Federation: The reason it is wrong to upset the Artic is that this plan is not a logical plan. The environment is already being depleted so to try to deplete it more is foolish. The real problem is this...there is no oil in the Artic...oil lies beneath the deserts...that is why the Middle-East is so rich...it's all deserts. Think about how foolish to drill outside of a desert is. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Vicki Peterson EMAIL: damiana@icehouse.net IP: 216.255.193.47 URL: DATE: 08/27/2005 04:50:40 PM I am just disgusted with the mindset of our current administration. But then..go figure - he's an Oil Man with Oil Friends. Doesn't anyone realize what they're doing? It's greed and instant gratification - the way America's been for generations. Once we lose this jewel, it will be gone forever. What will it take to get through to them?? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jennifer Poliquin EMAIL: nhfireball@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/27/2005 07:26:48 PM Why drill for more oil when we can conserve the use we take in. In the late 70's there was a carborator design to get 100 miles to the gallon for the largest v8 made back then. Where has this tec. gone.The Auto industrie has bought the blue prints never to be made. We as the future should force these company's to use these kinds of patterns to conserve our natural resources. Stop allowing the use of these disposable automoblies that wear out in 5 years getting 17 miles to the gallon if we're lucky. I just think the time for raping the land should come to an end. We have destroyed so much already it's time for all of us to stop this before their is nothing left that mankind has not destroyed.The greed must stop before their is nothing left. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lisa Mayo EMAIL: stonehrbr@earthlink.net IP: 4.249.132.101 URL: DATE: 08/27/2005 08:15:40 PM The Bush administration has shown that they are beholden to the oil industry. Never before has a presidential administration bent over backwards to aid an industry the way Bush has for the oil barons. Be it energy independence, climate change, drilling off our beaches, invading the Arctic Refuge, or invading Iraq -- nothing is too much for his oil pals. The Democrats and the citizens of this country must draw a line in the tundra and say enough is enough! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Karen Gupta EMAIL: kpgupta2@yahoo.com IP: 67.66.149.46 URL: DATE: 08/28/2005 01:12:50 PM Jared Diamond in his book Collapse examines how civilizations rise and fall. In the past the fall was felt by one area, in this time of total interdependence and globalization0the fall will effect the entire world. One of the main elements in a civilization faltering is damaging the environement beyond its ability to recover. Oil is a limited resource-it will run out--it was once plentiful but our needs are overrunning the supply and now we are searching the far corners of the world for the last remanents --to steal from the earth. The Artic even if made of oil would not be enough to supply the upcoming demands of China and India. We need to EVOLVE-WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT THIS EARTH IS PRECIOUS AND TREAT IT WITH THE CARE SHE SO RICHLY DESERVES-IN ALMOST EVERY CULTURE SHE IS MOTHER EARTH-we know this, the most "advanced" country on the planet-but we still act like we are totally ignorant and unaware. and the pity is-the innocent will continue to suffer. Think people! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Irene Turner EMAIL: dturner@mc.net IP: 209.172.148.4 URL: DATE: 08/28/2005 05:47:54 PM A wildlife refuge is just that, a safe haven for wildlife. How can it be safe if there are roads, drilling, pipelines, oil and other manmade trash covering the landscape? Humans do not own the earth to do with as they please. Perhaps, if ATVs were eliminated from national parks, speed limits lowered on waterways and roadways, consumer goods weren't overwrapped in plastics, if consumers weren't brainwashed into buying instant gratification, if our manufacturing stayed here instead of going overseas and being shipped back here, etc..., just maybe, there wouldn't be a so called gas shortage. And just maybe, people would make time to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the true beauty Nature provides. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bonnie Tomasi EMAIL: BLT054@peoplepc.com IP: 4.233.149.67 URL: DATE: 08/29/2005 10:14:20 AM I pass this information along to everyone I know and have asked my Canadian friends to Get Involved and Get Active and I pray they will. This continent belongs to both Americans and Canadians and we had better get going to preserve it! If you notice it is the big money people who are crying for oil and will do anything to conserve their instant gratification lifestyles. Those of us with moderate to low incomes learn to roll with the punches and find alternate ways to survive the high costs of unrenewable energy; and still have time to enjoy the beauty of the day at hand. We cut back and live simply as God intended us to do. I think we should find a way to get our kids involoved in this, after all THEY are the ones who will inherit this earth. Our kids today are so active and vocal in recycling programs etc. Do you think their voices need to be heard? I sure do. How do we get this out there to the kids, the schools and the very active teachers we have? I am sure every school in every community would support this cause! Let us make them aware and see what happens! But how? Schools have computers and internet. I am ready to try to help to take this to my grandkids school, how would I start and get the literature needed to do it? A HUGE project for the new school year and each community. What do you think? Let us bring the small voices forward along with their hearts and minds to this cause as it is their lives and world we are talking about here. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Doris Loud EMAIL: louddl@panelogic.com IP: 199.197.130.1 URL: DATE: 08/29/2005 10:53:18 AM WE ALL need to work together on this. Check this out: Come to Washington, D.C. and JOIN THOUSANDS OF CONCERNED CITIZENS ON CAPITOL HILL! Don't let the Pro-drilling special interests in Washington, D.C. decide the fate of one of America's most pristine natural treasures, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge! WHAT: Arctic Refuge Rally on Capitol Hill WHEN: Tuesday, September 20, 2005, 11:00am WHO: YOU! Concerned citizens who want to make sure the Arctic Refuge is preserved for generations to come! WHERE: West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, next to the National Mall PLEASE COME to Washington and participate in the democratic process as only we as Americans can do! FREE BUSES will be provided at easily accessible locations near you. Expert guides will be on each bus to talk about what's at stake with the Refuge and assist with logistics. And it's FREE! Once you've signed up, you will find out all you need to know to be able to make a successful trip to Washington, and let Congress know that you won't stand for opening the doors to destructive oil drilling in a special place like the Arctic Refuge! For additional information about Audubon's Arctic Open House on Sept. 20th, call our Toll Free number: 1-800-659-2622! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rosanne Fischer EMAIL: thewizardofroz2001@yahoo.com IP: 4.249.93.212 URL: DATE: 08/29/2005 06:26:18 PM Our politicians don't even know the meaning of the word refuge. A refuge is a safe haven for all who inhabit it. Ther refuge represents a promise to all its inhabitants that they can exist undisturbed by us. Tearing up untouched wilderness will RUIN it forever. I suppose that because there are no subdivisions and strip malls in the ANWR region, Washington thinks of the refuge as a vast wasteland good for nothing whatsoever. ('If people can't use it, what good is it?' seems to be the attitude). The amount of oil estimated to be there is a pittance compared to the inestimable amount of damage that will be inflicted if Bush has his way. Look what he's doing to irreplaceable old growth forests. He's giving big timber the go ahead to take down pristine forests even in places where the logs can't even be removed from the sites. He has lots of friends in the timber industry, so they get fat and we (and all the animal and bird inhabitants and our future generations) get horribly ripped off, for no reason other than lining rich peoples pockets with ill-gotten gains. These forest and wilderness areas are to be treasured, NOT EXPLOITED. One of the problems with Bush is that he can do anything he wants to our environment and it won't affect him at all because he doesn't have to worry about being re-elected. So he's happy to sell this country "down the river" so long as it makes him and his good buddies richer and more powerful. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: john EMAIL: nealjr2y@care2.com IP: 216.115.64.18 URL: DATE: 08/29/2005 06:34:28 PM Theres a line in a movie that went something like this; You humand are the only species on the planet that destroys your environment and then moves on to another. Everyone else lives within their environment. I remember pausing for a moment and then rflecting on how I could do more than I do for "us humans". He even went as far as to call us a disease. Bcause that exactly what we do. Everyone in this world has a responsibility to the knowledge they come accross in their lives. We all should do more than we do. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carson Harris EMAIL: loucar@cybertrails.com IP: 162.42.20.147 URL: DATE: 08/29/2005 06:53:53 PM We have 2 daughters and one son-in-law that workd at and retired from PRUDHOE BAY oilfields. The caribou herd has thrived, as have all other wildlife there. We need ANWR oil just the same as we needed and have used Prudhoe Bay oil, and the small amount of land to be used is nothing compared to the overall size of ANWR. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carson Harris EMAIL: loucar@cybertrails.com IP: 162.42.20.147 URL: DATE: 08/29/2005 07:01:08 PM We have two daughters and one son-in-law that worked at the Prudhoe Bay oilfield, one daughter and her husband just retired from their jobs there. They kept us well informed on the activities there, and gave us a 4 day visitors trip and tour of the facility. The oil field has done nothing to harm the area, and the caribou herd has profiferated during the time of the oilfield, as has the other wildlife there. The small amount of land to be used for the oil field at ANWR is insignificant compared to the overall size of ANWR. We need the oil from there much more than we need to save that environment. Please observe reality and go for the drilling in ANWR. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Angry Bob EMAIL: anon@hotmail.com IP: 209.184.113.254 URL: http://www.time.com DATE: 08/29/2005 10:21:12 PM To reduce the demand for gasoline, drive a bit slower and.. when driving uphill, purposefully slow down and when driving downhill purposefully speed up. Theoretically this would save an exponential amount of gas if implemented on a large scale. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Judy Gilbertson EMAIL: smfrdu@sbcglobal.net IP: 4.252.147.145 URL: DATE: 08/29/2005 10:48:12 PM On a recent trip to the Arctic region I learned that the oil that might be present would not be gasoline-grade. Currently, the majority is sent to Japan and neighboring countries to be used as home heating fuel. Therefore, this idea would be good for Alaska's economy, but would do nothing to reduce America's dependence upon foreign oil to run our cars. Isn't it interesting that Senator Ted Stevens, of Alaska, is an influential member of the financing committee? I also learned that Alyeska Oil Company buys steak dinners for residents of Native Alaskan villages in an effort to influence their vote. I'd recommend a similar practice on your part to "buy" votes against drilling in ANWR! Good luck! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Concerned EMAIL: msseek@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/30/2005 12:21:09 AM Having read all the current blog responses, I am, more than ever, convinced that our pleas will not be heard by a Congress that is paid by lobbyists to do the job that it was VOTED in to do. Our job is to stop the lobbyists from exerting the power over our land and our government that it now does. Perhaps the blog reply that stated "It's time for us to stop taking the high road..." and the respondent who said ..."If and only if these current orons in Washingtonallow the drilling..it is time to stand in front of the trucks..." Why wait for the legislation to pass and then fight it? It should be clear to all who care that the citizens of this country will have to take action, just as we did to end the Vietnam war - and do it now. Perhaps by creating community action groups who will tell the story,encourage comunication with their senators/representatives NOW -to TELL, not ASK them to ban the drilling, and begin the promotion of alternative energies; to let them know what their political futures will be if they don't listen. We can condemn the "big and wealthy guys" for buying Congress, BUT WE PUT THERE THOSE WHO MAY BE WILLING TO BE BOUGHT.It's time to let them know their voting will be watched and reacted upon, either positively or negatively. Only we as citizens have the right to and can fight back against all the corruption we now cry about. Let's get started; let's not wait til the voting is done. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ted Godshalk EMAIL: paradisecreek@mac.com IP: 206.190.76.228 URL: DATE: 08/30/2005 12:54:14 AM When I heard that senators from Alaska and Hawaii voted for drilling in the Arctic, I immediately thought a boycott of Hawaii would be appropriate. STAY AWAY FROM HAWAII. VACATION ELSEWHERE UNTIL THEIR SENATORS WISE UP. Why would a senator from Hawaii vote to desecrate another state's pristine wilderness when he knows firsthand how precious these places are? Taking our tourist money away from states that support despoiling the Arctic seems a reasonable method for getting their attention. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Randolph Directo EMAIL: Randolph@SpiritWorld.net IP: 4.246.236.167 URL: http://spiritworld.info DATE: 08/30/2005 02:51:22 AM We should ask ourselves what would be the Christian thing to do since there is self-proclaimed, born again Christian in the White House: "God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that creeps, so that the water swarmed with all kinds of them, and there was every kind of winged bird; and God saw that it was good." [Genesis 1:21] "God made each kind of wild beast, each kind of livestock and every kind of animal that crawls along the ground and God saw that it was good." [Genesis 1:25] "For all forest creatures are mine already, as are the animals on a thousand hills; I know all the birds in the mountains; whatever moves in the fields is mine." [Psalms 50:10­11] Holy Scripture reminds us of how important the animal world is to Our Creator. Just because the ANWR is a frozen tundra doesn't make the exotic life it harbors any less important. It is time to shift away from polluting, despoiling technology. If we shift the necessary resources to energy technologies that work with nature, RIGHT NOW, then we can give a safe, healthy world to humanity for generations to come. Over Unity energy systems are in clandestine use right now by our military-industrial complex. There are many kinds of systems which could fit many different situations all over the world, especially in remote areas, that draw upon untapped, infinite energy resources. They are clean and inexpensive to maintain; they are in the developmental stages, but should be on the consumer market RIGHT NOW if researchers were provided with the proper resources for research and development. All we need to do is show our support for alternate energy research. 'All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.' [Matthew 28:18] 'Verily, Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it to you.' [John 16:23] ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Donna Roberts EMAIL: rbtsdroberts@netscape.net IP: 65.199.231.67 URL: DATE: 08/30/2005 09:37:43 AM The oil fanatics in this country want to destroy the Arctic's way of life, its animals right to life and freedom all in the name of so called Energy Independence. NOW WHO ARE THE TERRORISTS? People in this country who say we need this oil, need to WAKE UP! OIL will not last forever and destroying something so rare and beautiful for a few months of oil is insane! There are always accidents (that the Companies don't want to clean up and have to be forced to do so)that do lasting damage. What Americans should be doing is working toward a renewable and safe energy source while conserving oil until we get there, not wasting it, as we seem to have gotten very use to doing. I've seen people with BIG SUVs (which I hope vanish from this earth soon) leaving them sit in a parking lot with the engine running and no one in them. Come out 20 or 30 minutes later and it's still running with no one in it. Destroy the Refuge for this? WAKE UP! We do have the technology for these vehicles to get better gas mileage, but no one wants to pay the price (it's not what the American Public wants) TOUGH! We will pay the price in a much bigger way down the road. Saving the Arctic from lunatics is one fight that must be won. I think the biggest fight we have is changing AMERICANS habits and selfishness towards the environment. Until that happens the environment and places like the Arctic Refuge don't stand a chance! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joe EMAIL: joeybagadonuts@snet.net IP: 69.0.54.151 URL: DATE: 08/30/2005 12:11:43 PM We have to save it. These people are nuts that wan't to drill oil. It's like they lie awake at night trying to think of new ways to destroy the earth. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michele LaFontaine EMAIL: gomtuu50@yahoo.com IP: 131.191.60.12 URL: DATE: 08/30/2005 09:47:21 PM As a former National Park and National Forest Ranger, I've experienced first hand the beauty, interconnectedness, and the vital necessity, of our country's wilderness areas. Time and again research has proven that roadless and wild areas are necessary for ecosystem and endangered species (and all other species!) health and survival. We can never recreate these vast and unique places; once development begins in these pristine areas, they are doomed. Our public lands are just that - public lands for the people. Not a resource to be plundered for the wealth of the special interest groups who won't be satisfied until they have stripped evey acre - at the public's expense. Must we loose every bit of our wild heritage? Must every square inch of our nation, be sacrificed to the almighty dollar? To line the pockets of special interest groups? The petroleum age is nearly over and the small amount of oil from the Refuge will not stop that end, nor even put it off. It is time to face forward and turn to alternative energies, time to stop living in the past. We need wilderness, for clean air, clean water, healthy ecosystems, and healthy people. We can't begin to place an economic value on what these places represent. They must be left alone, left in their natural state, for ever. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Martyn Stewart EMAIL: mstew@naturesound.org IP: 71.112.97.18 URL: http://www.naturesound.org/Sound%20Files/ANWR%20June%202005.mp3 DATE: 08/30/2005 10:58:03 PM I would like you all to listen to my bird recordings made from the refuge in June of this year and tell me that this is wasteland. Beutiful sounds of many migratory birds fill the arctic tundra. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Todd Nelson EMAIL: todd_n2001@yahoo.com IP: 207.191.242.124 URL: DATE: 08/31/2005 12:05:23 AM Considering the comprehensive effect global warming is likely to have upon these areas, we must reduce our cumulative use and carry out socially responsible investments like Calvert and Ariel that keep up with the market but give incentives for producers to crank out carbon. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Todd Nelson EMAIL: todd_n2001@yahoo.com IP: 207.191.242.124 URL: DATE: 08/31/2005 12:06:14 AM Considering the comprehensive effect global warming is likely to have upon these areas, we must reduce our cumulative use and carry out socially responsible investments like Calvert and Ariel that keep up with the market but give incentives for producers to crank out less carbon. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Todd Nelson EMAIL: todd_n2001@yahoo.com IP: 207.191.242.124 URL: DATE: 08/31/2005 12:06:55 AM Considering the comprehensive effect global warming is likely to have upon these areas, we must reduce our cumulative use and carry out socially responsible investments like Calvert and Ariel. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: TV Student EMAIL: mkvazquez@yahoo.com IP: 66.73.6.26 URL: DATE: 08/31/2005 10:32:54 AM This is an issue for talk radio and television. However shallow this may sound, we need celebrities to stand up for this issue... Movie Stars, Musicians, Xtreme Sports Kids, Cruiseline Executives, Sporting Goods Executives, they need to be visible and heard. Oil Politicians are the only voices being heard. They dominate with their fear mongering and their manipulation of the media by what they don't talk about as well as what is being covered... how many times do we hear about gas prices rising and Not about what is causing it, who is controlling it, what can REALLY be done about it and REAL SOLUTIONS -- or promoting alternative feul solutions. The only information is on PBS and come on ! -- That is truly preaching to the choir , isn't it... Yes, it is. So if there is anything to be done, it is to saturate the pop culture with awareness... It's not the 80's, but let's face it. It's still a "material girl" society. If you want to change the world, get Paris Hilton to stand up for Polar Bears and Hybrids. TV Student in Chicago ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: B100 EMAIL: soy@bean.org IP: 131.225.176.69 URL: http://www.biodieselnow.com DATE: 08/31/2005 02:29:57 PM Everyone, check that vehicle you are using, and: if it is labeled as "flex fuel" fill it with E85 (85% ethanol made from renewable resources). If you are using a diesel powered vehicle, go to www.biodieselnow.com for the location of your nearest biodiesel pump. Biodiesel is NOT the same as using vegetable oil itself. Biodiesel is processed from veggie oil &/or animal fats to produce a fuel that can be blended with petroleum diesel in any amount (or used pure, 100% - B100). FREE tour buses to Washington DC?? - they'd better be using some biodiesel! Willie Nelson is, Neil Young is. This bandwagon is going places! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rose Barragan EMAIL: Rosaiti@sbcglobal.net IP: 69.236.83.188 URL: DATE: 09/01/2005 03:17:28 AM It is time we focused our attention to the Bush and his Administration that help big oil and gas companies. The rising oil and gas prices are just the begining of our troubles if we don't do something about it. We need to start using nonrenewable resources now! If we don't do it, who will? Isn't it time we make that change? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: TV Student in Chicago EMAIL: mkvazquez@yahoo.com IP: 68.252.164.177 URL: DATE: 09/01/2005 10:50:33 AM All people hear on the news is that gas prices are rising. The reports never cover why they are rising OR more importantly -- if the rise is warranted. Which companies are responsible for controlling the oil prices and who are the key people in government that work with these companies? What do they have to say about the rising prices VS. REALITY/TRUTH. Which companies are gouging and which are fair? Who are the key people who negotiate the oil deals between USA and foreign countries? What are the policies and what is wrong with them!!!??? The media needs to put some heat on these guys or they will continue to manipulate the public to their advantage. Perhaps the media moguls themselves have shares in the oil companies??? Let's get it all out in the open -- inform the people at least!!! The "OIL KINGS" are ruling. This is tyrany! People need to become aware of the polution that the arctic is already dealing with and that the Oil Kings and their Cronies have no concern for anything but profits in their pocket... They most likely want to rape Alaska while they can because they see that the change to alternative fuel is coming. We mustn't let them rape and pillage Alaska. These blogs are great, but are we just preaching to the choir? Those who do not seek out this information will not get it. What is being done to contact them? Also, Katrina will be used as an excuse to attack Alaska. How do we combat the misinformation fueled with emotional appeals to need, frustration, and anger? In Chicago -- we don't even have a working recycling program... And as far as I can see, Cinci doesn't either. This is the mindset. Out of sight - Out of mind. We must put the issues in sight. TV Student in Chicago ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jobless in Lower 48 EMAIL: mkvazquez@yahoo.com IP: 68.252.164.177 URL: DATE: 09/01/2005 11:08:10 AM In Response to Carson Harris: Of course Oil workers would be in favor of oil drilling and oil companies... It benefits your pocket book. However, if I lose my job because of one reason or another what do I have to do... RETRAIN and FIND NEW WORK! Since when is working for oil companies -- "a way of life" in Alaska?!! Native Alaskan's had/have - "a way of life". Everyone else is just capitalizing on resources! If you can't find any more oil work or if there arn't enough Walmarts to employ you, time for your family to move to the lower 48 -- We welcome you with open arms! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kimberly Peterson EMAIL: rosebud_rosebud@yahoo.com IP: 64.12.116.196 URL: DATE: 09/02/2005 06:55:14 PM All those who want to protect the Arctic should go there stand in a circle, hands clasped together, around the Arstic to show that we together shall not allow them to destroy one of America's important habitats. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Terry Korzan EMAIL: terrykorz@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: http://www.typepad.com/t/comments DATE: 09/04/2005 10:14:30 AM As a biologist and as someone who has been in the environmental arena since 1968 when I was only 11 years old, I urge everyone to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. I have watched with great sadness the way our country has destroyed vast areas of wilderness and habitat over the years through pollution and unwise use of land. And, while there is still much to do yet, I have also seen some major accomplishments in the cleanup of some of our rivers, streams and lakes (with great cost, I might add). Let's not make this mistake again. We all need to protect the ANWR now and forever. The ANWR is a legacy that we can leave for our children, grandchildren and great grand children to have and enjoy. No one knows how much or how little oil might exist in the proposed drilling area in the ANWR. The construction and drilling will have a great impact on the caribou herds there as well as for other wildlife. Once this area is disrupted, the wildlife will vanish from the area. They are there now because the area is undisturbed. The American dollar would be better spent in finding alternative energy sources. We need to wean ourselves as a nation off oil and oil products. This problem is not going to go away. Please contact your senators and representatives and the White House and ask to keep the ANWR closed to oil drilling. Ask for legislation that will protect this last great area for at least the next seven generations. Thank You! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marilyn Dinger EMAIL: marilyndin@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 09/06/2005 05:53:22 PM We need to reduce our dependence on oil completely. We need to think of ways and talk about ways in the coming weeks to entirely get rid of our dependence on oil. Then we must act on it. Hurricane Katrina has driven this point home. I have heard that in its wake we might have to pay $1000 more a year to heat our homes. The answer is NOT to charge us more than 1.00 per gallon at the pump and the answer is NOT to drill for more oil or have oil shale mines. The answer is also that the casualties of Hurricane Katrina could have been prevented, environmentally and in other ways. Our government had the technology and the assets to do it. Instead, we are burning up our oil supplies fighting a war in Iraq and we are paying our tax dollars to fight the war and drill for more oil, yet Bush says that cuts had to be made in the budget needed for disater protection and relief, and now the whole nation will have to suffer by paying higher energy bills for our homes,jobs, and transportation. Kurricane Katrina has driven the point home that destroying the environment, as Bush did the wetlands on the Missippippi Delta, and that went right over my head until after it happened. How many of you, like me, knew nothing about it until after the fact? Destroying ANWR will have devastating effects on those who live there, just as destroying the Delta wetlands did to the people in New Orleans and the Gulf States. These wetlands were natural levees that provided better protection than manmade levees or dams. That is all the more reason that the oil companies should leave ANWR alone! There is a purpose for saving nature, natural processes and habitats, and our climate, because if we don't, Hurricane Katrina will only be the tip of the iceberg. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marilyn Dinger EMAIL: marilyndin@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 09/06/2005 06:00:21 PM Bush can afford to use our tax dollars to fight a war on Iraq and destroy our wetlands and drill and mine for more oil, and yet he can't save lives and can't prevent loss of life in the Gufl States where he cut funding for these efforts? That just doesn't add up. Our Government can always afford to save lives and prevent loss of life, but we cannot afford to spend our tax dollars on a war in Iraq and for destroying the environment! Mr.Bush, get your priorities straight. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Madelaine Love EMAIL: larslove47@aol.com IP: 69.20.170.171 URL: DATE: 09/21/2005 10:52:29 AM We saw what happened in New Orleans where levees were built to "save" the area from flooding and hurricane damage. The levees caused the basin to sink even lower and the offshore islands and deltas to disappear opening up the city to the full force of the winds and water. Ultimately the levees were not able to withstand the water, and we all saw what happened then. For years we have known that we needed to turn to other energy sources. But a series of money-grabbing, short visioned leaders have taken the "popular" course and here we are today. No, Mr. Bush, our country has had enough of your stop-gap "Hi-yo, Silver" methods. We need a true leader who is not afraid to do the right thing and do it now. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: penis enlargement EMAIL: richardhill@ga.com IP: 58.187.129.51 URL: http://www.enlargepenisguide.com/ DATE: 02/26/2007 02:25:03 AM Three phrases should be among the most common in our daily usage. They are: Thank you, I am grateful and I appreciate. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: dan EMAIL: danny96boy@hotmail.com IP: 203.191.206.141 URL: DATE: 09/09/2007 12:00:35 AM you think your all good talking about it and saying how bad the problem is but what is actually being done? how about some action ay? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: What is your vision of wilderness? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: guest_writer_wh CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 08/24/2005 11:48:00 AM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Jeff Jones, landscape photographer

I spent part of July 2005 photographing the oil fields in and around Prudhoe Bay as well as the beautiful coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I photographed from the air and from the ground, although I was unable to gain access on the ground to the Prudhoe Bay fields due to very high security restrictions established after 9/11.

What I saw: Tprudhoe6

The coastal area within which the oil industry works is huge, roughly one thousand square miles of interconnecting roads, pipelines, drilling pads and clustered facilities. There are 27 producing oil fields within this massive industrial web. These fields contain thousands of producing wells, loud generators, landfills, airports, roads, and many feeder pipelines.

In my oil field photos I wanted to give a sense of the size of buildings and the development footprint. To this end, many of my photos include an item such as a truck, doorway or stairway for proportion. However, these items are often hard to find because they are dwarfed by the towering buildings and heavy equipment.

On our one clear day of flying, a fat layer of smog was visible. I was disturbed to know that such air pollution exists on our nation's most northerly and remote coast. This smog is significant, given that it exists without being trapped in a basin.

While I didn't see major oil leaks, spills or ground pollution, policing of the industry's operations needs to continue given their track record. Each year hundreds of oil spills are reported on the North Slope.

What I came away with:Camdenbaybirds2

I photographed the North Slope to show what oil development in the Arctic looks like and to help others visualize what is at stake with regard to the 1002 area. Congress established the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in part for its "wilderness value." Does your vision of wilderness include gravel pads and gravel pits, raised roads and pipelines, huge buildings, smog, trucks throwing up enormous clouds of dust, and the bright "torches" of excess natural gas that ignite with sounds as deafening as jet engines?

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Karl Clarke EMAIL: reefdweller1@hotmail.com IP: 71.28.15.56 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 04:24:13 AM I have worked as a commercial diver in the Gulf of Mexico, past, for many years. I worked as a diver and diving supervisor. I can say that at any hour of any day there is a oil leak occuring somewhere in the fields. In shallow water and deep. In marshes it is easy to concile, and ignor these leaks, no Coast Guard in there . I repaired one for Texaco ( one of the very worst offenders, as well as Cheveron ) that had been leaking petroleum distilate from a natural gas line, since the 1960's! The hole created was getting to big to ignore, it measured approxamatley 400 yards in diameter, nothing but a highly caustic mix existed in there , so caustic it "burned" my skin over my entire body and then peeling off, after just about 15 min. in this soup. This is just one of countless stories I could relate about Texaco, Cheveron, Marathon, Conoco,Standard ect. as well as countless pipeline companies you've never heard of feeding the major companies. Every event environmentally disasterous. The unofficial record is a incomprehensible nightmare that involves total disregard for the environment as well as the human lives that are ruined as well. Yes we can expect this level of disregard and downright mansluaghter in the artic as well. Anyone wishing to contact me about any part of this subject, feel free to do so. Sincerely, reefdweller1@hotmail.com ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lohna Esteb EMAIL: lohna.esteb@verizon.net IP: 151.196.50.69 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:37:39 PM I have not been to Alaska... yet. I plan on going before I die. And when I do get there, I do not want to see huge buildings, gravel pits, torches of natural gas, and on and on. I want to see nature, in all its natural splendor, one of the last great places on earth! Let's make sure it stays one of the great places. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jodi Kremers EMAIL: jniffer@waycom.com IP: 209.172.10.195 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 09:56:25 PM Four letters Bush. Bush=oil. Stop and consider this for a moment. Do any of you think that President Bush cares about the environment? If you say yes then I'm deeply sorry you are being fooled. He cares more about the prospect of drilling in Alaska then the Artic Fox,Polar Bears,Seals,Walrus's,Elk,Grizzly,DallSheep,Eagels,Hawks,Loons,rivers,and lakes,mountains,and the flora. In years to come we will look back and only remember the sacred animals who graced the beautiful land. All of it taken away by a vote. I want my children to experience Alaska and I want their own children able to do the same.No,gravel pits,huge buildings,and ect.. I don't want to see starving animals or the scenery smogged. In this day in age you would think we as the "smart human" would take what little brains we have and save the most precious resources we have on this earth. Let's not forget we are also animals,but we are barbaric indeed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patty O'Connor EMAIL: dogsonthesave@juno.com IP: 4.249.114.218 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 12:08:08 AM When I think of wilderness I imagine a place without human footprints all over it--no McDonalds's trash, no fumes or smoke, no sounds of machinery or even of too many human voices. I think of water sounds and animal calls. A place to go and connect with my inner spirit. A place to renew and rejuvenate. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: janice mccall EMAIL: janicemccall44@hotmail.com IP: 172.16.26.67 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 10:21:48 AM When I think of a wilderness i think of a large space of area with different climates. Areas of jungle with colourful smelling plants and fruits. The seaside without humans but loads of different animals enjoying the water and sand. Seeing new generations of animals and birds. Seeing and hearing birds flying above with the sun beaming down with a few nice clouds and areas of blue sky. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: India Lee-Priest EMAIL: indialp@mac.com IP: 168.11.62.2 URL: DATE: 08/29/2005 11:36:16 AM I truly cannot fathom that people in this world today would even consider this kind of destruction. What have we become? I just finished talking to my middle school students about this problem and begging them to become independent thinkers and to realize that everything is connected. We are going to regret these dark days in our history so much. History will not look back on us as progressive, evolved humans, but barbarians. If I can reach one student and create a connection, I may be able to sleep better at night. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: India Lee-Priest EMAIL: indialp@mac.com IP: 168.11.62.2 URL: DATE: 08/29/2005 11:38:22 AM I truly cannot fathom that people in this world today would even consider this kind of destruction. What have we become? I just finished talking to my middle school students about this problem and begging them to become independent thinkers and to realize that everything is connected. We are going to regret these dark days in our history so much. History will not look back on us as progressive, evolved humans, but barbarians. If I can reach one student and create a connection, I may be able to sleep better at night. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Adam Kolton TITLE: Camping with Congressman STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: camping_with_co DATE: 08/23/2005 09:43:00 AM ----- BODY:

Members_group_shot_1_2 I’ve been fortunate enough to visit the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on several occasions, the first of which was a trip with several members of Congress in 1998. To their credit, these Representatives opted for a tour of the refuge that involved three nights of pitching tents, braving mosquitoes, pumping water, taking long hikes and foregoing conveniences as simple as, well, bathrooms. Among those on the trip were Rep. Gregory Meeks from Queens, NY, who had never been camping, let alone camping in the most remote and wildest place in America and Representative Jim Greenwood (R-PA), an avid bird watcher and conservationist who has since retired from Congress.

Upon arriving in Alaska, Greenwood kidded with us about a pamphlet we sent preparing trip participants for possible Grizzly encounters, one line of which instructed "first stopping and identifying yourself" upon seeing a bear. "Shall I tell them I am Chairman of a Commerce Subcommittee," Greenwood joked. We didn’t see any bears on that trip, though we did see their tracks. We also saw scores of caribou, a rough-legged hawk’s nest and a myriad of other plant and animal life. For Meeks, an African-American who represents a largely minority district, one of the most memorable parts of the trip was a visit to Arctic Village on the southern boundary of the refuge. There the Gwich’in people still live a largely subsistence life style, depending heavily on the Porcupine Caribou Herd, which migrates through or near their community each year.

Unfortunately, only a handful of members of Congress have taken the time to truly see the Arctic Refuge up close let alone visit the Gwich’in people. Those who have, including Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Mark Dayton (D-MN) and Jay Inslee (D-WA) have gone one to become some of its most vocal champions and defenders. Of course, many other members of Congress claim to have visited the refuge, but their trips have largely involved an industry guided tour of the Prudhoe Bay oil fields, a high altitude fly-over of the refuge and a stop in Kaktovic, a barrier island offshore the refuge where many of the native residents support drilling.

Why do proponents of development deliberately organize trips that seek to minimize actual contact with the refuge? Do they fear having to stop and identify themselves to its grizzly bear inhabitants as pro-drilling lobbyists? Well, probably not. But they do apparently fear a full, fair and honest presentation of the facts, just as they seem determined to avoid a fair debate by tacking a drilling provision onto the federal budget bill.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: A Visit to the Coastal Plain... STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: a_visit_to_the_ CATEGORY: Guest Writers DATE: 08/22/2005 10:29:00 AM ----- BODY:

Linda_hecker_caribou_on_tundraA guest post by Linda Hecker of Landmark College Putney, VT.

I'm sitting in camp "alone" by the fire, the sun low over the Arctic Ocean, as if headed towards sunset or sunrise. It is near midnight under a purplish-blue sky, and I'm not really alone. Ahead of me are about 10,000 caribou, grunting and snorting like pigs, and they keep pouring over the ridge at Marsh Creek, aggregating in the tundra coastal marsh in numbers that stagger the imagination. A few are even crossing directly behind me on the beach. Down the beach, the loons are screaming like a loud, panicked chorus of peepers; old squaw ducks are joining the cacophony. In the slanting, intensely gold-red light, the tundra and the jagged mountains beyond form an almost surreal backdrop for this astonishing gathering of large mammals.

Later on, we assemble our gear, laze around, take short walks, draw, write and read. We stay close to camp, anticipating our airplane pick-up. I could easily stay here another 2 weeks. I'm getting addicted to the sharp clarity of the air, the shimmering heat mirages that make the horizons flow like neon, the 360 degree sky with clouds tumbling over the mountains, and the ever present arctic wind that chills us so fast. I'll miss the undulating directionless rhythm of our days - eat, sleep, walk, draw, nap at will; go to sleep in the tawny light of "dawn" at 3 or 4 a.m., awake when you're done being tired - and especially the sense that anything can happen, but that if nothing does, just being is enough.

Linda_hecker_camping_on_hula_hula_river When I regretfully left the coastal plain, I vowed I would honor this experience by doing everying in my power to keep it wild. Once this fragile place is opened to oil exploration and lost, we can never bring it back.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barney EMAIL: barneylee1@mac.com IP: 67.150.90.104 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 11:38:06 PM That is really, really nice. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Spotlight on Congress: It's Your List STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: spotlight_on_co DATE: 08/22/2005 12:30:00 AM ----- BODY:

In the last few days, thousands of you called your leaders in Congress and asked a simple question: 'How will you vote on the federal budget with the Arctic Refuge oil drilling scheme buried in it?'

Here at NWF headquarters, we've pored over the overwhelming responses streaming in -- and you won't believe what we've discovered.

Some lawmakers have stood firm in their defense of the Arctic Refuge during the budget fight. Others have remained intent on opening up the Refuge to drilling. But there are a number of members who, despite their firm opposition to drilling in this pristine Refuge, have not yet to committed to the politically difficult, but morally courageous, course of voting this fall to save the Refuge.

They need to hear from you -- and soon.

As we move toward a vote, whether these Arctic supporters hear from their constituents might make the difference between victory and defeat. Ask them to tell you how they intend to vote if the Refuge is at risk, and tell them you want them to vote to save the Refuge under any circumstance.

As we hear from you about whether your Member's support is firm or wavering, we'll update the list. These members -- and the Arctic Refuge -- need your strong support.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lynne Cason EMAIL: lcason@ourtownusa.net IP: 209.173.230.234 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 02:38:58 PM I don't know who to post this too, but we hear about how much a barrel the oil is ($67 a barrel now?) and I have a good source who has informed me that it has nothing to do with the barrel costs. That this is a snow job. Folks, the oil companies make a contract with various countries that set a flat rate for so many years. The oil per barrel is nothing more than a ruse. Think about it. When did oil go up even higher then before? AFTER the election. How can a gas station which claims they have to set their prices to match others have lower prices then the others one day and then higher the next? And doesn't the up and down prices get you who thought $2.40 a gal was high now to be glad its $2.40 and not $2.65? We need to talk to congress and senate about the way this is being played to us. They've planned to raise this all along. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Clara Bielecki EMAIL: demama@eritter.net IP: 198.68.26.28 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 02:39:35 PM I'm so sick of this stupid conversation I could scream. There are clean, efficient fuel supplies but the people holding the oil (big money) see to it that those alternatives are not explored. Just keep heating the world up and watch the polar caps melt. Thank goodness I'm an old person, Mabey I'll be lucky and die before we vaporize ourselves. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dianne Joy EMAIL: djoy@bellsouth.net IP: 167.192.61.254 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 04:04:43 PM If we would react to these higher oil prices by changing the way we live, I would not mind paying $2.50+ a gallon for gas but I know that this latest round of high oil prices has dramatically risen so that the powers-that-be can say, "see, we need to drill our own oil." I am not a skeptical or paranoid person, but I really think there is all kinds of funny stuff going on in Washington, D.C. and in Texas. I am really worried that the American people actually believe that we will be the winners from this exploitation. Oil is not a public commodity. It is a for-profit business and a business that few people ever profit from. The timing of all of this is extremely suspect. I suspect some people in Texas will be the only ones who win this game. I hope all of us can put the pressure on Congress to call their bluff and keep oil exploration and drilling out of the artic--forever! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeff Wood EMAIL: jkwood1@mindspring.com IP: 198.85.56.44 URL: DATE: 08/16/2005 02:32:47 PM There was a time when I had great respect for your organization. Unfortunately that time has passed. I am not for ruining our world, but there are those in it, such as your self, who make wild statements without proof totally based on feelings. I lived in Alaska for 8 years and flew all over the state and observed the so-called "damage" the oil companies did to the envirmonment. In my book, they did more to protect the wilderness than any green organization has ever done. Keep them in check? Yes. By all means watch, report, and study. But basing your opinions on something that you have not even seen is no better than me seeing Jesus in my grilled cheese. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laura EMAIL: lakiesel@gmail.com IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 08/16/2005 03:50:53 PM To Jeff: Were you there for the Exxon-Valdez spill of '89? The one that killed 254,000 animals? Exxon, as I have read, still has not completely paid their dues to the community that suffered from that spill. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Fitzgerald EMAIL: gabhadubh@hotmail.com IP: 194.165.177.46 URL: DATE: 08/21/2005 07:43:58 AM To Jeff In March this year the UN launched its Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report -compiled by 1,360 scientists from 95 countries - which confirmed that more ecological destruction has taken place in the last 50 years than throughout the rest of human history combined. Big oil has played a major part in this appalling level of latter day environmental barbarism. Anyway Jeff, the destruction may not be so apparent at macro level, but at molecular level, the pristine nature of the planet is forever sullied by the sputem of corporate greed, inapropriate technology and so called "enlightened self interest". You may not see Jesus in your grilled cheese but if you get a microscope you may find those "feculent radicals in new and irreversible forms" that are being spewed out of automobile tailpipes and chemical smokestacks embedded in your creamy melt. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: GAIL KATARO EMAIL: katarooroo@sbcglobal.net IP: 68.254.210.252 URL: DATE: 08/21/2005 05:32:43 PM IM SICK OF THE DISTRUCTION OF THE WORLD WE WERE GIVEN EVERYTHING HAS ITS PLACE THERE IS NO NEED TO DESTROY THE ARTIC ANY MORE THAN THEY HAVE IT SHOULD BE ABOUT PRESERVATION NOT DESTRUCTION ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Colou Myers EMAIL: cmyersfromada@earthlink.net IP: 63.158.237.250 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 11:22:34 PM Once again, the current administration is following their own direction without even considering what the public really wants and cares about. I think it is blatant greed on the part of our government who seems to work in favor of its own agenda. No,I AM NOT gullible!! The gullible ones are the ones we, the public, have elected to work for us, who are taking at face value all of the lies and distortions fed them by the big oil companies. I believe it is time that our government pays more attention to what we, the taxpayers of this great nation wants! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Janet Brown EMAIL: janetbrown6080@yahoo.com IP: 67.177.255.142 URL: DATE: 08/24/2005 07:45:41 PM It is a moral outrage that politicians who are willing to call themselves religious, would dare think about destroying this last remaining pristine sacred place on our planet. It is corrupt and manipulative to link this issue with terror and homeland security. The recent energy bill is a joke. We are destroying our only home. We must fund alternative energy sources and stop pretending that ruining this sacred place will save us. And we must support the courageous politicians who are willing to fight for this issue. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Guest EMAIL: jennybug07@yahoo.com IP: 12.220.253.227 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 04:04:29 PM When they do open ANWR to drilling, who's going to join me there, fully armed and loaded, to make sure they die trying?? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joan Kirsten EMAIL: Chathambiz@yahoo.com IP: 63.24.158.244 URL: DATE: 08/29/2005 02:06:55 PM I'd like to join the person who is going to make sure those that open the ANWR to drilling -- die trying!! There is no need for this gas to be drilled - it's not worth the "powder to blow it to hell". Let's build more economic cars!! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: A Note to the 'Gullible' STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: a_note_to_the_g DATE: 08/19/2005 07:00:00 PM ----- BODY:

The good news: we made the Anchorage Times — in a lead editorial, no less! [You can read the full editorial at this link (registration required).] The bad news: the editors called us — you — "gullible."

That's fine. It takes more than name calling to intimidate us. But the straw-man arguments the paper manufactured — against us, and in favor of drilling the Arctic Refuge — deserve a response. And the facts — as collected in white papers on energy independence and the environmental importance of the Refuge — are on our side.

Our point-by-point critique — with quotes from the editorial indicted by italics:

 

It's like what Gandhi once said: "[f]irst they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you ... then you win." If the squawking from Anchorage tells us anything, we've managed — after a half-month of work! — to knock three down, with one to go.

But we're only starting — and this editorial makes clear that we have our work cut out for us. Can we afford to let big-money drilling supporters and their mouthpieces in the press keep twisting the truth about what we believe? It's time we used our power — and the forum you've built at the Arctic Promise project — to get the truth the American people ourselves.

Make that happen right now:

The fact that pro-drilling forces attacked us — attacked you — shows that we're doing something right. So let's keep at it — and together, we'll show the lobbyists and oil companies what we "gullible" people can do.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Alex Mendelsohn EMAIL: alexmm@adelphia.net IP: 24.53.120.35 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 02:53:48 PM How rude to infer that folks who have exmained the facts and have come to their conclusions are "gullible." How insulting to one's intelligence that is! The truth is that we're in the 11th hour, as species come under attack and are pushed to extinction. Diminishing biodiversity is part of the truth, and no oil company or companies can deny that. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Beverly Delidow EMAIL: delidow@marshall.edu IP: 206.212.36.92 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 02:54:03 PM It is exactly because I am NOT gullible that I hope to maintain the preservation of Alaskan wilderness as such. There isn't enough fuel there to risk the loss of habitat or wildlife. It's time we changed our energy habits and lived up to the promise of environmental protection for the entire globe. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rose Fink EMAIL: rosemfink@yahoo.com IP: 12.47.15.38 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 02:56:23 PM I am not "gullible" — and that I know the facts on why we have to protect the Arctic Refuge. I have visited this area and treuly believe it to be a unique environment worth protecting! How about finding wayd to use les petroleum products instead of ruining the Arctic! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cory McClure EMAIL: corymcc@yahoo.com IP: 204.73.219.30 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 02:56:42 PM The people of Alaska must be looking for a larger annual rebate check funded by the oil tax revenues generated. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sheila EMAIL: PrincessKat1@hotmail.com IP: 71.243.47.229 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 02:57:49 PM I think its very wrong to do what you are doing. You are killing animals just so you can have stupid oil? Whats wrong with this picture. Animals were here long before humans were. And animals have rights. Leave them and their homes alone. Stop the oil drilling! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rochelle Willis EMAIL: shelly@sswlaw.com IP: 64.2.196.4 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 02:58:22 PM Once you've taken away the pristine, never-touched beauty and wonder of the Arctic (and I'd say 1,500 football fields is no small amount of land) we'll never get it back. Don't you think we all have a right to preserve something of nature in this huge expanse of land we call the United States. Every other area has been tainted so lets keep this one pure area as God and nature intended. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Paul Lee EMAIL: shripe1@yahoo.com IP: 69.210.49.228 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 02:58:59 PM Yet another example of the human superiority complex. No damage is enough to stop our species from bettering ourselves, no matter what the consequences will be to other species. This article is plain appalling, trying to support this. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Denise Lytle EMAIL: squishytart@moose-mail.com IP: 206.132.236.70 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 02:59:19 PM I am insulted to be called gullible by someone who is actually gullible and won't admit it. The author of the article in the Anchorage Times regarding drilling in the refuge must be gullible to believe the crap that is spewed from the Bush administration. The drilling will affect more than a tiny piece of land, it WILL do irreparable damage to the land and its wildlife, and most of the land is NOT already protected. Give me a break, why would I support NWF if the refuge wasn't endangered? Why are so many other groups fighting to keep drillers out of there? Look in the mirror before you point the finger. This article is nothing but propaganda supporting the horrors the Bush administration wants to commit. I can't take it seriously at all. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Granny Goodwitch EMAIL: mswitchkraft@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 02:59:59 PM ...shame on you... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carlos Schomaker EMAIL: cschomaker@juno.com IP: 69.139.55.243 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:00:11 PM If you're looking for gullible thoughts, consider those "faith-based" people unconcerned about pollution, global warming, our nation's rapacious use of fossil fuels and the federal head-in-the-sand energy policy. You want gullible, find someone who believes the oil companies have the American public's best interests at heart. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laurie A Williams EMAIL: crowsinger@hotmail.com IP: 207.5.224.89 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:00:16 PM I for one don't take offence at being called names, normally when one resorts to such juvinile behaviour it is because there is no intelligent way to make their point. Those of you who turn a blind eye to the changes that are occuring in this country, due to the deforrestation and depletion of natural lands, are in for a very rude awakening when you have no clean water to drink. You don't see the connection between nature and clean water? I think you should do yourselves a favor and do your own research as I have done, the conclusions you come to may surpise you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rich Pietrzak EMAIL: rapietrzak@hotmail.com IP: 66.90.51.28 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:00:40 PM Again, with the Arctic Refuge. When are we going to focus getting AWAY from the use of petroleum products, no matter where they come from!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jackie Baker EMAIL: jjbaker@ad.uiuc.edu IP: 128.174.48.170 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:01:20 PM It's time we stopped supporting lies just to back big corporations such as EXXON Mobile. We are paying horrendous prices as it is for gas because they say we are in short supply and that is why the gas prices are so high. That's a lot of hogwash and they know it. Why then are they making record profits????? It's just another way they are trying to play the innocents and they are anything but!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: William John Divney EMAIL: P12knight@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:01:25 PM Who's gullible? Saving and preserving the Alaskan wilderness is in America's best interest? Will the US Government let Greed destroy everything in it's path for oil? Prove us wrong, and stop trying to drill this refuge. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: B Caldwell EMAIL: sabgkids@comcast.net IP: 24.98.216.164 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:02:04 PM One question that has never been answered-who will clean everything up after all the oil has been removed? Who will pay for it? The damage to the tundra is irreversible and how do you remove tons and tons of gravel? I have seen the area, I have seen the trash blowing across the tundra outside of Prudhoe Bay. Drilling here would be one stupid mistake. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pamela Patterson EMAIL: ppatters@butler.edu IP: 199.20.2.1 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:03:34 PM I'm frankly insulted by this man who wrote this edititorial. He provides no facts. Maybe it's his readers who are gullible. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Po Fung EMAIL: gumbi001@yahoo.com IP: 65.163.202.226 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:03:47 PM I can't even fathom the fact that that editorial was written in the first place. It saddens me to know that these are the people who are suppose to be delivering information to the public. They have sunk to an all new low. While I feel insulted, I believe that this will only unite the environmentalists even more. We must work hard to get the truth out and save ANWR. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Linda Hart EMAIL: mainer2@core.com IP: 207.89.155.80 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:03:57 PM My husband and myself are not gullible. Far from it. The last pristine place in this country and Bush and big oil want to destroy it for possibly 6 months of oil that would not be available for another 10 years. We are not gullible but they are arrogant and devious. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Randy Thomas EMAIL: randyt68@aol.com IP: 192.160.6.253 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:04:51 PM This belongs to the animals and nature. It's their world too. Do something right for once and leave it alone. Haven't we messed up this earth enough?? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Remer EMAIL: remer5@netzero.net IP: 63.27.165.83 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:05:10 PM This is an issue that we have been fighting for at least 20 years and I am tired of it. What folks in Alaska might not realize is that in the lower 48 we are losing wildlife habitat by 100s of acres everyday to development. The U.S. has not begun to spend what it needs to for alternative energy sources. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Alice Tomkins EMAIL: sactoali@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:05:41 PM An attempt to bully is what it amounts to, with a smathering of trash talk. It is undeniable that people and countries need oil, but at what cost? It is only a matter of time before the drilling will be right in our backyards (or wherever else they darn well please!) The Artic Refuge should remain just that and the big oil companies should keep their hands off. Perhaps spending the money they would otherwise spend on drilling the oil on alternative fuel systems and sources would be a better use of time and money, without the devastating and huge cost to the environment. Keep up the great work NWF for a very worthy cause. Thanks. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nick Voth EMAIL: nvoth@estreet.com IP: 66.17.141.32 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:05:58 PM Drilling in the Refuge would at best be a VERY temporary bandaid for an increasingly oil thirsty country. Considering the high costs, (both environmental and material), of drilling in the Refuge, we would be far better off investing in more energy conservation measures. More oil production is simply NOT the answer. It's not sustainable. Increased oil production does nothing but leave our children with a damaged legacy to repair. It's only an oil blinded few who can possibly belive that the "gravy train" of increased oil production is a sustainable way of life. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tressa Goulding EMAIL: TressaBGoulding@hotmail.com IP: 172.16.30.43 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:05:59 PM The "gullible" are those who believe phoney numbers and fake science created by the Bush administration and their oil company bedfellows to support their greed. The "gullible" are those who ignore the warning signs and believe we can somehow keep raping and polluting this planet, guzzling non-renewable energy sources, and destroying habitat without paying for it. It isn't just the animals who stand to lose if we keep destroying the environment. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathy J. Miller EMAIL: katjmiller@yahoo.com IP: 166.41.89.195 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:06:22 PM I made up my own mind that the Refuge and its Wildlife need protection now and forever. Being "gullible" doesn't enter into it - the facts are there and they can't deny that - though they are trying. Whose rhetoric are they buying into? There just isn't enough oil there to justify the drilling and the damage it will cause. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cheryl S. Rosenfeld, D.V.M., Ph.D. EMAIL: rosenfeldc@missouri.edu IP: 128.206.160.121 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:06:25 PM Frankly, I do not see how it can be gullible to protect one of America's treasures that is home to diverse animals and plants and exists no where else on this planet. The editorial was clearly written by un-educated individual who is motivated only by $$$$ and greed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Skip EMAIL: skip.greene@comcast.net IP: 67.169.211.101 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:07:12 PM A journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step. So does the destruction of the environment. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ben Shaw EMAIL: starnovshaw@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:07:51 PM The gullible ones are the poor saps in congress who take at face value the lies and distortions of the oil conglomerates. They (oil companies) have shown who and what they are in the past! Now they have managed to manipulate gasoline prices to the stratosphere so that they can panic our legislators into thinking that Arctic oil drilling is a must. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Maurice Richard EMAIL: mauricer38@comcast.net IP: 24.61.110.174 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:08:14 PM The never ending story is just that. The Bush administration continues to fool even the republicans. They too are paying for the higher profits that is being raked in my oil companies. We all know what the truth is about giving away the store to capital interests. No. I AM not gullible as the Anchorage Times would have you believe. I know the Truth and it does not lie in raping and pillaging the pristine Alaskan wilderness for a few paltry barrels of oil. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nancy White Cassidy EMAIL: ncassidymail@earthlink.net IP: 69.182.135.24 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:08:26 PM These sorts of comments by the Anchorage Times make me sad...and more than a little apprehensive. Today, the warnings of environmentalists about global warming, changes to the environment caused by pollution and cancers triggered by industries' runoffs are finally getting the attention of mainstream America. It's too bad that the editorial staff at Anchorage Times isn't of the same mindset. When will they...and others like them...finally take a stand against corporate greed and work to protect their very precious environment? People, if we don't start to reverse the damage done to our environment, THE HUMAN RACE WILL NOT SURVIVE. What good will corporations and oil exploration do then?? I have every hope that corporations in the near future can operate responsibly, with one eye on profits and one eye watching carefully its effect on the environment. But right now, I just don't trust corporations that are willing to exploit a pristine wilderness like the Arctic National Refuge. I wonder how much ink the Anchorage Times has used in defending their environment against this sort of intrusion?? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Therese EMAIL: tmpaulin@yahoo.com IP: 12.150.181.20 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:08:27 PM After the staged "energy crisis" in the 1970s, an alternative to gasolene and other oil and petroleum products should have been fully implemented by now. The people who are gullible are those who believe what the big corporations, cartels, and institutions are telling them. When is society going to wake up? Probably when it's too late. Reaction versus proaction. This globe is long overdue for proaction. Thank you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michelle Cohn EMAIL: mail2sheldylyn@yahoo.com IP: 24.10.217.36 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:08:41 PM Once again, this current administration is following thier own direction without a care about what the public really believes and wants. It is blantant greed on the part of the government, who seems to work only in favor of its own agenda. Trying to make people who truly do care about the environment appear "gullible" is just another sick minded narrative from this administration. Why don't they get a hint and start working on funding alternative fuels and stop harming nature and all of the life that depends on it. I'm ashamed and appalled by the ethics of this current thinking. It's unpatriotic! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Brian J. Coffey EMAIL: deafwolf@yahoo.com IP: 216.220.57.173 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:09:01 PM I am constantly amazed at how low the Pro-drilling forces will stoop in their attacks. Those of us who support the preservation of ANWR have our facts straight and the "gullible" people are those who either choose not to look at the facts regarding the Arctic or have a vested interest in opening up the refuge for drilling. Any drilling done in ANWR will cover more than 2,000 acres due to the "footprints" of the drills and pipelines. It would create a web of pipelines, pumping and drilling stations throughout the refuge. Drilling in ANWR does NOTHING for our domestic oil production or helping us to become more oil independent. Lastly, any money's given to NWF or other environmental causes are being spent on defending wild places. Their books are open and transparent, as opposed to most of the companies arguing for drilling. Drilling in ANWR is nothing more than a classic example of corporate greed and the desire of some Alaskans to keep their precious oil revenue from decreasing. The heritage of our natural wilderness is beyond price. It belongs to ALL of us, not just those who live in Alaska or the corporations pushing to squeeze every last dollar from the gorund. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: L. A. H. EMAIL: clbd @highvsion.net IP: 67.172.28.98 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:09:28 PM We need to wake up and look at the big picture. Once destroyed, it can never be put back the way it was. You want to talk about gullible. Well, anyone who thinks drilling in Alaska will have no consequences is the gullible ones. We can turn our backs on the truth and the environment and let this happen, or we can take a stand and make sure it doesn't. I for one want my children and each generation after them to have nature the way it was intended and to know protecting it and all that lives there is very important. Our mistakes now destroys their future. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Valerie Sacks EMAIL: vlsacks@comcast.net IP: 24.126.7.136 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:10:14 PM I am not gullible. The people who are gullible are the people who buy these self-interested, cynical, oil-mongering "leaders"' argument that forever destroying this beautiful, precious area for a small amount of oil will solve our oil problem. It will not. We need to improve energy efficiency and find alternative sources of energy, NOW!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Running Bear EMAIL: runbear@comcast.com IP: 68.63.235.54 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:10:37 PM Hopefully the "gullible" have access to better information than what you put out. All your statements are so far off that they can only be called lies. The Times reflects the opinion of the people of Alaska, let's use this piece of barren unusable piece of land, ASAP. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeanne Held-Warmkessel EMAIL: J_Warmkessel@fccc.edu IP: 131.249.6.253 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:10:53 PM The greed of the current white house and general government and administration is fueled by the greed of people in this country. It is this greed that has resulted in the greatest assault on the environment and our home planet in over 100 years. The devistation is fueled by ignorance of what is really at stake, the future of our home planet for short term greed. It is the truely ignorant that are unable to see anyone elses point of view and only see their own. Their own view is the only one that matters and that is real ignorance. I have seen first hand how our country and our citizens have had a reduced quality of life since 2001. What is happening to the plants and animals will soon be translated in to the human population. There are so few untouched areas left in the US. This one is worth fighting for continued protection. The heavy weight of the oil extracting industry is too heavy for this fragile place. I am not gullible, but the author of this article is ignorant. Ignorant of the real facts. Increased oil extraction is a joke. There are not enough refineries to process any additional oil imports or extraction be it domestic or foreign. Getting rid of your gas guzzler and buying a real car with 60+ miles per gallon is the reasonable intelligent option. The Alaskans are asking the rest of the planet to pay for a bigger rebate check for themselves. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Eric Karanjawala EMAIL: Eric1704@hotmail.com IP: 70.111.141.76 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:11:09 PM Please wake up before we all die. Eric. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol EMAIL: crherr16127@yahoo.com IP: 12.169.120.93 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:11:23 PM Has Alaska, which is now suffering the devastating effects of global warming that scientists long predicted,learned nothing about protecting the environment? Are you so desperate for the almighty dollar that you are willing to despoil one of the last untouched lands on the planet? I am neither gullible nor uninformed. I do however learn from my mistakes - and the mistakes of my generation. I am hoping that the powers do the same - and that they leave the the Arctic alone for future generations to enjoy. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jean Woods EMAIL: jean14424@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.196 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:12:16 PM The real solution to the oil problem is cutting by consumption, finding renewable energy sources, and more efficient ways to use energy. I feel this push to ruin the Arctic Refuge is motivated by greed and "I'm going have my way" attitude. The amount of oil is small, the impact is big. I'm not gullible. NWF is doing a great job! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mike Vandeman EMAIL: mjvande@pacbell.net IP: 144.160.130.16 URL: http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande DATE: 08/18/2005 03:12:18 PM I plan to boycott any company involved in any way with extracting oil from Alaska. Please join me! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ron Giles EMAIL: btsbkrrg@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:12:21 PM A dangerous precedent is being set..this may well be just the tip of the ice berg...we need to be very careful, with the likes of Geo, W. Bush, the worst environmental danger as president, the world has ever known... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rev. Kevin A. Chaney EMAIL: kev-cats@att.net IP: 12.64.222.94 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:13:48 PM How absurd that the local paper would take a position based on nothing! The facts of this group are that we support preservation of lands and speciaes that cannot be replaced - ever! The idea that oil companies are so wonderful is purely corrupt! Having lived in California during the oil-spill eras of the 1960-s and 1970's, I well know that complete disregard of the world conditions caused by oil company destruction - and their work to avoid responsibility when it occurs. This writer attacking preservation movement needs seriously to deal with a psychiatrist about blatant lying. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Brand Shelton EMAIL: brandshelton@hotmail.com IP: 166.89.42.156 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:14:08 PM Ain't blind self-interest a marvel to behold? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Chris Manis EMAIL: christopher-manis@utc.edu IP: 168.8.171.101 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:14:50 PM It would be sad to lose one of the last true "wild places" left on Earth. I am ashamed, but not "gullible". Chris Manis Tennessee ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Linda Hall EMAIL: auntlinda2000@yahoo.com IP: 63.199.46.72 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:15:04 PM I'm not only NOT guillible - I'm probably more informed than most of the sheep in the USA today - and I KNOW the immediate solution is to increase the MPG of all vehicles, and to get rid of the shameless, greedy, hate-mongers in the White House ASAP. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Erik Giberti EMAIL: giberti@mac.com IP: 67.184.154.227 URL: http://www.alynfamily.com DATE: 08/18/2005 03:15:35 PM All for oil? Who are we kidding, the only way we're going to have enough oil to meet future demands is to reduce our global consumption. When are we going to start doing that? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Caroline Buenger EMAIL: cbbuenger@earthlink.net IP: 71.50.18.124 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:17:19 PM I think it is interesting that this was a "nameless" editorial. When someone is so cautious as to gloss over facts and use hystrionics attacking individuals, rather than arguing the facts, you know they are desperate and realize they have no basis on which to stand. The fact they are unwilling to put their own name on the piece only reinforces that they are uncomfortable with their position and with the facts. Anyone can use hyperbole to attack the messenger. Look at the Bush Administration. Look at George! But the reality is in the facts and it is clear that mining the Refuge -- any amount of the Refuge -- is a ludicrous proposition if the goal, as stated, is to end our dependence on foreign oil. The estimates of oil under the Refuge will and can never accomplish that. Mining the Refuge -- any amount of the Refuge -- is simply a means to put money in the pocket of Bush and his cronies. That is it, pure and simple. Let's argue those facts. Stop the sissy approach of attacking the NWF, its personnel and those who have the foresight to support NWF and similar organizations that have a vision beyond the money that corporations (more correctly, those running the corporations) will reap from the rape of the Refuge. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David Driscoll EMAIL: ddriscoll@maplegreen.com IP: 24.147.119.238 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:17:56 PM Gullible would be someone who believes the flawed claims and junk science of the powerful oil companies. Just follow the money! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Deb Andrews EMAIL: lhasa-alex@msn.com IP: 12.22.82.7 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:18:01 PM Gullible, I think not. I have personally seen the Artic National Wildlife Preserve and believe it needs to be saved. I think you are the gullible one. If the oil companies are so reliable and dependable, how did so much oil get dumped in the sound from the Exxon Valdez? And has wildlife fully recovered -- no! Will the Porcupine Herd recover from this infringement on their territory -- no! It seems the only thing some Alaskan's are concerned with is their dividend check, which would increase from the new revenues. It is worth the price of losing the wildlife -- no! It seems everyone forgets one thing - this is the National WILDLIFE REFUGE! The wildlife is the most important thing, not some oil companies little profit. The proposal does nothing to protect the wildlife and therefore should not happen. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robert Hiekkanen EMAIL: arbt5h@netscape.net IP: 198.150.96.50 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:18:11 PM A Global slap in the face. Destruction of prime land, worsen climatic changes and for a short source of oil. Another wildlife wiped out. I do not want to be the next wildlife wiped out by abuse of mother nature in Alaska. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Emily Harting EMAIL: emilyharting@hotmail.com IP: 70.19.41.109 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:18:13 PM This sounds as though it was written by none other than George W. Bush himself. Or the CEO of ExxonMobil. It sounds like someone desperate to allow oil drilling - someone who would profit from it. Who the heck did write it? And as I have no car I will continue to give my hard-earned dollars to the Metropolitan Transit Authority - the New York subway. The best way to oppose drilling in the Arctic is to reduce consumption: take public transportation, a bike, your feet and leave your car at home! And give the money you save to NWF! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Larry Lambeth EMAIL: llamrtment@hotmail.com IP: 68.94.150.101 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:18:22 PM Gullible? Sounds to me like the editorialist is the one who bought the Bush administration/oil industry propaganda, hook,line and sinker!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Crystal EMAIL: cgwolf5@yahoo.com IP: 10.16.81.135 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:19:41 PM Gullible? Because I believe that drilling in the ANWR is wrong? Ok..but at least I'm not swayed by big money and the lies they propogate about the small footprint this drilling will leave. We all know that's bull. The US needs to focus their attentions on preserving our environment, spending our money on better fuels and more fuel efficient cars! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nancy Peske EMAIL: nakape@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:19:53 PM I am not "gullible." I am a smart, educated person who can read facts and make up my own mind, and I think drilling in the arctic is a ridiculous, short-sighted plan. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Maria Cetrola EMAIL: mcetrola@risingresults.com IP: 24.168.58.36 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:20:10 PM Guillible? We who are backed by facts, I don't think so. Guillable are those willing to sacrifice nature and its wildlife in the name of Greed. How much will be enough - how much money do the oils companies need. How much backing does Mr. Bush need. The people WE have voted into office are willing to allow our gas prices to skyrocket in the hopes that we are gullible enough to end this battle. Think Again. I fight for this land because I know that once drilling is permitted in the AWNR our beautiful country will never again be the same - the Oil Companies along with Their President will leave no land untouched. I am neither Gullilable or Greedy. I want this land that I love to stay the same or Improve for my children and grandchildren and no amount of money can change that. Mr. President can you say the same - I don't think so. How sad. Gulliable - How Dare You! Look in the Mirror. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Suzanne Hellner EMAIL: shellner@umich.edu IP: 141.214.17.5 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:20:37 PM I am offended by your attack on the NWF, as well as, myself. I will continue to support the NWF & other agencies that want to stop the destruction of what's left of our wilderness areas. Pretty soon there won't be anything left for wildlife. Which brings me to another point: There's a reason why GOD CREATED ANIMALS FIRST & MAN LAST. Wildlife doesn't destroy & pollute the environment like those who continue to plunder the earth's natural resources. ALASKA doesn't belong to you alone; it belongs to the animals and all of us who want to preserve this beautiful land. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: S. Paul EMAIL: febjewel@gmail.com IP: 204.186.150.200 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:21:17 PM I was gullible once and voted for the wrong person. Then I began paying close attention to all that really matters to me, and without our earth in a healty state nothing else will matter for any of us. Ignorance breeds gullibility. Those who are aware of facts can not be gullible. Open your own gullible eyes and SEE what is happening to YOUR home. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Paul DiMarco EMAIL: journeyhome@cox.net IP: 157.21.8.90 URL: http://members.cox.net/journeyhome/index.htm DATE: 08/18/2005 03:21:45 PM There isn't enough oil down there. We need to move away from "dirty" energy sollutions to "clean" energy sollutions if we ever want to rid ourselves of the middle east. The Energy bill didn't increase fuel efficiency in trucks and automobiles. So this land giveaway in Alaska must be about something other than energy, energy independence and solving our energy crisis. Because apparently there isn't one or the fuel efficiency standards would have gone up. This is about money leaving the tax payers pocket and going into Exxon/Mobiles pocket, and nothing else. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Celestine Star* EMAIL: goldenstar6066@yahoo.com IP: 69.109.117.109 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:21:50 PM To Whom it may concern, I want to state clearly and determinetly that I am not a "gullible" person. I know that drilling the Arctic Refuge is not what is in the best intrest of our environment, our animal habitat, our water and fish systems, and the native alaskan population that lives in the vacinity of the land in question. The truth can be seen in the real not fabricated, enviornental studies regarding drilling in the Arctic Refuge. What the oil, gas and coal corparate inverstors are going to such great lengths to cover up is that it would cause more harm to drill there than good. It would be a disaster for the migrating Carabu and other animals who need to move freely across the Arctic Refuge, and for the humans who have resided in that area for thousands of years. It is regretable to know that the Anchorage Times is the "Gullible" one bringing shame to themselves for being bought off or buying into creating negative publicity against those who would care enough about perserving the pristine beauty of one of our important natural environments. I stand for not letting those who are all about the "bottom line", called money, go into the Artic Refuse area and make a mess that they will not be able to nor would they want to, clean up or fix once they are let in. But rather direct them, by the will of the people, to invest in more sustainable and environentally safe methods of obtaining the energies we need for our future. Preserve the Artic Refuse for our future and the future generataions to come. Don't be guillible. Sincerely, Celestine Star* ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Glennda Tingle EMAIL: Tidbit1013@yahoo.com IP: 68.9.36.129 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:22:51 PM I've not been called "gullible" in many years; I always thought it was an insult...now I've discovered it's a compliment! These yahoos who want to destroy the beauty of Alaska for a cupful of oil need to wake up and smell the coffee! We do not need to plunder Alaska for the wee bit of crude beneath her soil. If the trend so cherished by this Republic administration is not stopped, we'll soon find ourselves in the situation mentioned in an old Joni Mitchell song: "They've paved paradise and put up a parking lot...they took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museum; then they charged a dollar and a half just to see 'em." Instead, this administration, which is eager to rape a sovereign part of their own country, should turn their efforts toward alternative fuels or look at the changes in environment and find a way to stop that damage or even more importantly, figure out a way to get us out of Iraq so we don't lose any more Americans in an Iraqui civil war. In other words, Mr. Bush, instead of continuing to line the pockets of your already wealthy friends with even more money, be a real American for once and do what you know to be right. Leave Paradise alone! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tom from Illinois EMAIL: tmonken4@hotmail.com IP: 12.160.158.25 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:23:02 PM Drilling for more oil is not the answer. Our future depends upon alternative fuel sources. We must reward innovative companies that create them and invest in these companies to produce the alternative fuels at a reasonable price. Wake up America!! Our nation can produce corn based fuel but the politicians don't get lobbying money from our farmers so they aren't going to support it. Gullible? I think not. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Debra EMAIL: dlebright@juno.com IP: 216.113.128.239 URL: http://nwf.blogs.com/artic_promise/2005/08 DATE: 08/18/2005 03:23:49 PM Once you begin to destroy such pristine beauty - it can never be restored. None of us have the ability of Mother Nature to create such grandeur! Your definition of "tiny". .sorry-it's clear that your interest lie in "residual checks" and not in Mother Natures checks and balances. We need to preserve the area as it is. Let's focus on "solar" power! If we do that. . .the locals won't have to be inconvenienced with contending with those"tiny" residual checks either !! They might "rethink" their definition of "tiny" !! D.Ebright ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Leslie malcolmson EMAIL: lmalcolmson@voyager.net IP: 69.212.249.137 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:24:01 PM I want to save the Artic Region for your and my grandchildren and their children. If we, as Americans, would stop driving those gas-guzzling SUV's, slow down when we drive, and invest in public transportation, we would not have this debate...... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dana Esposito EMAIL: desposito@accesstca.com IP: 216.195.196.34 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:24:02 PM Imagine a leadership that was more interested in ways to replace the NEED for oil with a more intelligent, economic, and environment friendly options? We are digging bigger and bigger holes to climb out of. Getting oil from Alaska would only be a quick fix for a fuel problem that is already a poor choice for the environment. We can put people on the moon........ can't we develop a way to power our homes and vehicles with something CLEAN!!! Americans "protect and serve" the USA. As Americans, we sould "prtect and serve" the land, nature, and environment that IS the USA. Advice to the government: "If you are in a mess, find a BETTER solution, don't make a bigger mess." ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: M. Martucci EMAIL: calamagrostis9@yahoo.com IP: 149.123.136.152 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:24:11 PM I am not gullible. I am well-grounded in what matters and very aware of all the tricks the present government is playing on us to control us for its own purpose. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Alan Journet EMAIL: ajournet@semo.edu IP: 150.201.62.210 URL: http://cstl-csm.semo.edu/journet/ DATE: 08/18/2005 03:24:34 PM As a professional ecologist and conservation biologist I totally reject the argument that I am gullible. Indeed, gullible is the character of folks that oil companies are trying to reach when they claim that oil beneath the arctic Refuge will contribute to solving U.S. energy problems. All drilling in ANWR will do is make the fat oil executives fatter, while destroying this beautiful wildlife jewel. The fact that they can only gain support by lying should be the strongest indication of their total lack of moral or ethical values. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pam McDonald EMAIL: pamkalian@mac.com IP: 71.115.211.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:24:44 PM There really are some of us HUmans left with more than a few brain cells. We KNOW exactly what we're supporting both emotionally and financially. We all need to realize there is a limit to fossil fuel usage and now is the time switch to alternative energy sourcess. This is no more than those in power wanting more power. We know ya'll don't care about us useless eaters. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anika Habermas-Scher EMAIL: ahsmos@aol.com IP: 71.34.5.49 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:25:09 PM I'm sure the author of this editorial has personally studied the effects of drilling in ANWR, and has not allowed him or herself to be fooled by the powerful propoganda campaign put on by the only ones who would benefit from drilling; the oil companies and the politicians in their pockets. I'm sure the author has interviewed the "unsuspecting but good-hearted people across the land who know nothing of the Arctic" and met people like me, who have visited ANWR and studied it's importance as one of the last and largest preserved ecosystems in the world, and decided that we are all misguided, misinformed, and as he says "gulilble". I wonder if the author has ever visited this place that he or she condems to thoughtless destruction for a short lived profit, and seen the beauty of an untouched ecosystem, or woken to a frosty morning in the tent by the sound of hundreds of caribou migrating towards their breeding ground on the coast -the intended site for oil exploration. Perhaps this editor has read all the facts, or perhaps not. I don't think he or she is as concerned with facts at all, in my expereince someone with this attitude is much more concerned with following the orders of his leaders, without question. I'm sure this editor wants to do the right thing by his state, and it is unfortunate that he or she understands the Right Thing to be blind subordination to a misguided president's policy. I don't know what can turn around the attitude of this editor and people with a similar viewpoint. Maybe someone should take them out to the tundra on a bush plane and camp with them for a few weeks. Get dirty in the land they hypothesize about: surviving the occasional blizzard, finding caribou trails through the mountains, learning to respect and rely on the wisdom of the grizzly by following his tracks to water, and breathing in the spirit of one of the last prisitine places in the world. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gary Staley EMAIL: staley47401@yahoo.com IP: 129.79.44.117 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:25:16 PM Some people just aren't happy until they kill off all the buffalo... oh, wait, that was the American government in the last century. This century we are still trying to finish killing off every natural thing that made this country a wonder. It's simply the ongoing sale of our children's and grandchildren's futures in order to put a few extra dollars in the pockets of people who have more money to invest than they have sense. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: conor soraghan EMAIL: csoragha@hotmail.com IP: 24.249.154.102 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:25:51 PM The duplicitous misinformation being churned out by the pro-drilling forces is very sad and a very poor reflection on this country. Unfortunately, I guess they are just following the example set by the current 'Government'. What has happened to the Principles and Morals that the USA once stood for?? So much for the USA!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mike Beegle EMAIL: mikebeegle@msn.com IP: 216.160.98.248 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:26:09 PM How can any resident in the State of Alaska be so willing to bow down to the oil companies that will destroy the treasure that is our most beautiful state? Where is their pride? Where is their outrage? Where is their collective brain? They call us gullible. I have to call them stupid. No amount of money is worth the cost. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sandra Davis EMAIL: sdavis@ahecpb.uams.edu IP: 150.208.127.178 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:26:41 PM I have been to Alaska and want others and future generations to be able to see it as untouched as I did for natural beauty. It should not be exploited by the greedy and present administration. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cheryl Perkosky EMAIL: swazewlf@yahoo.com IP: 24.58.226.115 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:27:02 PM Who is gullible? I would say the author of the editorial is the one who is gullible, falling for the oil companies propaganda rather than checking out the real facts. Unless, the oil companies wrote or paid for this editorial. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Linda S McCue EMAIL: LindaSMcCue@care2.com IP: 68.102.234.97 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:27:02 PM I am not naive or foolish or gullible. I am horrified to think that we may put our desires for fuel ahead of what is left of this formerly pristine refuge. I understand the needs we have made for ourselves. But we need to find better solutions. Our following generations should know and value the beauty of the natural world. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol EMAIL: dabbie57@esedona.net IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:27:55 PM Me thinks the Editorial Staff doth protest too much...... They are the gullible ones who swallow, hook, line and sinker, the "lines" of the oil industry. They seem to never question the true motives of Bush and Company. True people of faith are to be the caretakers of our world, our environment. The hypocrits of the Bush and oil company backers only want more money for their super rich friends. Real statesmen, real journalists, real editors, etc., would support alternative energy research instead of short-term profits for a few people. Me gullible? Nay! It is the Anchorage Times who are gullible....may they soon choke on the lines of lies from Bush & Company. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Paul Pokrywka EMAIL: paul.pokrywka@nfib.org IP: 208.18.162.201 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:27:55 PM This is apparently 'THE' energy policy from the BUSH administration, since I having seen any other. Where is the moral majority? God made the creatures in the arctic refuge as sure as he made all of us oil comsumers. Mr. Bush and his administration certainly are not supporting or living to Christian Ethics. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Valerie Friedman EMAIL: valgale795@cfl.rr.com IP: 70.118.126.149 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:29:27 PM Gullible or not, what ever happened to stewardship? The human race was granted the use of the Earth, not the right to dominate it and all it's creatures. I'm not particularly religious, but this is a concept that should be embraced. I'm tired of large corporations usurping every resource for their own profit, with total disregard for the rights of the rest of the planet's inhabitants to live in peace on this beautiful earth. What will be left for our children if we let the corporations have everything? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Amy Ashe EMAIL: ashewoman@hotmail.com IP: 24.93.150.182 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:29:31 PM I am saddened to see the lengths at which the drilling proponents will go to twist the facts to hide the truth. I can only hope that there are enough 'gullible' people in congress to prevent the passage of the budget reconciliation bill this September. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ann Heilman EMAIL: ahbh@paonline.com IP: 216.220.168.101 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:29:41 PM The gullible people are those who blindly follow this administration and believe their lies. The Arctic needs to be protected for ourselves and all those who live in the future. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: TB EMAIL: tnbdesigns@att.net IP: 12.73.144.128 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:29:52 PM One must remember that no matter which "ruler" is in the White House, Democrats, Republicans, Independent... promises are made that are never fullfilled because the American public has grown to complacent and uncaring. Stop blaming everyone else and stand up and take a stand. It's just like that prime farm land being sold to some developer for more and more houses. If you're fed up, SPEAK UP! Tell your local "elected" government officials, as well as the "elected" people in the Senate, House and White House that you are not in favor of our last great piece of American heritage being destroyed! Tell them to look for alternative energy sources so we are not dependant on oil from the Middle East or Alaska. And we as a people must open our eyes and become more responsible in this endeavor as well. Fuel, Water, Land just like money DOES NOT GROW ON TREES. Learn this now, teach it to your children and get more involved before there is nothing left to show future generations! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Veronica Egan EMAIL: ronni@greatolbroads.org IP: 66.118.213.133 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:29:52 PM I have travelled extensively in the Refuge, and know quite well how devastating oil development would be in the region, having flown over Prudhoe Bay a time or 2. I am in no way gullible on this issue, and am dismayed at this "cheap shot". But then, consider the source! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gloria Sapp EMAIL: txprissybrat@hotmail.com IP: 209.240.207.41 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:30:32 PM We are not gullible nor are we STUPID. We know whats going on better than you do.You are all so money hungry you kill animals by invading their territoryBreaking into their Homes,and Evicting them with no place to move them. And if they dont move you Kill them either by shooting them or starving them,or poisoning the places they live. Why dont you put yourselves in their places how would you like someone to starve you out,evict you,with no place for you to go.They were there first this is their home!!!! I know its all politics, but animals hav hearts also just like we do,the only thing they cannot speak our language but look into one of these animals eyes the next time you decide to evict them they will tell yo how sad they are,or the next time you decide to shoot one dead look into its eyes before you shoot to kill and picture your daughter or your son there then pull the trigger.The animals have families also and I and the rest of us want to see these familis survive.So dont call us GULLIBLE OR STUPID because weare not WE JUST ARE SMARTER THAN YOU ARE. Gloria Sapp(Texas)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: DENISE EMAIL: dpekau@foxgal.com IP: 64.219.240.130 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:30:32 PM Most of us will never see the Refuge...but that doesn't mean we shouldn't protect it..Just knowing of this wild place and the impact it has on the world wildlife I'm not going to stop fighting for this place I have only seen in pictures.Greed is what motivates oil companies and the people who support their wishes...President Bush!!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cathleen EMAIL: ayiloda@yahoo.com IP: 63.156.182.99 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:31:27 PM It's time to be concentrating on alternative fuels, not pristine places to drill for the same irresponsible ones. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tasha Smith EMAIL: tasmsmit@iupui.edu IP: 157.91.87.133 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:32:42 PM I have been following the ANWR debate in congress for the past year and a half. I have just graduated from college with a degree in environmental studies and I happened to do a term paper on the debate over ANWR. I checked reference after reference and am very informed about the topic; Using the USGS resources I have come to the conclusion that whoever believes that drilling here will solve all of our energy problems is gullible enough to think that such a complex problem could have such a black and white answer. This would include the writers of this editorial who have had to have been paid off by the oil industry to believe such crap from an administration who is funded by the oil industry. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Norma Masek EMAIL: Norma.Masek@Unisys.com IP: 192.61.36.150 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:33:46 PM OK, I'll admit I used some of what others said, but I couldn't say it any better. SO, this is what I also think! Gullible? Sounds to me like the editorialist is the one who bought the Bush administration/oil industry propaganda, hook,line and sinker!! Gullible, I think not. I have personally seen the Artic National Wildlife Preserve and believe it needs to be saved. I think you are the gullible one. If the oil companies are so reliable and dependable, how did so much oil get dumped in the sound from the Exxon Valdez? And has wildlife fully recovered -- no! Will the Porcupine Herd recover from this infringement on their territory -- no! It seems the only thing some Alaskan's are concerned with is their dividend check, which would increase from the new revenues. It is worth the price of losing the wildlife -- no! It seems everyone forgets one thing - this is the National WILDLIFE REFUGE! The wildlife is the most important thing, not some oil companies little profit. The proposal does nothing to protect the wildlife and therefore should not happen. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kate EMAIL: cd3byrd@earthlink.net IP: 4.233.173.132 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:34:41 PM Just don't do it! There isn't a substantial amount of oil there, and we don't really need it. We need to learn to live with out it. It's not just a waste of money, it's a waste of the soul of the land, which is a part of all of us. A much higher crime! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathryn Richardson EMAIL: rich_kat@hotmail.com IP: 24.208.124.89 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:34:59 PM I can't believe that a "news"paper like the Anchorage Times would insult the very people trying to save an area of Alaska's fase-vanishing pristine environment. I can only attribute this ill-informed and swaggering blast to an editor who gets his information from Fox News and certain members of the Republican Party. If the paper had better credentials than the “National Enquirer”, I would be insulted. However, I write off this prattle as coming from a tabloid journal more concerned with UFOs and Elvis sightings than from a publication that produces honest, unbiased and intelligent journalism. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Katy EMAIL: kredmon@infostations.com IP: 66.81.149.210 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:35:36 PM I have met a German geologist. He looked forward to a job with an oil company. He specializes in drilling. Here is the twist: He said that there was NO reason to drill in Alaska. None. There is plenty of oil elsewhere and the loss of that area due to an accident would be truly terrible. He felt that such an area should be protected. So, who is gullible? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Liam Weir EMAIL: weirliam@hotmail.com IP: 63.161.160.2 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:36:25 PM The views in the editorial clearly relate the motives of some people in Alaska, which are in line with the motives of oil companies; that is, self interest. This is nothing but a thinly disguised attempt to use natural resources protected, for good reason by the federal government for the good of all the country, to their own ends of profit and the ends of the financial benefit of their state. It is natural that, to take the spotlight off of their own selfishness, they would attack the basically altruistic motives of a group that stands to gain nothing from using this federally protected land, and would only hope to maintain what little is left of this "sanctified" land. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bob Godwin EMAIL: bobgodwin@provide.net IP: 216.86.90.98 URL: http://howardglazer.com DATE: 08/18/2005 03:36:38 PM I agree with Ann Heilman. Easy to tell who's gullible. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Abigail Jones EMAIL: ajones@naguss.com IP: 65.70.80.137 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:37:15 PM I am not gullible nor uninformed, but I do know that this administration is tops for misinformation, lies and owned by big $$$ especially the oil/gas giants. We have all been raped and pillaged by the Bush administration and this only proves the worst is yet to come. God help us all!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Comluc EMAIL: comluc@hotmail.com IP: 4.225.28.165 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:38:26 PM I am not totally against drilling in the Wildlife Area some day if it becomes necessary. But until we in America learn to conserve a little and stop driving SUV'S to grocery store to pick up a loaf of bread and to impress our neighbors it is just a waste of time and environment, the benefits are just not worth it, if there are any at all. We need some other type of energy source anyway, oil should have gone by the wayside years ago. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kris Bailey EMAIL: wlfwmn71@aol.com IP: 69.7.204.82 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:39:21 PM These big oil companies and Bush just think we all believe what we read? Are they really THAT stupid? I find it repulsive that they want to detroy what is left of the natural beauty in this world for profit. I have and will continue to do everything I can for nature and it's wonderful habitants!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bee Meldahl EMAIL: beemeldahl@sbcglobal.net IP: 68.94.119.173 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:39:41 PM My sister was in the Peace Corps in Kirianu, Kenya, for three years. She watched the people raze half a mountain side of trees during that time. When she would tell them they needed to replant or the trees would be gone and the soil would wash away, the villagers laughed and pointed to the next mountain. "Plenty of trees," they said. "But when those are gone too?" asked my sister, trying to make her point. "Allah will send more trees," they assured her. Those folks up in Alaska who believe there's no end to their state's natural bounty are just as foolish. God does not send more trees or more wild, untouched areas after we ruin the ones we have. There are those who would take it all for their own profit unless we stop them! And we all know who they are. Who's gullible? Not me! I've seen the eroded mountainside! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jim Derzon EMAIL: Derzon@pire.org IP: 68.100.235.1 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:39:49 PM It is a brilliant piece of public callowness that leads the so-called right to attack with that of which they are most guilty. Embracing ignorance over information, belief over fact, and base motive over all, this inaccurate and near hysterical attack on NWF and its leadership is an embarrassment to the ADN and to Alaskans in general. We just returned from a month in Alaska, it is truly a great state and no one we talked with while there showed this level of ignorance or distain for the Nation's heritage. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lynn Traber EMAIL: lynnt@csufresno.edu IP: 129.8.84.156 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:40:24 PM Once again, I am ashamed of being part of the human race! What right do we have to even dare think that we have a right to damage yet another ecosystem? The dollars that oil companies are willing to spend on drilling in Alaska, could be so much better spent on finding another energy source. When we will be strong enough to say "NO" to more drilling, "NO" to invading and abusing that which is not ours to take in the first place. No one can tell me that we don't have the technology in 2005 to replace oil as our main energy source. Leave the Artic Wildlife Refuge as it is; a refuge!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Judith EMAIL: hoogendykj@mail.montclair.edu IP: 130.68.47.142 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:40:47 PM Instead of using all our 'energy' trying to get oil from the land, why not use this 'energy' to come up with sensible plans to enable us to limit our reliance on oil, foreign or domestic and let the wilderness be just that....wilderness for all the species that call it home. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mickey Gargan EMAIL: Mickeygg2@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.196 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:40:48 PM Hey! I'm not gullible! I've been following this issue for years! I know the scientific facts & how the current administration molds them to fit their own views, like on Artic drilling, clean air & water, mercury pollution, etc. We are watching & will not let them prevail! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bill Peregrine EMAIL: bperegrine@maloneslandscape.com IP: 207.202.238.164 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:41:32 PM Who we are as human beings is reflected in our actions. To believe that this small amount of oil is going to "help" us somehow is to deflect attention from the true debate of what is supposed to be our relationship with Nature. This debate helps me to evaluate my consumption habits and how my decisions affect the global community (not just the human community). I will stand behind my decision not to drill in the Artic Refuge and accept whatever consequences arise from my decision. If that means $3.00 per gallon gasoline than so be it... Oh wait! It already is $3.00 per gallon!! Silly gullible me. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Kiecal EMAIL: kiecal@yahoo.com IP: 69.141.78.246 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:41:55 PM I am neither gullible, stupid or ignorant. I have seen the devastation done by the oil carrying ships. I have seen animals struggle to hold on to life. I have seen what oil drilling has done to other parts of this country and around the world. Dead birds, animals, fish and irreversible damage to the land. Contrary to some popular belief, we only get one life, one planet on which to live and I don't want it to be an oil-covered garbage dump ! I want to be able to tell future generations with pride that I and others like me, tried every way they could to make their home a better in which to live, not worse. Don't you want a better and cleaner world for your progeny ? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Maribeth Parton EMAIL: mnparton@comcast.net IP: 67.162.106.210 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:41:55 PM I'm not gullible about the Artic drilling. Bush and the oil companies just want to continue taking from the land. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michelle Southard EMAIL: scottishindian@yahoo.com IP: 207.109.233.177 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:41:56 PM Gullible? I think NOT. They claim its just a tiny piece that is going to be drilled. YEAH RIGHT! When they don't find what they want on that "tiny piece" of land... they will go after more and more and more, until there is nothing left. They need to get their facts straight before they start making accusations about something. They are running scared, and think that if they throw dirt, then we will back off. WELL GUESS WHAT GUYS... WE WON'T. So get used to the pressure...its not letting up. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: DeAnna Shaklee EMAIL: stinkweedfaerie35@yahoo.com IP: 69.221.163.50 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:42:55 PM In my opinion the only "gullible" ones here are the people who are behind the oil drilling efforts. I am not gullible for wishing to protect the land, and our endangered wildlife for my children, and their grandchildren's children. If they think these name calling campains will change our minds about protecting Earth and, its wildlife for future generations they are dead WRONG! These name calling campaigns do not change my mind in the slightest, nor will it change the minds of anyone who truely cares about this planet, and preserving its wildlife for future generations. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Callie Mack EMAIL: callie@sdccu.net IP: 66.81.170.231 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:43:00 PM Gullible? Not me, and not the other environmentalists I know. The gullible people are those who drive their gas-guzzlers while swallowing the White House's short-sighted, oil-wasting energy policies. Wake up, America! Drilling in the ANWR won't reduce our dependence on foreign oil. That can only be achieved by strong conservation measures, such as higher CAFE standards and greater energy efficiency in industry, buildings, homes and appliances, along with development of non-polluting renewable and sustainable energy sources (such as solar). Only a highly gullible and unthinking citizenry would have elected the current "leaders", who would sacrifice their nation's loveliest wild places for (at best) a few months' worth of oil. I'm no religious scholar, but isn't this reminiscent of the Biblical story of Esau trading his birthright for bread and pottage? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lee E. Tuggle EMAIL: ltuggle@mccormickins.com IP: 66.128.114.174 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:43:49 PM What a surprise that major oil companies and the newspapers of this region would ridicule those of us against their self-serving plan and downplay what is being done here! I guess the oil companies are somewhat correct in implying we are gullible; after all look at what we are currently paying for fuel when every American should be boycotting the stations and screaming their heads off about the inflated prices we pay just to increase the oil companies profits. What a coincidence that prices are soaring at the same time Big Oil is trying to get legislation passed to go into the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge. Let's keep up the fight and expose them for what they are-greedy, greedy, greedy!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jane Baker EMAIL: janieb96@hotmail.com IP: 10.145.100.54 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:44:38 PM I wonder how much the politicians are lining all of their pockets to actually believe what they are being told. Looks to me that they are actually the Gullible ones foolish enough to think what little adverse effect this will have on their land & environment not to mention what's going to happen to the wildlife. Obviously they don't seem to care to take much notice there so I say if this is how they feel they will suffer serious consiquences for their ignorance. Too bad it's the wildlife that will pay the biggest price. Luckily for them they are not wildlife otherwise I am sure they would have a quite difference in opinion. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: S. Carter EMAIL: stace@loopfrog.com IP: 128.143.184.111 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:45:38 PM I think it's far more gullible to believe the energy concerns will have the public's best interest at heart. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Christine EMAIL: christieh66@sbcglobal.net IP: 66.242.47.27 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:45:59 PM I cannot believe this is still an issue. You would think that supposedly intelligent people like the ones we elect would actually listen to the overwhelming evidence that is staring us in the face. Astonauts in outer space, scientists with tons of proof, animals dyingoff and changing behaviors. How many more years will we waste and destroy what God has given to us?? The so-called Christians need to put their MONEY where their big mouths are and protect our earth. God created the earth like he created people and animals, and we all should do our best to protect all life wherever we can. This latest budget tactic is so sickening and unethical, I can't imagine anyone supporting it. The senators need to call this one down on the carpet and refuse to let it pass based on the ANWAR issue. I also don't understand why Alaska's governor and senators are supporting this thing. The only answer is money. They are so greedy for it they will sell their very souls for it. These people are not ethical, and the American people need to wake up to this fact and smell the corruption. If this passes legislation, The Bush administration will go down in history as the most failed, most destructive, most arrogant, most unethical presidency the U.S. has ever had, and we should all be ashamed for having been hoodwinked. If the administration thinks this won't happen, just go to your local bookstore. It is already happening. Wake up America and vote against drilling in ANWAR! Thank you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jean sheats EMAIL: catslady5@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:48:30 PM I couldn't have said it any better than Tasha Smith's remarks. It's greed, pure and simple. Money and power is all they care about and they don't care who or what it hurts or destroys to obtain it and they don't care about all their lies and deceptions that they use to get it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Eric Huskinson EMAIL: erirocket@yahoo.com IP: 24.11.209.16 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:49:01 PM Is not it odd how anyone who stands up for anything that is green and good in this world is immediately belittled. I feel pity for whoever wrote this article, because it sounds as if they've sold their morals and clear thinking to place an inanimate penny in their pocket, and unfortunately have probably never allowed himself or herself the chance to experience nature's staggering beauty and connectedness with all that has true life. The more we share with each other the wondrous complexity of our environment the sooner we will be able to change the mentality from the idea that nature is only something to be burned and used into a great feeling of respect and love for that of which it is our responsibility to be stewards of. May all who know, share with others. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dorothy Paugh EMAIL: aldopaugh@hotmail.com IP: 167.102.229.223 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:50:54 PM The pipelines will clearly disrupt the migratory paths of many species and disrupt the ecosystem. Why tamper with our legacy to feed huge SUV's that aren't even necessary? It's true I've yet to see Alaska's unspoiled beauty, but I have seen what profit motives and lack of respect for ecosystems has done to our Chesapeake Bay. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Alison Fleming EMAIL: laughcat@earthlink.net IP: 4.246.217.203 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:51:51 PM Sounds like the media in Alaska is the one who has swallowed the kra... hook line & sinker. Don't call those of us who have seen the ugliness caused by the oil companies gullible. Check out Bakersfield Calif & many areas in Tx - UGH! The Oil Co.s don't care about what they damage or kill, it is all about the almighty $$. Sounds like these editors are in the same league!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Andrea Crownhart EMAIL: andreakay03@yahoo.com IP: 199.150.231.251 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:52:24 PM It makes me very sad that so many people are unaware of how threatened our world is today. They think that destroying some far off land, just to get a sip of oil, is a price worth paying. I sincerely hope that people open their eyes soon, before it's too late. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Enid EMAIL: eegriffin@yahoo.com IP: 216.99.210.33 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:52:35 PM Yes, gullible to think the government is representing the people. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tony Hathaway EMAIL: TonyHath@cox.net IP: 68.100.95.123 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:53:39 PM Was it DeLay or Cheney, I think the former, who said we don't care about the oil at ANWR because if we can start drilling there other areas in the west will be easier to gain access to? That's the slippery slope argument that could happen if we are not vigilant. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jon Karr EMAIL: jkarr@duke.edu IP: 152.3.13.59 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:53:42 PM If you've read Orwell's 1984, you'll remember how Emannuel Goldstein's manifesto describes the underlying facts of the world economy in that story: perpetual war, mainly for the purpose of maintaining a stratified society with a ruling elite, and to consume the products of human labor without allowing an elevation of the masses that would lead to a displacement of the elite. That's not far from reality today. We plunder the world's oil to fuel a military machine that's used to grab more oil, while squandering gas at 12mpg in huge SUVs. Only the richest truly benefit. Renewable energy technologies and developments that could free us of oil are suppressed. The flow of oil and money through giant corporations shapes governments to serve these purposes. The battle over ANWR is just the latest and most offensive aspect of this larger picture (after the Iraq war).ANWR is the last window we have on the kind of untouched arctic landscape that shaped human evolution through the Pleistocene ice ages. As such, it is priceless. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lora Cecola EMAIL: thewook@msn.com IP: 24.11.121.165 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:54:12 PM Perhaps we could exercise eminent domain to include drilling on the Anchorage Times building site as well. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Demelza EMAIL: denayone@yahoo.com IP: 207.118.83.167 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:54:54 PM It is precisely because 'critical thinking' has become almost an anachronism, that its function today is a SURVIVAL SKILL! Unbiased information and Authentic data has been and is available concerning the Arctic ecology and environmental impacts both as empiric facts and future projections. I would really like to know how many of those who have financial and political vested interests in 'drilling' have actually done the research (?) and what portion of these few would be capable of or likely to arrive at simply Logical or unbiased conclusions? I HAVE done the study and the research. Permit me to insert a quote: “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true” Soren Kierrkegaard Dr. Demelza Costa, Oregon ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Emily Snyder EMAIL: elycat24@msn.com IP: 4.129.76.221 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:55:48 PM Where will it end? If we give in to drilling in Alaska where will we need to drill next? What area will be the next to "need" to be messed with? I support NWF because I believe in what they're trying to do & accomplishing, not because I've been "hog-tied" and feed bologna. I will continue to support NWF for this same reason. Keep it up! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Angel Cardoza, Jr. EMAIL: cardoza_angel@yahoo.com IP: 71.130.174.12 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:55:52 PM I love wilderness and the idea of pristine places. I grew up and was educated in urban Southern California. Having explored wilderness areas in the mountains and deserts of the southwestern US I know how valuable they are to me. While I may never visit the Arctic Refuge, knowing that it exists and protects a very rare and special place gives me peace of mind and warms my heart. To the supporters of oil development: I am not gullible. It is the people who blindly follow the rhetoric of oil industry supporters who are the gullible ones. Instead of wasting billions of dollars in Iraq (the war was initiated because of oil not terrorists)and subsidies to the oil, coal and nuclear industries, the US should be focused on true energy independence through investment in clean renewable energy and energy efficience in automobiles and appliances. Of course, a scenario of energy independence would not be very profitable for the oil industry. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Raymond Killoran EMAIL: rmkilloran@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:55:59 PM Those who want to use the Arctic for their own profit are the same folks who say there is no global warming going on. Which of cause is seeking personal wealth rather than protecting God's green earth. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: gary EMAIL: garyrbeck@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Puerto_Vallarta_OldTown_SouthSide DATE: 08/18/2005 03:56:39 PM Gullible? Tell that to your and my children and grandkids. Will they be called gullible or left holding the open door? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Steffi EMAIL: stef51@tampabay.rr.com IP: 67.9.8.51 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:59:43 PM I am not "gullible". If I believed what you are telling me, then I will be! It is time to start using alternative methods for energy. There will be no places left for any species including us if you keep taking away habitat for your profits. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Craig Rich EMAIL: craig.rich@stanfordalumni.org IP: 138.239.107.72 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 03:59:45 PM Does it even matter how much oil is in Alaska? Living in LA I know, the skies in our cities are polluted enough. We don't need more oil, we need be using LESS oil. There are alternative fuels well within our technological ability to deploy. Why don't we? The answer seems clear, because the oil companies would lose profits. I think we need leadership to mitigate this impasse. I would like to see a President stand up for a cleaner future, and either tell the oil companies to adapt or die, or try something radical like guaranteeing profits as long as these energy companies transition from oil to cleaner alternatives. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Chris R. EMAIL: roschek@yahoo.com IP: 206.132.195.130 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:00:29 PM The editorial in the Anchorage Times shocks and saddens me. How much longer can we continue to bury our heads in the sand and pretend that the decision to drill for oil in the Arctic Refuge is good and will benefit our society? Over the long-term, it will not reduce the price of gasoline at the pump and it will not reduce our dependency on foreign oil. We should be focusing our energies on developing alternatives to fossil fuels: solar energy, wind energy, fuel cells, etc. Since when is it gullible to value our place in the environment and to strive to live in harmony with wildlife and precious ecosystems? Let's not forget that we're animals ourselves. Without activists and organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation to keep the current administration in check, we will continue down a very dangerous, and very irreversible, path. I want my 15-month old son to grow up with the opportunity to experience the pristine landscape of the Arctic Refuge -- not a landscape scarred with oil rigs and endless miles of pipelines. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathleen EMAIL: Fgfr3@aol.com IP: 162.129.68.115 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:00:45 PM This makes me sick just thinking about it. What if the oil company started drilling right in this guy's front yard? We've all had our eyes open wide and have already viewed the destruction drilling and mining does to the environment.Will we have to start taking more pictures, so we can show our future generations how clean, beautiful and majestic it once WAS? Don't let it come to this!!!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Shannon EMAIL: shan@net1plus.com IP: 66.152.240.162 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:02:48 PM I can only hope and pray that one day these people who call us "gullible" will wake up and see what is happening. Our current government has so many American people buffaloed to believe that drilling would not be harmful to the environment (just like the war in Iraq is going well as planned....) Wake up everyone before we drill and destroy such a wonderful place!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: CD McDaniel EMAIL: cdmcd@plateautel.net IP: 63.99.129.86 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:05:33 PM I do not agree with your radical policies regarding the environment. Witness the "jungle" of junk trees all over the west because of spotted owls and overzealous firefighting. There is no grass or diversity of plant life left, it is a dead forest. Since there is no grass the ranchers are leaving and guess what, so is the developed water, so no game either. The wolves have to come out of the wilderness or starve. The mt. lions and coyotes have devastated the deer herds and now the greenies are introducing wolves so they can get rid of our elk herds. Take me off your list. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: JJ EMAIL: solacdncs@comcast.net IP: 67.162.175.130 URL: http://home.comcast.net/~jjrinas/index.html DATE: 08/18/2005 04:07:12 PM Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me. I understand that there are many in Alaska that are eager for a job as the amount of unemployment is high as is the cost of living, with fishing being limited and global warming threatening the many wild species of animals and fish, those folks that hunt and fish for food are also being affected. By ruining, polluting, damaging and taking over even more wild habitat, this will worsen the condition of all concerned. The eco-system is a delicately balanced and interconnected web of life, all interdependent on one another, to ruthlessly disrupt and destroy it for greed and oil is unconscionable. There need to be other industries and opportunities for Alaskas inhabitants to gain their support in the preservation of this pristine wilderness. When oil is the only choice for them to improve their living situation they will choose it over starvation and poverty at the expense of a priceless wilderness that will never be replaced. So we must also think of human habitat and conditions and find ways to encourage the people to sustain the beauty and wildness of this Artic Refuge, by making certain that those that need to make a living can support themselves and their families, so they can find the strength and ability to keep big oil out of Alaska's last wilderness. I have no need to defend my ego, there is always more to learn, so if I am thought to be naive, it may thus be so. I strive to learn more and open my heart and mind to include all beings, especially those that cannot speak to humans themselves. Please help to support the preservation of this Arctic Refuge, for all life, human and non-human. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kristi Mertz EMAIL: slugbug64@hotmail.com IP: 69.26.26.135 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:09:33 PM I am not gullible by any means. I just have a strong sense of responsiblity to animals and the world that they live in, not us. I can't see drilling for oil in a place that will supply us with so little oil. There will be no good that comes of it. Drilling in the Artic will only ruin that habitat of many animals. Animals that I want to have around for my kids to see and there kids to see, and so on. Just take a minute and think at the reprocution before proceeding any further with that drilling. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pamela Beaupre EMAIL: pamkokote@yahoo.com IP: 68.20.99.2 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:12:09 PM I am very proud to be "gullible". I have the intelligence to never believe the press without doing all my "homework". Are the people who read your article willing to do the same? Is the public really ready to believe the press and the oil-soaked money that supports them? For the sake of the Refuge and all the areas we try so hard to protect, I hope not. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Adrienne Daniel EMAIL: cedabd@isgroup.net IP: 64.24.218.61 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:13:00 PM I wonder if that annual check the Alaskans get will have been worth it when they realize they are helping destroy the way of life they are a part of.Talk about gullible. Bush is trying to snooker us the same way the "snake oil men" used to do. Bush is our very own "snake oil man". Shame on us if we allow this. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: M Martucci EMAIL: calamagrostis9@yahoo.com IP: 149.123.136.152 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:13:57 PM You need look no further than GW Bush's personal enrichment and that of his friends, Exxon Mobile, etc. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Charles Walker EMAIL: charlwalkr@juno.com IP: 65.141.215.70 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:14:22 PM I'm confident that there are non-gullible readers of the Anchorage Daily News who will easily recognize this as more an ad hominem attack than an opinion piece. As such, it completely lacks credibility. The author uses Larry Schweiger's name quite freely but does not reveal his/her own. The tone of the piece suggests to me that the author is not really interested in presenting facts and then offering an opinion based on them. Like other readers, I wonder about the source of the author's motivation for such a vitriolic "opinion." ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lee Beck EMAIL: georgelee5308@sbcglobal.net IP: 68.20.4.171 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:14:32 PM I am in full support of NWF and all the good work you are doing to prevent/stop things like this wild idea of drilling in a place so necessary to our wildlife ! Once it is gone it can't be replaced...We just must learn to do a better job of evergy use and need..... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Berry EMAIL: mbberry@charter.net IP: 66.188.75.86 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:16:18 PM You think I'm gullible? I used to live in Alaska and I know first hand the natural beauty and animal life that are at stake here. Our current administration's "energy policy" and efforts to drill in ANWAR is nothing more than a give-away to Big Oil and based on the bottom line: greed. For those who can't see these actions for what they are....I'd say gullible is the term that applies. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Greg Boudreaux EMAIL: glb466@prodigy.net IP: 208.35.227.2 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:19:10 PM I think that this is ludicrous. One of the largest oil prospects is sitting under Memorial Park in Houston, an area that is already home to vast amounts of refineries and pollution. Why would anyone want to destroy one of the few remaining places that are still relatively untouched by our destructive hands? As far as being gullible, yes I think we are, but not because of the reason they say but because the general public believes our elected officials when they say they are looking out for our best interests. This is not the case; I do not see how neither this, nor a lot of the other environmental policies our government has passed are in anyone’s best interest except themselves, big business, and lobbyists. Campaign promises don't mean squat and this is proven time and time again once they get elected. I really can not fathom how much more "sound" our science needs to be before Bush will get it through his thick skull that global warming is a real threat to our world and the deliberate destruction of a pristene region like the Artic refuge will only make matters worse. Washington needs to start listening more the people instead of interest groups and only people inside their little bubble. Wake up and face reality. What would your great-grandchildren want? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sasha Kay EMAIL: sxk03@uark.edu IP: 130.184.123.236 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:19:18 PM The author of the article has presented outright lies as reasons to drill in the Refuge. Big Oil will do anything to set a precedent for drilling in sensitive areas...and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is that precedent. Don't think it will stop there. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David Stetler EMAIL: superdave@nocharge.zzn.com IP: 63.127.93.184 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:19:59 PM If this editorialist is so concerned with domestic oil supplies, then why is so much of the oil coming out of Prudhoe Bay being sold overseas? Can you say profit? Who's the gullible one? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laura Agin EMAIL: birdyzeus@att.net IP: 67.100.133.212 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:21:24 PM My God...leave the arctic & the wildlife alone, must greed keep ruining nature?! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Curt Johnson EMAIL: curtjohnson1@comcast.net IP: 24.3.186.186 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:21:25 PM Money talks, as always, but there are times when greed has to be pushed aside and quelled for what is simply right, because once things happen there's no going back. This administration has a mission to make oil companies even richer than they are. Where over the last decade has the push been for fuel efficient vehicles? The only good thing in this is that maybe the price of oil will bring car makers and other private companies to develop something using less oil that the public will go for. Meanwhile, the refuge must be left alone. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Donna Lenhart EMAIL: dlenhart@optonline.net IP: 24.105.149.181 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:24:19 PM Sounds to me like the Anchorage Times people are the ones "walking in lockstep" - with the oil companies. Their text reads like an Exxon narrative. Sorry, Anchorage Times, but those of us with a brain know just what Bush and his oil buddies are trying to do to the American public, to the Alaskan wildlife and the pristine Alaskan landscape. If you believe for a second that Bush and company care about Alaska, you couldn't be more wrong. We, "the gullible", know the truth, and we will not stand for their lies. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Deborah Wang EMAIL: rnwang@cox.net IP: 68.96.51.155 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:25:59 PM Why does everything in America have to be a game? What happened to honesty and truth. It's the Artic Refuge. Doesn't "refuge" mean "a safe place"? The truth is, there aren't many(any?) safe, untouched places left. Why can't we find other solutions for our power needs? America...land that I love, has nearly everyone forgot what that means? If you love something, you should protect it. Yeah, oil is big money, but all the money in the world can't replace what human parasites take away. Please leave the Artic Refuge for our children and grandchildren! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robin Bartlett EMAIL: rsbartlett@yahoo.com IP: 24.53.11.4 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:26:14 PM Earth is your home too. Who are you deceiving with this information? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ELAINE PARNELL EMAIL: elbopar@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:27:37 PM China and India need lots of oil to fuel their twenty-first century growth. The Arctic is a convenient selling port. We are "gullible" if we think Arctic oil will reduce the price at the pump in America. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dan G. Oswalt EMAIL: danosportiblesnstuff@yahoo.com IP: 67.183.136.168 URL: http://www.sportiblesnstuff.com DATE: 08/18/2005 04:27:42 PM when will the politicians see the light,and switch their efforts to alternative sources of energy,oil has had its day,spend its profits on alternative energy sources instead of raping this last best place in alaska for a drop of oil.leave the rocky mountain front in montana alone too, ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jennifer Walford EMAIL: Jemisb@aol.com IP: 69.119.201.64 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:28:18 PM I just want to protect God's Earth? When did that become a sin? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Craig Brown EMAIL: nwf@monkeybridge.com IP: 216.250.179.178 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:28:33 PM Is oil so important to the powers that be in this country that they will risk decimating this pristine wilderness area for a small drop-in-the-bucket of crude oil, one which will make very little difference in our nation's oil dependency? Do we need to kill off all other plant and animal species before we realize the damage that we, as human beings, are doing to our planet just to satisfy our addiction to oil? I should hope not. The only "gullible" individuals are the ones that believe that the oil that is extracted in ANWR will make any difference at all in satisfying our country's gluttony for crude. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kim Donaldson EMAIL: ragrd@hotmail.com IP: 140.90.131.87 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:28:39 PM As a so-called Christian, I hope Bush is fearing the day when he will have to account for his actions to God. I don't think God will be so forgiving of the destruction of one of His most beautiful creations at Bush's hands. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Janis Whitcomb EMAIL: janisw2@mindspring.com IP: 4.242.117.29 URL: http://www.trotting-horse.com DATE: 08/18/2005 04:28:49 PM I am not gullible. I have seen too much of the taking of private property by big companies and governments to be as silly as people try and make me seem. Taking *protected* land is often worse. I know what Alaskans stand to gain: Oil money. What do I have to gain? Certainly nothing monetary. I am only trying to save something for my grandchildren to appreciate and have to fight for. And *if* push comes to shove, this oil should not to go the already disgustingly wealthy oil companies for profit, but for US reserves. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Janet E. Fotos EMAIL: janfotos@charter.net IP: 66.189.89.171 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:28:52 PM This administration has shown time and time again that the interests of regular Americans (like me and mine) will always be at the bottom of any list. After passing an "energy" bill that would be laughable if it weren't so damaging, our "leaders" expect us to believe that the oil industry can explore for and obtain oil without widespread damage to the unsurpassed beauty of the local flora and fauna. I am dismayed and disheartened to think that, yet again, Congress has the industry's best interests in mind (and therefore their own re-election "war chests"), instead of mine and my child's. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Scott Hed EMAIL: scotthed@hotmail.com IP: 24.220.221.73 URL: http://www.alaskacoalition.org DATE: 08/18/2005 04:30:19 PM If I'm gullible, then it's in spite of first-hand experience. So I must REALLY be gullible! The three weeks I spent in the Arctic Refuge a few years ago followed by a few days at Prudhoe Bay showed me all the work that people have been putting in to protect the Arctic Refuge since 1960 (and even before) has been worth the blood, sweat, and tears. It's unlike any other wild place I've been, and we'll not let them take it on our watch. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kelly Furlong EMAIL: revkellymeister@yahoo.com IP: 63.85.170.74 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:31:47 PM I'll take being called "gullible" and "green" over "greedy" any time. Six months (of oil) is six months, Anchorage Times. Extinct is forever. P.S. We "gullibles" SUBSCRIBE to NWF alerts. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jan McDaniel EMAIL: jjean21@hotmail.com IP: 198.50.11.220 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:33:47 PM Gullible? I don't think so! There's one thing I've always been certain of and that is the fact that homo sapien (man) is the only species on this planet that does nothing to contribute to the betterment of its habitat, it's only good at destroying it and this is just another perfect example. Instead of spending billions of dollars to tear the earth apart for a minimumn and short-lived gain why not spend it to find alternative solutions to the problem. My question to you? Once you have depleted the natural resources of this planet and wiped out the wildlife that is supposedly protected, what do you do next..please understand that the damage you do today is NOT temporary and can never be undone, the wildlife and landscape can never be replaced, it is lost forever. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Myra Miller EMAIL: myrajmiller@yahoo.com IP: 66.193.220.126 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:34:49 PM To believe the untruths of the Bush Administration is gullible. To believe drilling in ANWR will do no harm is gullible. To believe that ANWR oil is needed to help our nation is purely gullible. I choose to research all avenues available to me and make wise decisions on whom to support regarding the health of our planet, the destruction of our environment for gluttony, the political arena as it regards economical and environmental matters, and the atrocities humans do to each other and nature on behalf of conglomerates, greed, and power. As Voltaire said, "It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong." Keep fighting, people, and perhaps we can make a difference. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ellllizabeth B. Brookes EMAIL: ebrookes@pacific.net IP: 66.81.65.150 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:35:01 PM "Gullible"? That is what we would be if we believed your line. We are quite the opposite, knowing full well that your verbage is a direct result of greedines, sponsored by big oil. Would Alaskans actually sell their nonpariel natural beauty and wildlife in the Arctic region for dollars, when the oil acquired would literally amount to only a "drop in the bucket" compared to this nation's actual consumption. Who is gullible? Put this money into technology and development of clean energy sources already available and we will ALL benefit. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Thomas A Settle EMAIL: tas5e8@mizzou.edu IP: 128.206.74.96 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:35:29 PM The gullible ones are those who believe it is necessary, and in our best interest, to destroy more wilderness for a proverbial few drops of oil in the bucket. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Elaine K. EMAIL: Samiecats2@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:36:05 PM I can't believe that this administration is undoing EVERY environmental safe guard that has been imposed for the last 100 years just for returning favors to the Mobile/Exxon oil Companies. It would take 10 years to get the oil started in the Artic and would only serve us for 6 months but would destroy the Polar Bears nesting sites and many other animal sites and would do nothing to lower the gas prices we pay. That tells you something about how our President thinks. I can't believe that President Bush can go out of office leaving such a destuctive legacy but I guess money talks. I wish he were leaving tomorrow before our entire planet is polluted and destroyed by his actions, one of which is Global warming, which he refused to endorse. NWF is a wonderful organization and to criticize it for trying to help the wildlife we live with shows how gullible THOSE people are who do the criticizing. Please help save the Artic Refuge and stop this terrible Aritic drilling. To sneak this in, within the budget items shows me how our president thinks, as well. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Iodice EMAIL: kmijai1@wowway.com IP: 64.53.204.23 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:37:50 PM I find it hard to believe that any person in our country could say that our fight is a plot to undermine the Arctic Wilderness. Our armed forces of the Coast Guard are on constant vigil to maintain a safe boundry in this area. Their lives are put on the line so that the waters of the area are kept save from foreign powers and subversive Americans. If these brave people can risk their lives for this area, the signing of petitions and writting of letters is the least we can do to support the fight to keep the area safe from INTERNAL as well as external forces. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: George EMAIL: george7096@comcast.net IP: 69.143.149.244 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:40:46 PM When I was working for the Interior Department 25 years ago, I was taken to see the North Slope and the Prudhoe Bay oilfield. That experience convinced me: what happened at Prudhoe Bay should never be allowed in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michael J rohall EMAIL: fender@ptd.net IP: 24.238.44.108 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:41:04 PM I live in the anthracite coal mining region of Pennsylvania so I know what greed and selfishness will do to an area. So, to all you greedys bastards that don'e like me. Go f--- yourself. We WILL win ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David Enevoldsen EMAIL: david.enevoldsen@kla-tencor.com IP: 10.84.41.24 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:41:25 PM How many more environmental blunders are we willing to allow before putting a stop to this lunacy. Instead of supporting the NWF and its members for trying to preserve the 5% of untouched refuge which remains, the Anchorage Times has decided to support more global warming and environmental destruction. You'd think someone who lives this close to the shrinking glacial fields would care more about the crisis at hand, but instead chooses to turn a blind eye and curry favor with big oil and gas and their ilk. If there is a "boob of the year" prize I'd say we have our winner. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Janet Anderson EMAIL: jandy72@yahoo.com IP: 68.45.171.43 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:44:53 PM The human predator has already wiped out more than we can ever comprehend. Will it not stop before nothing is left? It seems to me this reporter is the "gullible" one. Wonder how much lining are in his pockets? Bet he drives an SUV..... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Darvin Oliver EMAIL: carter_o@yahoo.com IP: 69.30.133.109 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:46:22 PM Drilling in the Refuge will not decrease our nations deopendancy on oil. Taking the money that would be used to do it and developing alternate sourses of energy would help. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Frances EMAIL: fjessop514@yahoo.com IP: 10.10.40.235 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:51:00 PM It's an outrageous assumption on the part of our media to "decide" without any back up of information that those who support a cause are gullible. Have they done pesonal evaluations on every person on the petition? Missed me. I would think more that this paper is backed by politicians who definitely want their way with the refuge - but I won't print it in a newspaper until it's proven though. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ryan M. EMAIL: nationalexecutive@yahoo.com IP: 68.173.195.182 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:51:08 PM The only people who are gullible are the ones who play into fears generated by the Bush administration as opposed to using their minds which God gave them to use to THINK. To use your mind to think, which is not encouraged by the Bush administration, is good. Thinking will allow you to see the big picture of what is going on which is drilling in the Arctic Refuge has nothing to do with "decreasing our dependence on foreign oil" and other buzz phrases the Bush administration uses to manipulate Americans and generate fear in them. Drilling has everything to do with companies like ExxonMobil simply wanting to make a buck, thinking nothing of preserving America. To be a real patriot is to protect the Arctic Refuge. Remember, the Bush administration and their supporters want only to make money through destroying America, like by destroying the Arctic Refuge. They want your vote, but how much of the money made will be paid to you? NONE! They want your support to make money for themselves! And what do you get in return? The destruction of a beautiful piece of America so you and your children and grandchildren cannot enjoy it. To support the drilling of the Arctic refuge can only be described by one word: GULLIBLE. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lynn Dipple EMAIL: lynndipple@comcast.net IP: 24.15.55.172 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:51:15 PM Having read all the previous comments it seems all of us 'gullible' people understand the cold hard facts, that drilling in ANWR would have disastrous consequences for that region. Perhaps that's what is upsetting the Anchorage Times. Bush is only concerned with oil. He's from Texas what do people expect, and he intends to make money on it whenever it may be, the Artic or Iraq!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Correne EMAIL: correne.george@biogenidec.com IP: 198.180.131.17 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:51:22 PM What a digusting, duplicitous article! It really seems to be from 1905 instead of 2005. I hope that it is a small minority indeed that actually supports this author and his propaganda. Nobody would stand to gain in the long run from destruction of this place, which I hope to visit and hope that my children and grandchildren will be able to visit. Stop the ignorance and greed! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lori Peniche EMAIL: l-peniche@ti.com IP: 192.94.94.106 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:52:22 PM How surprising that after 4 years at Stanford and 3 years at law school I could still be as "gullible" as the editors at the Anchorage Times seem to think. Perhaps it is their critical thinking (or political motivation) that should be questioned. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michelle Jones EMAIL: smjones28@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:55:49 PM I am apalled that there are still people who refuse to acknowlege that drilling in the Alaskan Wildlife refuge would only be a temporary fix to an ongoing problem-our oil availabilty is consistently on the decline. We should combine resources and ideas into researching renewable energies and realize that dependancy on oil is our greatest mistake. We should not have to watch our land and wildlife suffer because of oil industries (and oil dependant industries)insane denials of the inevitable. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: George Perez EMAIL: misticat@earthlink.net IP: 4.243.6.20 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:55:53 PM Today the Weather Channel displayed the number 110 in association with Southern Florida. That's ONE HUNDRED AND TEN DEGREES!!! Does anyone really believe this is funny? Or something to be shrugged off? And it will only get much HOTTER! Unless we ALL stop messing around with OIL and releasing GREEN HOUSE gasses into our atmosphere. I pitty anyone who thinks this is some "joke" to be dismissed by calling us Gullible for wanting to stop the drilling and the madness. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Frank Curley EMAIL: FRANKIECURLEY@HOTMAIL.COM IP: 24.164.190.255 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:56:45 PM I was stationed in Alaska for two years, it truly is the last frontier. Why do they need to rape and plunder this wilderness? How can they expect us to believe that what they want to do will not adversely affect the wild life of this region? Greed is the motivating force behind these people - if they did get their grubby hands on the oil it would probably not be used in the USA. I say hands off - invest the money to find alternative methods of energy. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michelle Jones EMAIL: smjones28@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:57:30 PM I am apalled that there are still people who refuse to acknowlege that drilling in the Alaskan Wildlife refuge would only be a temporary fix to an ongoing problem-our oil availabilty is consistently on the decline. We should combine resources and ideas into researching renewable energies and realize that dependancy on oil is our greatest mistake. We should not have to watch our land and wildlife suffer because of oil industries (and oil dependant industries)insane denials of the inevitable. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeff Wiles EMAIL: jeffrey.wiles@minneapolis.af.mil IP: 129.54.8.45 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:01:04 PM The Bush administration,their lackeys in Congress,and their brainwashed media supporters would like nothing better than to portray ANWR proponents as gullible saps. Be we KNOW DIFFERENT, don't we?! The fact of the matter is that this administration is clearly 'in bed' with the big oil companies; to the detriment of environmental protection, and in defiance of the vast majority of public opinion. Need I say more? I can hardly wait until 2006 -changes are on the way! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dr. Brian Hemmelman EMAIL: Brian.Hemmelman@sdsmt.edu IP: 151.159.10.38 URL: http://www.hpcnet.org/sdsmt/directory/personnel/bhemmelm DATE: 08/18/2005 05:01:45 PM The Anchorage Times staff, and the current administration in Washington, are clearly the ones with delusional minds. Despite all of our current technology and supercomputing modelling abilities, we have only the most rudimentary understanding of the biocomplexity of the earth and the interactions of its ecological, biological, chemical, geological, etc. systems. To think for one moment that there aren't significant impacts and ramifications associated with any human activity anywhere on the planet, let alone just the Artic Refuge, is the sign of true ignorance. The evidence and facts continue to mount that human "civilization" is responsible for the deterioration and destruction of the planet and its delicate balance of life. Only those blinded by profit and greed can delude themselves into believing everything is OK in the world and that the human species can continue to survive if it continues with the status quo. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marsha Roder EMAIL: fanny_1948@msn.com IP: 71.98.44.130 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:03:53 PM Dear whomever You are sooo missimformed as to my "gullibility" .. I follow the Native American Beliefs .. and have seen so much taken from the allocated lands and the promised taking care of our National Forests that it sickens me that so many have just disregarded all our forefather's have done in preserving our future ~!!~ Please reconsider all your doing to destroy what has been allocated to our Natural Wild life and refuges. Sincerely MAR ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jean Morningstar EMAIL: jamstarr@earthlink.net IP: 68.164.235.49 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:05:19 PM I am not gullible and neither are the millions of others who oppose drilling in the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge. Whoever wrote this article in the Anchorage Times is the gullible one if he or she really believes the misinformation written therein. Maybe some serious research on their part into who will really benefit from the drilling would be more in order. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marcia K EMAIL: madskii@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:06:13 PM Who is gullible? It is not those who support preserving naturally wild areas for future generations to enjoy. Gullible are those who sit back and do nothing to search and enhance alternative forms of energy. We have the technology, but until we make a serious, dedicated effort, we will be held hostage by oil companies. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Janet LaRocca EMAIL: fernarock@juno.com IP: 209.158.70.137 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:07:40 PM I am sick of the oil companies and the people who run them. Just like any other big business in this country, the only people that matter are those at the top. They just keep getting richer and think we're too stupid to realize what's really going on. Keep up the good work NWF. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barbara Lee Westlake EMAIL: yogalady8@sbcglobal.net IP: 67.121.238.181 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:07:43 PM Oil companies (read, the US government) want to get into the Arctic (and the Antarctica) because these are power spots. The reason given is oil but it is just a sham and a coverup. They are well aware that the oil returns will be minimal. Who was Byrd fighting (and to whom did he lose the fight?) in Antarctica in the 1940's? Why was the public not informed of the battle, yet so many American lives and ships were lost? The Arctic is the same way and has the same significance to the US government. We as environmentalists can talk about keeping wildlife from going extinct, and about the insignificant energy returns from drilling for oil in the Arctic until we are blue in the face, but we are only addressing the stated reason for a US presence in the Arctic, not the real reason. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barbara Magnuson EMAIL: blmagnuson@amigo.net IP: 209.94.95.1 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:09:48 PM Maybe the "gullible" ones are the proponents for drilling in ANWR in that they have totally bought the party-line published manual of the lies and spin of the Bush Administration and GOP propaganda. These people have sold their souls to the highest bidder. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jean Mortensen EMAIL: cjtapp.jamort@juno.com IP: 204.56.58.74 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:13:15 PM They're correct that I don't know much about Alaska. I haven't yet had the opportunity to visit what I hear is a lovely state. But I doubt that the major oil companies would be leaving it as a beautiful state if we open up protected wild areas for drilling. It's not just the drilling rigs -- it's the miles of roads and pipelines. I read one other newspaper article stating that the oil produced from the ANWR would supply America's needs for only one year. What about the year after that? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeri Iversen EMAIL: jaceiversen@earthlink.net IP: 4.242.159.184 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:13:16 PM That such hogwash should appear in an editorial in an American newspaper should no longer be a surprise to those who are paying attention. It is not only the ANWR that is under immediate threat, though we must not allow that to dilute our defense of ANWR. Nearly every 'wild' place left in the US is threatened by the energy sector industries, so encouraged by the 'policies' of the Bush administration, that facts are no longer any deterrent to them. We must keep in view the big picture, and make our battles accordingly. I quote from Arundhati Roy, a master of big-picture thinking. "Modern democracies have been around for long enough for neo-liberal capitalists to learn how to subvert them. They have mastered the technique of infiltrating the instruments of democracy -- the "independent" judiciary, the "free" press, the parliament -- and molding them to their purpose. The project of corporate globalization has cracked the code. Free elections, a free press, and an independent judiciary mean little when the free market has reduced them to commodities available on sale to the highest bidder." Examples of this subversion have been pretty clear in this country during the last two election cycles. She goes on "To control a democracy, it is becoming more and more vital to control the media. The principal media outlets in America are owned by six major companies. (2) The six largest cable companies have eighty percent of cable television subscribers. (3) Even Internet websites are being colonized by giant media corporations. (4)" Any so-called independent print media, struggling for survival, also is affected. They need to sell copy. What do we do? Arundhati addresses this question. "At a time when opportunism is everything, when hope seems lost, when everything boils down to a cynical business deal, we must find the courage to dream. To reclaim romance. The romance of believing in justice, in freedom, and in dignity. For everybody. We have to make common cause, and to do this we need to understand how this big old machine works -- who it works for and who it works against. Who pays, who profits." Yes, as someone earlier commented "Follow the money." And I would add to Aurndhati's "For everybody."... for every species. Arundhati, again "We have allowed nonviolent resistance to atrophy into feel-good political theater, which at its most successful is a photo opportunity for the media, and at its least successful is simply ignored." How to make our dream count? Buy a bicycle and use it. Buy a hybrid car if you must travel further. Don't wait. Make changes today. Use the power you have wisely. Buy green. Speak out. Stay informed. Start with the book from which I have quoted without her knowledge or permission: "An Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire" by Arundhati Roy. Send money to environmental organizations to help protect what you value. Start with this one. Get active. Don't ever give up. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sara Cleaves EMAIL: smc@cisunix.unh.edu IP: 24.53.8.49 URL: http://ecochick.blogspot.com/ DATE: 08/18/2005 05:13:42 PM It's clear that the these editors need to take a hard look at themselves before they call us gullible. Being "gullible" would be actually believing that destroying the biodiversity and unique beauty of the Refuge is worth the estimated 16 billion barrels of oil it holds - enough to meet just 1 or 2 percent of our daily consumption. It would be proposing more oil drilling instead of developing alternative energy sources when we are already feeling the effects of climate change. It would be thinking that any of these oil company profits would actually help the citizens of Alaska, including its Native peoples. And it would be acting as if we Americans care more about SUVs and material consumption than we do about our children's future and our responsibility to keep the planet healthy. Gullible? Hardly. Willing to fight to protect this amazing place? Most definitely. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ryan Lakanen EMAIL: umsinger@mail2musician.com IP: 65.113.77.140 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:13:42 PM I understand that this was an editorial piece, and people are entitled to their own opinions. However, what I don't approve of is name calling and claims with no basis on the facts (or twisting of those facts). If the writer is indeed a proponent of drilling in the Refuge, he is only twisting facts and fishing for the gullible readers who will side with him. And if he claims not to be twisting facts, then he is gullible himself, having believed the information fed to him by other proponents. This planet used to be so clean, so pure. But, in our search for longer, more "civilized" lives, we have tainted the very thing that gives us this life. We need to use this money allocated for Arctic drilling and put it towards a long-term solution to our energy and pollution problems, rather than throw it away on something short-term, that damages our environment (and ourselves) even more than it already is. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ellen scharff EMAIL: ebscharff@yahoo.com IP: 66.80.91.241 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:14:12 PM What's gullible is to think that drilling is going to end the energy crisis. Alternate fuel sources are needed, not scrapping the barrel for the last remaining drop of oil. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ryan Lakanen EMAIL: umsinger@mail2musician.com IP: 65.113.77.140 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:15:34 PM I understand that this was an editorial piece, and people are entitled to their own opinions. However, what I don't approve of is name calling and claims with no basis on the facts (or twisting of those facts). If the writer is indeed a proponent of drilling in the Refuge, he is only twisting facts and fishing for the gullible readers who will side with him. And if he claims not to be twisting facts, then he is gullible himself, having believed the information fed to him by other proponents. This planet used to be so clean, so pure. But, in our search for longer, more "civilized" lives, we have tainted the very thing that gives us this life. We need to use this money allocated for Arctic drilling and put it towards a long-term solution to our energy and pollution problems, rather than throw it away on something short-term, that damages our environment even more than it already is. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lynn EMAIL: lbeargarrison@hotmail.com IP: 12.202.202.106 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:16:45 PM Gullible huh? Those who live in glass igloos should not cast the first snowball. I'm certian those who are fighting to preserve the ANWR are much more informed than the pinhead who wrote the editorial. The arthur seems to believe that those of us who live in the lower 48 have no idea about Alaska. He must not think that with the internet, the History Channel, Animal Planet and the news, they cover the ANWR battle at all or do any shows on Alaska. I am fully aware on the battle and throw my full support to stop the drilling, the irreprable damage that will be caused is not worth what little oil that is under the ANWR. The money the Bush administration has thrown into this battle should have been spent on finding other energy sources and making cars more fuel efficient. Gullible? Hardly. Caring for a better future for both my kids and nature? Definatley ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Yael Abraham EMAIL: amir_abraham@yahoo.com IP: 70.112.169.128 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:16:53 PM I am a teacher and cannot be considered gullible when I know how to do the basic reading needed to read the LIES given by oil companies & cities/ states / govts. when it will benefit them. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pollyana Harmon EMAIL: pollysung@msn.com IP: 24.24.222.110 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:17:42 PM Gullible? I think not. It is well known knowledge (with scienticfic study) that oil drilling can cause tremendous damage to the environment and the wildlife who need it to survive. I am well informed, so, do not use this kind of sleezy tactic to attack this mission to save the world. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but, please keep it to yourself and spend your time in something more constructive. Once damage is done, it is not revisible. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Yael EMAIL: amir_abraham@yahoo.com IP: 70.112.169.128 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:20:18 PM I am not gullible as I can read the LIES given by oil companies & state/local/fed/ govts. across the world ehen what they spew is for their own benefit. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kaye EMAIL: Kaye476@hotmail.com IP: 12.202.202.106 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:21:39 PM My mom said that if they drill in Alaska there will be little unharmed natural places for us to visit in a year or 2. The oil people need to find other energy sources and leave the wildlife alone. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Valerie Wey EMAIL: valeriewey@yahoo.fr IP: 68.163.109.165 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:22:57 PM I can't believe it ! What do they really care about ? anything else but themselves ! They call themselves Christians but do they obey to this command "do unto others what you want them do unto you " NO !! or "Thy shall not kill" NO why? because it doesn't say thy shall not kill man.....and even that they do !! I am so tired of liars. And finally who is more gullible ! me because I want to fight for the reel futur of America (and I am not even American), it beauty, it nature ...a reel cause, or them by believing that destroying everything for a tiny little bit of oil is going to make them pay less money at the gaz station ??? I wonder !!!! I am may be not american but I am proud for what I do, for the chance I give to childrens to be able to laugh at the smell of a skunk or their joy when they see an animal with their babies. I wish to all thoses people willing to destroy what is really more miningful than their money to have the chance to wake up in the morning and feel the love that nature can bring, to hear nothing else but the birds singing their joy for the day to come. There is nothing more beautiful than Wilderness, and they should learn from it, and they will be very surprised by how much they can learn ! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lyn Henri EMAIL: lrosaj@hotmail.com IP: 67.185.83.7 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:24:29 PM I think it's insane that people should call me gullible, because I want to help preserve the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and it's insanity that politicians want to call those who don't want the oil drilling to happen there gullible; it's the greedy ones who are gullible, not me! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: RC Seidl EMAIL: rcs5644@hotmail.com IP: 69.179.51.228 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:24:42 PM Mahtma Ghandi also said: "Nature can sustain the needs of man, It cannot sustain the greeds of man" Enough said. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jack EMAIL: jsony@sony.com IP: 216.15.72.41 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:25:02 PM Actually, we are gullible, but not for the reasons the editor stated. We are gullible because they have convinced us that there is nothing we can do to stop them other than speaking out. What we really need to do is manipulate big business into what we want and the only way to do that is with our wallets. If don't buy what they offer, they will offer what we buy. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dave Daily EMAIL: dmdaily@hotmail.com IP: 65.29.14.132 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:25:17 PM First of all, I think it is only fair to acknowledge that this article was an opinion piece and does not necessarily back the views of the Anchorage Daily. That being said, the article is very disappointing because the author failed to support his or her arguments with any fact. Perhaps the author of this article recently read the "State of Fear" by Michael Chrichton and feels that environmental groups are calling every possible issue a "global catastrophe" simply to generate funding. Of course, Chrichton conducted years of research and used fact as a basis for his book...a concept the Anchorage author missed completely. Surely the author of this opinion piece knows about the energy bill that was recently passed, providing $14.5 billion in tax breaks and potentially billions more in loan guarantees and other subsidies to encourage oil/gas drilling and R&D. That means companies like Exxon, who made $7 billion dollars in profit last quarter alone, are receiving additional tax breaks to do their job and find additional places to drill. I say, keep looking. Yes, we may be surprised and find 10 billion barrels of gasoline in the Arctic Refuge. Yes, that may be worth a decent amount of money. The problem is that you can’t conduct a cost-benefit analysis when the drilling will destroy priceless land and wildlife. Instead, take all those tax breaks and tell Exxon to find another place to drill…a place where there is more oil and less risk for the habitat. Above and beyond finding more environmentally safe places to drill, we need to start preparing for the future. We need to start focusing our time and efforts on finding and developing alternative solutions to fossil fuels. In the future, I would encourage the writer of the Anchorage Daily News article to consider putting his or her "energy" towards a better cause. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marghi EMAIL: bksmvs@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:30:45 PM Closed minded thinking has unfortunately become commonplace in the United States right now. Those of us who are thoughtful and consider the future of our kids and our planet just have to hold fast to being open-minded and patient while continuing to pursue policies that are healthy and fair for everyone. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gloria Bryant EMAIL: gloryb2561@juno.com IP: 4.157.47.93 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:31:58 PM The naturalist John Muir said it well: "Any fool can destroy trees. They cannot run away; and if they could, they would still be destroyed, chased and hunted down as long as fun or a dollar could be got out of their bark hides, branching horns, or magnificent bole backbones. Few that fell trees plant them; nor would planting avail much towards getting back anything like the noble primeval forests." This applies to all of our remaining natural resources. Greed is the only driving force of the present administration and its oil company backers. Money is their only god and all of them will have to face the Great Steward at the end and answer the question: "What did you do as a steward of my world?" I was appalled that the so-called news media in Alaska consider their readers such fools as to believe the propaganda spread by Bush's buddies. Only 2000 acres joined by how many miles of pipeline, leaking and destroying what might be left of the area's ecology after the raping of the installation of that pipeline. Do you really believe that little bit of oil is essential to the world. I would rather walk and leave the Refuge totally untouched forever!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Stuart Namm EMAIL: RetJudgeS1@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.196 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:32:50 PM Q. Who's gullible? A. The great mass of American people who buy the dribble coming from a White House which has distorted the truth more often than any other administration in my seven decades on this earth. This is simply a means to pour more riches into the Bushies and their friends in the oil industry that have poured millions into their political campaigns. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lyn Henri EMAIL: lrosaj@hotmail.com IP: 67.185.83.7 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:34:34 PM What? Did GWB have sex with that editor of that Alaskan newspaper or something?!?!?!?!? If so, he sure had a huge influence on that whole newspaper there in Alaska, feeding that newspaper loads of lies about drilling in the refuge supposedly being safe for Alaska! What is this world coming to when greed takes precedence over saving wildlife?!?!?!?!?! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Regina marino EMAIL: reggie39@juno.com IP: 4.245.236.42 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:35:44 PM I feel that its time we find other means for fuel.The wild life needs their enviroment to be safe for them to live and be away from man kind. We are smart people and we can solve this problem with out hurting any thing. And the cost would be cheaper. Man kind is destroying this wonderful world that God gave us, to enjoy. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Val Anderson EMAIL: vlabeads8@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:36:41 PM GULLIBLE?? Golly gee whizikins, if believing the twisted and unscientific "facts"???? the present administration and oil companies are feeding to the public is gullible, than I most definitely AM NOT in that category. I do wonder though, just how much money changed hands "under the table" to get the Anchorage Times to print this twisted garbage. I am not gullible here either, because basically folks, it all boils down to MONEY, GREED, and POWER! I will continue to support NFW and other organizations fighting to save our last remaining untouched pristine area. I have done my homework, and I do not just believe these organizations are correct, I KNOW that they are. We only have ONE EARTH to live on, and what will we do when it is all gone???? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carrie Channell EMAIL: cbchannell@yahoo.com IP: 66.99.13.253 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:37:37 PM Well, after having read dozens of newspaper accounts, various examinations in the pages of _Scientific American_, _Discover_, _Smithsonian_ and _National Geographic_, which are all considered reliable reporting sources of science and/or American issues, I have to say that suggesting that there is only a sliver of land at stake is entirely inaccurate. The roads built to supply workers, materials, and to ship oil alone will devastate substantially more wilderness than the oil rigs themselves. Besides, the estimates of how much oil may be there vary widely; according to _National Geographic_, they probably fall midway between oil company and environmental activist estimates, which is still well below the expectation of the government. Extinction is forever. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Erica La Spada EMAIL: EaLaSpada@aol.com IP: 192.112.66.25 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:38:09 PM If we're gullible, than the Anchorage Times, the Bush Administration and the corporate fat cats that are pushing this bill must be smart, kind, selfless human beings that care nothing about money and can see well past their own noses. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: a.curry EMAIL: IP: 67.81.4.190 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/teach07601/ DATE: 08/18/2005 05:49:06 PM There are laws that enslave people and laws that set them free... So sorry Exxon that you and your pathetic energy solutions are suppose to be good enough for EVERYBODY. There are real people out here who are fed up with you and your earth destroying ways. Start wising up, you are running out of time as we run out of patience; otherwise you will be a thing from the past. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Claudia McPherson EMAIL: bigwigmc@sirus.com IP: 24.11.112.31 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:51:50 PM Gullible:Easily deceived or duped. Yup, that is what they are trying to do to the American people. That is the Bush Administration, the big oil companies and all the other cronies that go along with them and if it weren't for people like us putting out the word and letting everyone know exactly the price we would pay for this "oil", then who are the gullible ones? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Susan Bracey EMAIL: susanbracey@earthlink.net IP: 69.69.36.44 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:53:14 PM How absurd this article is! The so called facts presented in this article are laughable at best. Oil Companies need to accept the fact that there are alternative fuel sources available. Of course it will cost Oil companies more money to make the needed changes to utilize alternate sources. The oil companies would rather drill in pristine places such as the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. People around the globe need to stop listening to "big Business Oil Companies." Do the math. Read about the refuge and come to grips with the fact that it is no small area that is proposed for drilling. Two thousand acres doesn't sound like much but when you visualize 1500 football fields it makes it brings the issue home. Please, Please put pressure on State, local,Federal government officials to refuse to support any legislation designed to promote drilling in this beautiful area. Wake up America! Who benifits from drilling for oil in the Refuge. It is certainly not the wildlife. Can you imagine an oil spill in this beautiful area? This is one one the few areas that we have not disturbed. It is the oil companies and anyone else who has investments in oil who will benefit. Who might that be? We as a nation have to stop the babble about drilling in the refuge being no big deal. It is a big deal and the cost is going to be much greater than any cost felt at the gas pump. Susan Bracey ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Terri Neizmik EMAIL: tvneiz@yahoo.com IP: 24.54.132.4 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:53:50 PM I do not like to be referred to as "gullible". I am very concerned with our energy problems and feel that the government needs to find more efficient and environmentally friendly sources of energy. They need to force the auto makers to improve the gas mileage in all the vehicles they make, not just average them out in order to pass the government standards. Not only will drilling destroy the environment and cause great stress and harm to the animals that inhabit the area, but it will speed up the global warming process. If something is not done to reverse this process our descendents will one day ask "If they knew this was happening, why didn't someone do something to stop it?". We are going through droughts, floods, storms and heat waves now and I fear this is just the beginning. I pray to God that people will stand up to the big money companies and politicians and stop this destruction of God's creation. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Terri Neizmik EMAIL: tvneiz@yahoo.com IP: 24.54.132.4 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:54:57 PM I do not like to be referred to as "gullible". I am very concerned with our energy problems and feel that the government needs to find more efficient and environmentally friendly sources of energy. They need to force the auto makers to improve the gas mileage in all the vehicles they make, not just average them out in order to pass the government standards. Not only will drilling destroy the environment and cause great stress and harm to the animals that inhabit the area, but it will speed up the global warming process. If something is not done to reverse this process our descendents will one day ask "If they knew this was happening, why didn't someone do something to stop it?". We are going through droughts, floods, storms and heat waves now and I fear this is just the beginning. I pray to God that people will stand up to the big money companies and politicians and stop this destruction of God's creation. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Violet L. EMAIL: astarfire17@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:55:28 PM The BUSH ADMIN is paying off you poor ol' foolish people at the Anchorage Times aren't they?! Perhaps WITH A LIL HELP FROM EXXONMOBIL CORP.? C'mon,.. you can tell us,.. But,..AREN'T YOU A MITE ASHAMED AT LYING TO YOUR FELLOW ALASKANS?! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Beth Kashuba EMAIL: billypilgrim@worldnet.att.net IP: 12.76.70.85 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 05:56:54 PM Human beings have a very big environmental footprint. To some extent, we have to accept the fact that we leave a big mark on the environment wherever we live. What I find so upsetting about the proposed drilling in the Arctic is that now we are trying to impact areas that are not even fit for human habitation. If we cannot leave these remote areas unspoiled, what hope is there for us? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John P. Grillo EMAIL: Transcendentalist947@yahoo.com IP: 169.244.70.148 URL: http://www.bpl.lib.me.us DATE: 08/18/2005 05:59:18 PM The real word and issue here, is not the word "gullible"! Well informed, would be, and actual loyal, dedicated stewards of Nature's domains do not meet yours, or anyone's rediculous criteria for being "gullible"! The applicable and apppropriate word that describes more efficiently the aspirations and perceptions of the "Anchorage Times", and all those who would see our world (planet Earth), consisting of nothing more than gadgets, relays, circuits, switches, wiring, pipelines, obnoxious asphyxiating gases, poisoned water, defoliated abiences (your own self-induced-destuction) is quite directly, and simply put AVARICE! For the benefit of those not familiar with this word the dictionary defines it as being extremely selfish and more specifically "GREED"! An insatiable appetite seems to plague those whose only goals are to change our planet's, the only one in our Solar System's natural resources that sustains all life (including unappreciative misfortunates, "if the shoe fits wear it"), that is oxygen, water, food, the proper climatic temperatures, (and again, if interfering, meddling, tampering, greedy "big business) and a self-destructing Bush administration stops its war on the environment! Earth's life sustaining natural conditions keeps you breathing, eating, and drinking (water) so that you can live again one more day on the borrowed time you have left in your very mortal lives! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Shelby Lewicki EMAIL: shelby@cwinternet.com IP: 4.131.9.19 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:01:28 PM As the astronauts will tell you after being out in space -"we have a beautiful blue planet we must RESPECT and take great care of". Man's greed will doom us all to extinction and destroy our very "special space ship"! It is of the utmost urgency that each of us protect, pamper and nuture whatever small part of our earth - it's a matter of life and death - ours! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jo-Ann A. Moore EMAIL: JKGmoore@msn.com IP: 70.110.130.141 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:04:04 PM Has Alaska, which is now suffering the devastating effects of global warming that scientists long predicted,learned nothing about protecting the environment? Are you so desperate for the almighty dollar that you are willing to despoil one of the last untouched lands on the planet? I am neither gullible nor uninformed. I do however learn from my mistakes - and the mistakes of my generation. I am hoping that the powers do the same - and that they leave the the Arctic alone for future generations to enjoy. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathleen Jara EMAIL: kjaravln@hotmail.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:04:55 PM If anyone really believes that those considered "gullible" are the ones against Arctic drilling, go to the nearest university biology department and ask some of the grad students or professors what they think on the topic. I've lived on two college campuses so far in my life, and frankly the most terrifying and eye-opening stories I've heard have come from those very well informed friends, specifically when talking about this part of the world. Can you really call them "gullible"? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Judith N. Newman EMAIL: jnaomi@juno.com IP: 4.236.90.158 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:11:47 PM Corporate energy interests should invest in renewable energy resources -- and they would if renewable energy were profitable. Let's invest our money where it will benefit the people. Corporate energy can find other ways to make money. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robert J. Devaney EMAIL: RDev104958@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:15:47 PM Helloooo Anchorage Times: Lighten up guys and gals. Remember the following the next time your at your favorite watering hole. A herd of Carabu can only move as fast as the slowest Carabu.When the herd is hunted, it's the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naurally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers. I know this article was thought up in your favorite watering hole. RIGHT ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Emma EMAIL: els_625@yahoo.com IP: 24.0.236.7 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:15:56 PM For several years I have been doing my own research to form the opinions I have. I did so out of necessity. I can not afford to be gullible! I have been poisoned by the multitude of chemicals marketed everyday without consideration for what it is doing to us and our world around us. I have eliminated these petrochemical cleaning supplies from my home. I use earth friendly cleaning and body care products. Most body care products on the market are loaded with petrochemicals. These are absorbed into our bodies as surely as if we had eaten them! I can not travel a freeway without being poisoned by deisel fumes, I can not put gas in my own car without being poisoned by gas fumes. I may be only one person, but I am one of many. Our numbers are growing at an alarming rate. What we do to our environment we are ultimately doing to ourselves! Instead of devastating the artic we need to focus on environment friendly less harmful energy sources than oil. Haven't we done enough damage already? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nancy Spears EMAIL: wolffree1@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:21:43 PM How DARE you call me "gullible", the truth is if anyone believes your idiotic babble then they might be gullible. Bush and the oil industry and evidently the Anchorage Times must have their heads up their butts. The truth is we research, learn the truth, and respect the wildlife and environment more than we do greed. You people need to wake up drilling in the Artic Wildlife Refuge will cause more global warming, kill the wildlife, sea life and birds. Warm the oceans and melt the artic tundra. You are FOOLS. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ellie Cook EMAIL: elincook@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:22:07 PM I can't believe anyone is even thinking of drilling in one of the few pristine areas we have left in the United States. The Arctic National Refuge is a gem that should be left for future generations to enjoy. The Scandinavian and European countries are researching and using alternate sources of energy (see recent issue of National Geographic) and we in the U.S. lag way behind. It's time for us to follow their example. Surely, with our American ingenuity, we can find cheap, reliable energy sources without ruining any more of our environment. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jessica sousa EMAIL: Aerojls85@aol.com IP: 68.160.154.202 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:22:51 PM It makes me so sad and disgusted that people who care about the environment are made out to be the bad people. The oil companies and their friends in congress don't care about anything but the money in their pockets, when they are already millionares. But the people who dont have as much money will still donate as much as they can spare. But i believe it will all catch up with them in they end, when we have no oil left and everyone turns to them for answers and they have none because they spent no money on fundings for research for other means of fuel. i can only hope and pray that it never gets to that point and that more and more people become educated and fight for what little preserved land is left. As far as calling us "gullible" anyone who has half a brain can understand the benefits of preserving land, and the people who actually care are the "gullible" ones who donate. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: rherdliska EMAIL: gprsoutrun@msn.com IP: 71.38.40.83 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/rherdliska/ DATE: 08/18/2005 06:23:50 PM With respect to the editorial staff of the Anchorage Times, I am not gullible. I have considered the facts about oil development within ANWR. I do not support drilling within the refuge. I would likely be the very last person to know that there is plenty of money coming from somehere in support of development within the refuge. It is also no coincidence that at this same point in time, we have a former developer of oil prospects sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Miriam Iosupovici EMAIL: zevsmom@hotmail.com IP: 68.6.149.104 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:27:45 PM "Gullible" is evidence of the functioning of that old psychological truism: projection. Gullible is what the US now IS because of reliance on fossil fuels and our continuing policies overlooking environmental impact for the politics of greed. The forces of the short-term fix want us to be gullible and accept their specious arguments. I am frightened for the planet and political realities my children and grandchildren are inherity because of the venality of the current government. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: James A. Wohl EMAIL: bigjim@nowonline.net IP: 4.159.255.167 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:31:25 PM Just once do what is good for the earth and not what will add to your wealth. We must not touch this beautiful land, but leave it as it is for our children. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Merlyn Nergaard EMAIL: merlynner@earthlink.net IP: 69.22.104.39 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:31:40 PM You have to read this article pretty thoroughly if you need to be convenced that we must save as much wildlife as possible, but isn't it becoming obvious in our everyday life? How often do we hear these days of some animal on a rampage due to the fact that we've taken most of his habitat? Can you blaim them? If we want what's left of our wildlife, we MUST stop taking it's ground! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joseph Evans Sr. EMAIL: joee0@netzero.net IP: 206.148.24.54 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:40:17 PM Simply the Bush engine creating more huge profits for him and all his Texas and Saudi big oil buddies. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Thomas Hopton EMAIL: thopton@aol.com IP: 69.221.168.148 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:42:10 PM it's infuriating that they call those who are against drilling in the ANWR as "gullible". We, in fact, are the ones who are not "gullible". Those who are gullible are the ones who believe that drilling will greatly reduce, or eliminate, our need for Middle-East oil. This drilling will, however, mean some big bucks to a few people, and that's what it's all about. In fact, they'll probably end up shipping most of the oil to the Far East, Japan, etc. I've read that the chances of finding any oil are 1 in 5 and then, if found, will provide this country with no more than 6 months of its oil needs. Not particularly a panacea. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jan Berlin EMAIL: janimals@warwick.net IP: 67.51.60.221 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:43:31 PM Gullible? Hardly! People who are gullible believe absurdities without challenging those who pass them along. On the contrary, the people who wish to protect the Arctic National Refuge understand much more than those who wish to simply follow the Bush crowd wherever their lies may take them. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cheryl McPherron EMAIL: missgrits@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:45:52 PM Gullible? People who believe the obvious lies and distortions of those in the Bush Administration are the gullible ones. The amount of oil that may be in the ANWR is not enough to supply our needs for even a year but the destruction of a delicate, pristine ecosystem would last for hundreds of years. This area does not have the climate to regenerate quickly; wildlife would be lost, the land polluted. And for just a few of months of oil supply? We need alternate forms of energy and we need it NOW. It is foolish to keep destroying our environment for a finite resource that is creating a global climate change with devastating consequences. Hello? Are you pro-drillng people unable to see beyond your noses? Your lives are going to be adversely affected too. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: rachelle m. greene EMAIL: rachelle.greene@sbcglobal.net IP: 70.241.108.116 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:47:13 PM i have lived in alaska. the people are fascinating, somewhat arrogant, and have a frightening drive to take advantage of the "resources" there. much like the people of less "developed" nations, most voters there believe they have the right and the responsibility to create a "civilization" like that of any other capitalistic society. WHY DO YOU THINK THEIR US REPS ALWAYS VOTE TO SLASH AND BURN? DUH. if real change is to occur, and real protections are going to happen, it will only come through political clout, and in alaska, it is all held by the republican would-be robber-barons. alaska is so vast as to be confusing. maps do not give one a real appreciation: about 3 texases can fit. 3!!! the people of alaska are far removed from us, and they feel we have no right to meddle in their affairs. the real challenge is to change the minds of the voters of alaska. let's spend some money on that. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ed TalkingBird EMAIL: ed@talkingbirdproductions.com IP: 65.125.203.69 URL: http://www.talkingbirdproductions.com DATE: 08/18/2005 06:48:04 PM I can prove I am not gullible. I do not subscribe to the Anchorage Times. That puts me about 75 IQ points higher than the average A Times reader, if they can really believe that trash. Try to think of the miles of road that will have to be cut to service each one of those "innocuous" wells. And wait until the 18 wheelers start rolling across the pristine country. I have only two words to say about the care that the major oil companies will give to our beautiful landscape "Exxon Valdez". ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lisa Chaddock EMAIL: lisachaddock@yahoo.com IP: 66.126.67.105 URL: http://www.answerhymn.com DATE: 08/18/2005 06:48:35 PM Californians fought oil drilling off the coast - loss of tourism revenue. Isn't tourism a pretty big industry in Alaska? Alaska should think beyond their borders. Travellers from throughout the world leave their cities and towns to see wild places, and spend millions doing so. Costa Rica did it; it's a model that works. Fifty years of a little bit of oil in exchange for untold years of damage not only to Alaska but to all the places burning said oil, plus billions of dollars in clean-up and restoration. This balance sheet doesn't add up without a really crooked pencil. Is Enron of the North scratching at the door? Gullible - easily decieved. Let's see, I trust the science. I don't trust the spin of politicians or, in this case, a newspaper editor. Someone's been decieved, but it's not me... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Donald Morgan EMAIL: dem59@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:50:51 PM Stupidity takes on a new meaning when you read an article promoting the exploitation of the Arctic Refuge. They reason like an eighth grade drop out who slept through all their science classes. Only an idiot would think that drilling in the Refuge would make any difference in solving the oil crisis. Why not leave it in the ground and call it a strategic reserve not to be touched for at least 200 years? By that time we will have found other energy sources to displace oil. Anyway, the only green the oil executives and their ilk understand is the color of the U.S. currency and they could care less about trashing our national treasures. The gullible people are the one's who are suckered in by phony snake oil salesmen. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: gordon perry EMAIL: gprdonperry@yahoo.com IP: 24.182.19.172 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:52:26 PM It is difficult for me to articulate my feelings about the proposed exploration for oil in Alaska. But I am anything but gullible when it comes to Bush’s pernicious assault on the environment. He and his neo-confederate cabal are suffering from delusions if they believe that the American people will stand by idly while their rich oil friends rape one of the few remaining pristine areas on earth for a few buckets of oil. Keep your hands off this area, Mr. Bush. If you feel the need to destroy part of our planet, may I suggest you start with your plantation in Crawford. Clearing a little more brush might satisfy your yearning to destroy our environment. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bob Jochums EMAIL: bobnshari@comcast.net IP: 71.56.1.13 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:57:32 PM Risking the environment for an inconsequential trickle of oil is certainly short-sighted -- and believing that risk to be a wise choice demonstrates who really is gullible. True to the self-serving motives of the current government, some folks and companies will profit significantly from this silly project, while the vast majority of folks with see no benefit. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ed West EMAIL: ehw68@yahoo.com IP: 209.220.12.15 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:57:41 PM Once again, "big business" continues to undermine the real issue: Artic oil won't do anything for America except seriously impact the enviornment and cause much unnecessary intrusion into the refuge. The bottom line is that the current administration is looking to boost the ever-increasing profits of oil companies. And since the "big-wigs" of these companies are practically "family" to members of the administration, it sure looks like "fishy business" to me. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tanya EMAIL: johnfaddis@hotmail.com IP: 68.66.185.42 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 06:59:47 PM The Cherokee have a saying that reminds us to think of our actions, not in regards to the effects of our next generation, but rather to the effects of seven generations after. It is the greed of the "me, mine, now" that prevents people from looking to the future. The truly gullible are the people who refuse to look ahead, to look at what might occur. I'm not surprised at the ignorance of the Bush supporters. Didn't Judge Preska sum up their general thoughts by her actions when she expressed reluctance about beginning judicial oversight of pollution issues that affect global warming? As a matter of fact, Preska said she doubted any ruling she could issue against the power companies would have much effect on global warming. “All it does is slow it down,” she said. “Unless something else is done, it won’t reduce the threat.” Thank God Ghandi didn't think like Preska and her cronies! I prefer to think like Margaret Mead, and believe that a small group of committed citizens can make a difference. Raise your voice, tell your friends. We're not gullible, just paying attention. And we're outraged! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: GarySanders EMAIL: gary@sandersdata.com IP: 66.176.118.37 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:00:22 PM It is exactly because I am *not* gullible, that I have researched how much oil we will get from the Arctic Refuge (a virtual drop in the bucket) and what effect the drilling will have. And after doing that research, I am now a proud member of NWF! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sandra Riker EMAIL: skycat@ttlv.net IP: 67.136.136.182 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:05:26 PM The people who are really gullible are the ones who believe what comes out of the mouths of the Bush administration and the oil companies. The greed being emitted by these corporations and the administration who support them is sickening. The answer is not drilling for oil in the Refuge but in finding alternative and safe energy resources. The changes occuring on our planet are frightening. Allowing oil drilling to occur in the arctic refuge, for the small amount of oil that it will produce, will not make a noticable impact to the U.S. supply. The monies to be spent on this pet project of the current administration would be better of spent on alternative energies. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Deborah BICKFORD EMAIL: skipanddoll@juno.com IP: 24.45.178.206 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:07:15 PM It is such a shame that the conservationists, economists and socialists are always butting heads instead of collaborating on effective ways to preserve our home, the Earth. Unfortunately, as long as there is always money to be made, the environment always comes in second. Many believe that as long as they don't totally demolish a natural area, then their activities are of no consequence. Ignorance is often to blame, as habitat fragmentation does as much harm to many species and hence, eco-systems as does totally denuding the land. However, greed is often the underlying culprit responsible for irresponsible practices and environmentally destructive practices. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Natalie Greenwood EMAIL: bama687@yahoo.com IP: 12.16.155.188 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:07:44 PM I cannot believe they would go so low as name calling!!How dare they disrespect anyone who is trying to make the world a better, healthier, and cleaner place for everyone and every future generation. That shows how some people feel about a better environment. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Timothy Shanahan EMAIL: TCSHAN@aol.com IP: 67.49.122.178 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:08:59 PM Just like big oil to pull something like this. What next, we're terrorists?? >:( ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sharynn-Marie Blood EMAIL: smblood@yahoo.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:11:02 PM Drilling in the Refuge is wrong. The science doesn't support it - only greed makes it attractive. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: William Mason EMAIL: wmandmary@verizon.net IP: 70.17.73.211 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:15:24 PM Gullible. Hmmm. Consider the tactic. If there is one thing an insecure person can't tolerate it's being characterized as weak. Gullible implies not only weakness but ignorance, as well. This fits well with the right wing tactics of "lie, deny, and vilify." Unfortunately for the writer of the editorial, the members of NWF tend to be educated, intelligent, curious, and capable of making the cognitive connections that expose the namecalling and misrepresentations for what they are: more poison. Even more unfortunately for the truly gullible readers of the column, who we must assume will believe the groundless and misleading claims, they may not realize until it is too late that they have been sold out to the moneyed interests that have backed the Bush administration from the beginning. Most unfortunately, Anwar is only a tiny percentage of the territory under attack by these moneyed interests, and the real victims are not a bunch of caribou and arctic hares, but us and our children and their children. When will we awaken to the real threat? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathlene Lentz EMAIL: katlentz@gmail.com IP: 69.220.4.89 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:16:44 PM I take exception to many things in this article. The newsletter is not unsolicited spam, as I asked to receive it. It isn't a blatant ploy for money, it's a statement of fact. It isn't aimed at the gullible, it's aimed at those of us in the country who care about our wilderness and the wildlife which it sustains. I hope that the author of the article gets copies of these comments, so he can see just how gullible we AREN'T. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gary M Greenwood EMAIL: ggreenwood4@yahoo.com IP: 68.227.100.15 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:18:55 PM Seems to me all this Arctic rhetoric is something I heard decades ago. Oh, Yes...The Alaskan Pipeline! You remember the pipeline that freed us from having to buy foreign oil! Yup...Gullible, that's me I bought that one! But as it turned out all that Alaskan oil is "TOO HIGH IN SULFER"... So we don't use a drop of it, instead the oil companies sell ALL over Seas. So if the oil companies win again we still will buy our oil from OPEC and they'll sell the arctic refuge oil over seas, only making them richer, and us poorer. As it is the oil companies that ALSO OWN the Refineries are gouging the crap out of us for a gallon of gas. And remember this, when George Bush Sr. was president he had over 10 years of prototypes and R&D on alternative fuel sources DESTROYED!!! If you you don't remember it, research it yourself. Now we're a decade behind in developing alternative energy sources and cars.! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: bonnie EMAIL: missbonnie328@yahoo.com IP: 10.80.1.148 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:20:32 PM Wilderness is important to our collective souls. Even if we never personally visit these pristine areas,just to know there are wild places and wild animals in our world gives humans great satisfaction. Protect the wilderness, the animals, and ourselves. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeannette Ferro EMAIL: KsAPigButt@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:22:19 PM I don't think anyone on either side of this battle is gullible. I think both sides understand the stakes very clearly. I'm on the side of preservation; protecting one of the last existing pieces of virgin land and forests on the North American continent and in the world; protecting many species of animals making up thousands of innocent lives who would become victims; protecting America land, waterways, and human health south of Alaska...all which would be contaminated with the run off of toxins and waste from oil drilling. Save the planet. Stop the senseless wars. Put sincere money and efforts behind developing and using clean, affordable, healthy, and readily available alternative energy. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Wiliam Riker EMAIL: skycat1@excite.com IP: 67.136.136.182 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:23:35 PM As someone who has lived in Alaska and has enjoyed its immense beauty, fished in it's rivers and bays, hikes it's trails while serving my country, I am not surprised. There is a definate conflict of interest for any citizen of Alaska who is asked if oil should be drilled for in their state. Every citizen gets a yearly check from the oil compaies who do business there. Call it revenue sharing, a kickback or a payoff, it all amounts to the same thing - Every citizen of Alaska is in the oil companies back pocket. You can not expect an unbiased response to any oil drilling question when asking an Alaskan citizen. The current Presidential administration's only agenda is FOSSIL FUELS. Whether from our land or someone elses realy makes no difference to Bush. As long as W and is cronies are affiliated in oil you cannot expect objectivity in preserves, forrests, sands, oceans, or WARS. What the oil companies are doing to our lands is a travisty. What it is doing to it's consumers can only be described as rape. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bonnie Newburg EMAIL: b4wolves73@hotmail.com IP: 71.3.47.137 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:24:20 PM Gullible? I have a degree in Biology/Ecology - I think I am better equipped to understand the facts than the horse's behind who wrote that editorial. If that makes me 'gullible' then so be it. I would rather stand with all the other'gullible' people in this country who believe that ANWR should remain unmolested than all the 'informed' people who have fallen for Big Oil's lies hook, line and sinker. What is the point of having a Wildlife Refuge (look up the definition of the term REFUGE) if those people can go in at will and tear it up? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bob Cecil EMAIL: cecilbob42@hotmail.com IP: 71.111.36.88 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:25:24 PM I suppose the same people and corporations whom enjoy the profits from war will support and articulate favor for such stupidity...go George DubbeU, best leave your best mark behind right? My god will we ever learn? Lastly, you must have mistaken the majority for your minority view here Mr. Editor and Chief! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patricia Holbrook EMAIL: gail@planet-save.com IP: 216.12.37.121 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:26:51 PM This article is just one more among so many of Bush and his wealthy buddies stories to keep people focused on anything but the real problems. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jody Maliga EMAIL: maligabean@earthlink.net IP: 4.230.246.100 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:27:04 PM Living here in New Orleans,LA which is sinking more rapidly than anyone forecast....thanks to all of the oil companies and their wells, destruction of the marshes and wetlands, due to oil drilling in the 1950's and 1960's...haven't we learned?...Alaskans are the one that are gullible if they cannot see what is coming in 40 to 50 years if this Refuge project continues it's slippery slope of destruction! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: B Christner EMAIL: barmax@jeffersonenergy.com IP: 165.166.123.240 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:28:14 PM Gullible? I remember the Exxon Valdez disaster! www.afsc.noaa.gov/abl/oilspill/oilspill.htm Check it out! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rhonda Williams EMAIL: Rhonda_P_Williams@yahoo.com IP: 24.26.122.62 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:41:11 PM I would like to refer people to "the Grist" from 8/17/05. It discusses a group of people visiting the area considered for drilling. I found it very interesting that the only 2 large oil companies EVER permitted to drill in the area have given up any right to any future oil that may be found. For some reason they think that the place is not worth the effort. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Loretta Wolfrom EMAIL: loretta@apollo.chapel1.com IP: 209.161.102.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:41:45 PM The United States will continue to defile the planet. We and the animals will have no place left to go. What then? What Me Worry? You bet I do! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tom Butcher EMAIL: tlbutcher@baldcom.net IP: 205.208.227.30 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:44:50 PM It's hard to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it. Upton Sinclair ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: S. Beningo EMAIL: shigo@copper.net IP: 69.72.6.51 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:51:46 PM In 2004, ExxonMobil earned a record $25.33 billion in PROFITS. BP earned $15.23 billion while RoyalDutchShell made $18.54 billion -- in PROFITS. The combined profits of 10 oil companies exceeded $100 billion in 2004 (New York Times, 4/5/05). Now, Washington wants to give oil companies taxpayers' money to sink wells in Alaska's pristine wilderness...and I'M gullible. *** In response to Rhonda Williams, great point. If raiding the Wildlife Refuge was worth it, oil companies wouldn't be asking for other people's money to do it! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barbara Lindsey EMAIL: dharaniom@sbcglobal.net IP: 69.107.40.161 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:53:00 PM Today we are threatened with the reduction of our national forests and parks set aside by our wise forefathers who recognized the necessity of preserving our natural resources for the health of its citizens, the health of the environment, and the health of the planet. Instead of accusing the supporters of keeping the artic pristine of being gullible, maybe these greedy corporations should begin to develop alternative energy systems such as solar and wind power. We could run our country and the world on these natural resources and give up our dependency on oil which is rapidly being depleted. Why decimate a beautiful reserve for the sake of football fields, shopping malls, gas guzzling autos, and atiquated energy systems that this government refuses to phase out. If anyone is gullible, it's the greedy businesses that are trying to profit from the drilling of the artic preserve at the expense of the environment and the future of our planet. That spells SELFISHNESS, SELF-CENTEREDNESS, GREEDINESS, SHORTSIGHTENESS, AND DEMONIC MENTALITY. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gail Johnson EMAIL: ggj987@verizonl.net IP: 68.238.136.65 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:54:42 PM "Gullible" like "naive" is a word used to try to put people on the defensive when they point out that what you are doing is wrong. So if we are called gullible, it is a compliment. It means that we are not cynical and still believe that the world can be a better place, that we don't just use people and things for our own selfish ends. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michelle Bono EMAIL: michellebono@comcast.net IP: 68.81.54.236 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:55:11 PM Let me get this straight? They believe that drilling will occur on "a tiny piece of land?!" Isn't that like saying, "oh it's just a little cancer?" Merriam-Webster defines Gullible as "easily duped or cheated." Wouldn't that be an accurate description of anyone who believes the grandiloquence speeches fed to us by the Bush Administration? And they call US gullible? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Judy Dobson EMAIL: meowmom@verizon.net IP: 70.17.87.160 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:58:11 PM What some people will do to draw attention and for the wrong reasons. Aren't we suppose to be the GOOD GUYS? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: S Keener EMAIL: eskoflat@wi-net.com IP: 69.4.116.137 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 07:59:29 PM I am wondering just how far we have to go and how much wildlife and land we have to destroy before we will seriously look for alternative energy sources. We have an energy fair every year near us hgere...and so very few (government officials) take heed. There is right and then there is absolutely right.....The government needs to take an honest look at our troubling situation and take the side of what is the absolute right thing to do....and it is not siding with big businesses who are profiting from an outrageously lopsided situation... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Suzanne Maresca EMAIL: smaresca@hotmail.com IP: 68.192.208.58 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:00:38 PM I can only imagine that the people of Alaska are not realistically represented by this article. It may very well be that one newspaper has taken the liberty of speaking for all, or even a majority of Alaskan people without actually knowing (or caring) how they truly feel. My faith in those folks may be naive, but it is only ignorance and an agenda focused on personal gain that these accusations of gullibility are based on. It feels very much like the people of the world judging me/us on the actions of a president who values power and short term gain above all. That's not how I operate but who knows that in the world? I have hope that one article cannot possibly represent how any group of people feels. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ms. Linda A. Heath EMAIL: heathster@adelphia.net IP: 69.165.36.219 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:01:20 PM As a former biology and ecology teacher, and lifelong enviornmentalist, I do not see myself as gullible when it comes to protecting the environment from big business, big money, and big government! Ironically, we fought many of these environmental battles in the '70's and early '80's, and now we are fighting them again. But, we WILL continue to fight for what is right, and NOT be overshadowed by the media, big business, or big government! We still remember the Exxon Valdez, the Alaska pipeline, Three Mile Island, and Chernobyl! We cannot stand quietly by while the Artic National Wildlife Refuge is ruined, so you WILL continue to hear from us, despite all your efforts to keep us silent! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Louis EMAIL: safeplanet@juno.com IP: 4.250.120.110 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:04:10 PM Gullibly. We who are aware of the huge energy problems our future generations will face must be called intelligent and considerate, not any other word. Let us face it: a small amount of oil that may come from the beautiful Alaska that, by the way, belongs to all of us americans, will not solve the energy situation. It will hurt the environment, kill thousands of valuable animal species for nothing. The energy related companies must start, without delay, working on alternative sources of energy, reduce the size and fuel consumption of those monster SUV's, increase the efficiency of the heating, air conditioning and lighting of our buildings. That is the effort that is needed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Erik and Delaney Masters EMAIL: distantisle@yahoo.com IP: 192.168.50.45 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:05:02 PM The author of the article in the Anchorage Times regarding drilling in the refuge must himself be enormously gullible if he believes the disinformation that is churned out from the Bush administration. Stop the oil drilling! I am not "gullible". We need to focus our attention on finding ways to use less petroleum products instead of destroying the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). We must find alternative fuel systems and sources. This is the only approach which properly utilizes time and money, without the devastating and vast cost to the planet. The U.S. has not begun to spend close to what it needs on alternative energy sources. This article is absurdly blatant propaganda supporting the despicable crimes against the earth the Bush administration continues to perpetuate. The Bush administration has no regard as to what the public truly believes and desires. Drilling in ANWR is blatantly ravenousness on the part of the government, who seems to work only in favor of its own evil scheme. It is not just the wildlife that stands to lose if we keep destroying the environment. I know the Truth and it does not lie in the raping and pillaging of the unspoiled Alaskan wilderness for a few paltry barrels of oil. If this is allowed to proceed, what will be next? Stand up now or forever sit and watch the destruction of the Earth. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bob Nolan EMAIL: nolanrl4730@yahoo.com IP: 24.91.255.114 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:06:12 PM This attack is another typical Republican defense/offense gambit of bash and smash your integrity, intelligence and political affiliations. They have resorted to this cheap character assasination so many times toward anybody that stands in the way of their opinions, agendas and lies. The American people were gullible to elect such an incompetent person based on lies, and we are paying for it with Bush's war and the other Republican propaganda campaign that rivals that of Joseph Gobbels in WWII.Moral values??? HAH! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Terrell Wexler EMAIL: eterrellwexler@hotmail.com IP: 65.54.97.191 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:06:16 PM Anyone who thinks destroying a wild and beautifull area for a dribble of oil is ok cannot be thinking straight. Where is the conservation mindset we had back in the 70's? What does this group think - keep drilling so they can keep driving their gas guzzlers - where is Detroit in all of this? It will take years to extract this little bit of oil and centuries to repair the damage. Nuts! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: joan ciccarone EMAIL: jpckoala@adelphia.net IP: 69.168.107.71 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:09:18 PM The people who support the Bush administration are the gullible ones NOT those of us who want to protect the environment. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joe Ludowese EMAIL: jludowese@peoplepc.com IP: 4.227.101.209 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:13:30 PM The only 'gullible' ones here are the ones who believe such a shameless, selfserving editorial! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: A. Donnici EMAIL: EAGLV@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:15:54 PM As a welfare state, Alaskans are automatically biased since each resident of Alaska would receive a check in the mail each year that Oil companies exist there. The very last people on earth weighing in on this issue should be Alaskans. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Peggy Kincaid EMAIL: Cali_LB@msn.com IP: 71.107.64.63 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:19:32 PM Oh please, like the government "never" lies? We're "gullible" because we care what happens to the environment and we do more than listen to whatever politicians want us to listen to? Thank you but I know what is real and what isn't. Maybe you should try opening your ears, your mind and your heart for a change instead of attacking those of us who do. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: S. C. Brookes EMAIL: burnshill@care2.com IP: 69.21.250.73 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:25:58 PM Saving some oil for future generations in an area that should not be destroyed is much better than our destroying the area today and leaving nothing for the future generations to use. Brain Strong not Brain Washed! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: dolores EMAIL: dolores@sabinenet.com IP: 12.45.176.79 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:30:31 PM Print your name, address and phone number and us "gullibles" will be more willing to listen to your side. This anonymous piece was probably written by some flunky who works for an oil company or our own government! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robert Kelly EMAIL: RAK10@hotmail.com IP: 67.167.121.231 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:33:12 PM It is most unfortunate that the most advanced country in the world is still so dependent on petroleum and oil based fuels. The home of some of this world's most talented scientific minds you would think we could develop and the government and special interest groups would agree it's time for a change. We've destroyed enough open spaces in this country let's not encroach on any more. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Charles Hartik EMAIL: kalle@nvinet.com IP: 4.255.75.59 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:34:38 PM The character defects of arrogant ignorance and denial of facts are common amongst those who trash anything standing in the way of satisfying their rock bottom greed. They won't be content until oil is dripping from their rat claw hands. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lynne Cason EMAIL: lcason@ourtownusa.net IP: 209.173.230.170 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:39:48 PM Well, I'll be. Isn't this what the oil companies want? Americans to be gullible? That's why they tell us the reason for prices rising at the gas pump is because of rising cost per barrel. Despite the meida hype, that has no effect on gas prices. Answer this. The barrel prices have risen throughout Europe, yet their prices haven't risen? Why not? And with the barrel prices increasing, do you think that $67 a barrel will break the banks of the poor oil companies so that they have to charge us? They are getting a high demand market from us so Thats the real reason for the price increase. Its the market. They have us over the . . .uh...barrel! So do you think drilling in the Artic will solve our energy problem? Hardly. It will only profit the drillers, the oil companies. . . Again! I agree with the editor that we should not be gullible! I think their concern is that we will pull the blind fold off America. You want to conserve energy? Car pool, buy Hondas, Toyotas, vehicles that have 41 mpg (mine does), boycott the gas stations that price gouge (creating a back up of gas and thus decreasing prices). You don't have to feel powerless. Organize ways to cut gas consumption in your life. In the meantime, say no to this rediculous notion that the companies who want to drill have your best interest in mind. They don't. They care only for them$elve$. Lynne Cason ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kara Gallant EMAIL: wolf_mage@msn.com IP: 66.31.37.209 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:41:36 PM I find this to be very insulting. I know what I'm doing, and am not by any means GULLIBLE. I choose to help our earth and its inhabitants by any means possible. Drilling oil will be the destruction of all living things and the planet. I am in no way being persuaded or lured into writing this. It is of my own free will. Humans have destroyed enough of the natural wildlife. It's time we should do something to change that before it's too late. I'm 16 years old, and I may not have the most experienced mind, but I support what I think is RIGHT. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lisa EMAIL: lscarozza@charter.net IP: 68.118.250.119 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:42:18 PM Given the ignorance of this article, I must say that I am sad to be part of the human race. This world was meant to be shared by all living creatures and not abused by the many ignorant and non-forward thinking people that support the destruction of this planet. When will this current administration and the big oil companies start to realize that they should be spending money on alternative fuels and more efficient vehicles. If every person with a truck or SUV traded in their gas guzzler for a fuel efficient car, we wouldn't need to even spend time thinking about the Artic. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Mather EMAIL: mmather@icehouse.net IP: 216.255.194.198 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:45:40 PM Drilling in the Alaskan National Arctic wildlife refuge is not the answer, Some may not want to admit it but the Oil age is coming to an end. I think most of us Americans know the need to find other sources for energy. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Subhash Chand EMAIL: subhashc@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:45:46 PM I may be gullible on some other issues but not on the Arctic Refuge. I have personally been to Alaska, I have seen S. Bannerjee's outstanding photos of the Arctic Refuge and I have read the facts about the extent of the oil explorationn and the damage it could cause to a very fragile ecosystem. My decision to support The National Wildlife campaign is based on facts. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathleen Kemper EMAIL: kathleenek@comcast.net IP: 24.16.36.5 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:51:49 PM Being called "gullible" doesn't bother me since I know the truth about the importance of saving ANWAR. I know that it's not really about the small pittance of oil available there, but allowing drilling in the arctic will set a precedent for drilling in other protected areas. We must not let this happen! It is a slippery slope, indeed, when the last vestige of wilderness is exploited to feed the greed of the oil companies and their cohorts. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David A. Lien EMAIL: dlien2@yahoo.com IP: 70.56.240.35 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:52:06 PM America obtains nearly 60 percent of its oil supplies from foreign nations, but holds less than 4 percent of global oil reserves and is long past its peak as an oil producer. However, demand continues to rise, so the gap is filled with foreign supplies. Sixty-five percent of the world’s known oil reserves are in the Persian Gulf; the United States has only 3 percent, but we account for 26 percent of the world demand. We cannot drill our way into energy independence. Degrading America's wildlands heritage is not the answer to building energy security. The only lasting solutions to price and supply problems are to use oil more efficiently and accelerate the development of new engine and fuel technologies that will lower demand for oil permanently. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marsha Loomis EMAIL: shiarempress@netscape.net IP: 4.229.253.137 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 08:53:08 PM I guess I am one of the gullibles they are addressing. The don't want Americans to understand and accept that the days of cheap gas are OVER. As crude oil become harder and harder to recover the prices will continue to increase. And we are SO VERY DEPENDANT on oil. For plastics, fabrics, chemicals, medicine, computer parts, etc., etc. The list goes on. As long as the big oil companies can delude us into thinking that oil isn't limited, they win. We must take back our votes and press on for alternative sources of fuel and materials. I really believe that if they could put a meter on the use of solar energy, we would all be using it right now!! The utilities, the petroleum industries and the auto manufacturers are working against our best interest; alternative fuels. There is no future for us in the Artic Wilderness Refuge, only quick profits for the oil interests. The American Way of Life is at risk if that isn't addressed soon. Rolling Stone magazine had an article this spring on the effects this will have on our economy. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Halverson EMAIL: jhalver@mwt.net IP: 207.190.73.103 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 09:07:09 PM My $20.00 donation to The National Wildlife campaign will go a lot farther toward saving this planet than the millions the corporations throw at Bush and his cronies. The gullible ones are those who risk the future of our children for a few more gallons of oil. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: RM Joice EMAIL: jjnro@msn.com IP: 70.57.115.48 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 09:08:58 PM Gullible.....I think not! I believe in preserving all wildlife and the ANWR is one of the most beatuiful reserves in the USA. And to say that is it just a way for the NWF to raise money, I don't think so. The NWF has been a proven cause for over 70 years and I am one of there stanch supporters. They have accomplished so much over the years and will continue to. It is obvious that you do not support the land and enviroment in which you live.....very sad, indeed. You my friend are ignorant and should do your research before you print such an article and you have the nerve to say we are gullible....think about it! SUPOPORT THE ANWR AND THE NWF !!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Chris Lenz EMAIL: patnhomer@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 09:17:14 PM Having been to Alaska both as a child and as an adult on NWF trips. I have seen the beauty of the wilderness. There is nothing like it. We must do all we can to save it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anne Bryant EMAIL: upstairsanne@earthlink.net IP: 69.69.35.203 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 09:18:02 PM The big corporations will do just about anything to ensure their bottom line. Anyone who doesn't believe that is the gullible one. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kevin P. Brown EMAIL: kevinpotterbrown@msn.com IP: 24.13.200.223 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 09:27:20 PM I think the term "gullible" applies most correctly to the individual who believes that Big Oil speaks with any sincerity about this issue. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gerald W Carter EMAIL: wa8jtb@juno.com IP: 4.159.65.231 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 09:30:20 PM If I were gukkible I would be listening to them... I know you are doing the right thing and so am i... We will succed if we dont give up... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bob Wall EMAIL: b_wall@allstream.net IP: 142.154.167.27 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 09:36:56 PM This urge to drill in the ANWR has nothing to do with fuel needs but only greed. The need for alternative fuels is being overlooked and is being paid only lip service by goverment and big business alike. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bob Wall EMAIL: b_wall@allstream.net IP: 142.154.167.27 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 09:37:37 PM This urge to drill in the ANWR has nothing to do with fuel needs but only greed. The need for alternative fuels is being overlooked and is being paid only lip service by government and big business alike. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ajax Eastman EMAIL: ajaxeast@msn.com IP: 151.196.234.133 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 09:37:59 PM Having spent two weeks in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and witnessed the extraordinary flora and fauna, and the fragility of the landscape, and having read Debbie Miller's "Midnight Wilderness" which gives a first hand account of the destruction of oil extraction in the Arctic, I can categorically state that opening it to any further oil expliotation would be a disaster. Your gullible editors should talk with the scientists to learn the truth. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bill Bartley EMAIL: bblackelk@sbcglobal.net IP: 69.223.75.123 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 09:48:01 PM I refuse to support any senator or congressman that votes in favor of drilling in the Artic. If we don't take care of our enviroment and wildlife all the money in the world isn't going to help us. Man is destroying himself when he destroys the enviroment, wake up an smell the coffee. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Wells Eddleman EMAIL: whatthewells@yahoo.com IP: 71.120.192.57 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 09:53:26 PM They say I'm gullible, but the honor is too great. I won't believe that there's now 3 times as much oil under the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge as was estimated 10 years ago. I won't believe that there will be "little" environmental impact. I won't believe that the big oil interests can get away with this scheme while we ignore existing techology that can get twice the miles out of fuel as current cars and light trucks (including SUVs) now get on average. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Grace Hockenberry EMAIL: thegrace529@yahoo.com IP: 209.50.157.19 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 09:57:38 PM The big picture here is that the world does NOT have an unlimited supply of oil. Instead of trying to extract every last drop, conservation and reducing our dependence upon it needs to be our primary focus. How selfish we are to disregard the lives and homes of 'inferior species' just so the oil companies can make their money, while we look stylish in our new Hummers. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Todd Dierker EMAIL: tadierker@yahoo.com IP: 71.37.142.171 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 09:58:35 PM It is a shame that your ideas and perspective are so narrow minded and focused. THis movement is one of sustainability and balance. Don't worry, there is even room for you... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: bill hankins EMAIL: bill984@excite.com IP: 24.35.18.186 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:01:19 PM the only time we are gullible is when we actually believe that a politician is really looking out for the public. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ed Merrell EMAIL: merrellc@inteliport.com IP: 63.165.152.200 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:10:12 PM Working toward understanding this precious place since 1974, I am not about to give up now. We have it protected now and fully expect it to stay that way for all generations to come. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Don Williamson EMAIL: dsw@mad.scientist.com IP: 68.69.13.122 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:11:51 PM Gullible? No, the ones that are gullible are those who believe that this small amount of oil will do anything to help oil supplies or reduce gas prices. This is nothing more then another giveaway to big oil! To believe that this would be little impact to the Arctic Refuge is gullible. This is nothing more then narrow minded greed. All the money being spent and money that would be spent would be better used to develope fuel alternatives. This administration does nothing for the people like you or me and clearly does not listen since the majority of Americans do not want drilling in the Arctic Refuge. No, this is nothing but greed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Karen Dingerson EMAIL: karendingerson@povn.com IP: 66.45.202.170 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:12:27 PM Gullible are those who believe, that if we give them the inch they are requesting, they won't take the mile they are seeking!! Gullible are those that think the bandaide they will get from drilling in the refuge will actually benefit this country! We have sun and wind...in every state and every corner of the earth. It's time to use those resources for a permanent solution. Karen Dingerson ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lorraine Silva EMAIL: silvasimba@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:17:17 PM You believe the members of NWF are gullible? Then what about all the members of the other conservation groups such as Defense of Wildlife, Audubon Society, and NRDC. Spend some time in the library and read what other groups have to say. We can't all be gullible. And let us not forget where this is all coming from...an administration that told us that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Well, I believe that's how much oil there is in the Arctic Refuge. Does anyone want to talk about Global Warming? Instead of putting our interests into drilling in the Arctic, we should be investing in alternative energy sources, and in more affordable Hybrid cars that get 40 mpg or more. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marilyn Snyder EMAIL: partyferrett@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:17:27 PM The nerve of them to call us "gullible". The truth is that they are trying to take advantage of the real "gullible" people out there by printing these slanderous words. The fact is that this land is put aside as a "Wildlife refuge". The word "Refuge" means "a place of shelter or protection". The reason for this refuge was to protect the pristine, fragile ecosystem that exists in the arctic. It is extremely unfair for this to be taken away from the future of America because of one self serving term of office. Once these lands are destroyed, they are gone. Even if another office of government comes to be, the damage will already be done !!! Please, protect the lands that were already supposedly put aside for that protection!!! This is unduly unfair to the people of America and the wildlife of Alaska!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lorraine Silva EMAIL: silvasimba@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:19:12 PM You believe the members of NWF are gullible? Then what about all the members of the other conservation groups such as Defense of Wildlife, Audubon Society, and NRDC. Spend some time in the library and read what other groups have to say. We can't all be gullible. And let us not forget where this is all coming from...an administration that told us that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Well, I believe that's how much oil there is in the Arctic Refuge. Does anyone want to talk about Global Warming? Instead of putting our interests into drilling in the Arctic, we should be investing in alternative energy sources, and in more affordable Hybrid cars that get 40 mpg or more. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lynn Piper EMAIL: lynnpiper@comcast.net IP: 24.61.243.60 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:24:55 PM "Priceless" outearns "money" a million times over. The arctic wildlife is priceless and it takes people who don't use their wallets for eyeglasses to see it! Don't destroy it for a few jobs and no real answer to our energy woes. Invest all of that money you have to burn into renewable energy sources and we'll outperform all of the oil based energies... and last forever! Now that's priceless!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Larame Pinkston EMAIL: LJPinkston085@aol.com IP: 139.78.229.25 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:25:52 PM HOW DARE THEY CALL US "GULLIBLE"!!! What right do they have to say that about us? If anything, they are the gullible ones to believe that this arctic refuge isn't important. EVERY in of habitat is important to the world. Without that habitat, where would the human race be in the first place? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nina EMAIL: gemstone@canby.com IP: 65.182.231.149 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:27:41 PM Being gullible is to believe all the Bush garbage that is pushed on us everyday. This man is to be feared because he is enamored with power and money. Our American people were gullible when they made him president and even worse when they did it the second time. He has no concern about our environment. What about the disappearing rainforest in Florida? What about the plastics that have taken over many square miles of our oceans? What about the pollution being put in the air we breathe? What about the more than a thousand young Americans that have died because he wanted a war to secure U.S. interests in the oil. He simply reversed every environmental program that was in place when he became president. We MUST stop the Artic oil drilling first and then stop him from doing anymore harm as our president. I fully expect him to escalate the war during the latter part of 2006 and then do his best to get our gullible Americans to believe it is too risky to change presidents in the middle of a war. Anyone agree? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Donna EMAIL: ohdonna04@sbcglobal.net IP: 69.177.23.87 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:28:32 PM I am incensed that these alledged leaders of the free press call the voices of Artic Refuge, 'gullible'. It only deepens our resolve to fight them with everything we've got! They are the ones who possess the weapons of mass destruction. Oil-drilling machines. Frankly, their greed alone is reason enough to stop them. Let them spew their propoganda...we're not giving up. Someone has to stand up for the innocents of this pristine 5%, that someone, is us! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Harry Rutten EMAIL: harryrutten@optonline.net IP: 68.193.127.212 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:29:31 PM If man destroys all the things that he needs he soon will pay with his life for his greed. The folks who call us gullible need to post this above their word processors and read it every day. We will all suffer because of their greed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Suzanne Boyer EMAIL: suzboyer2@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:36:10 PM Did they single out the National Wildlife Federation? Then why are all the Environmental Organizations that I know and trust against drilling in the Artic Refuge? I think one would have to be gullible to think that drilling here would make a significant contribution to our oil needs. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anthony M Dambrosi EMAIL: anambrose@netscape.net IP: 209.210.87.162 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:38:50 PM They made the same accusations over 30 years ago when the 1st Aka oil pipeline was shutdown. There is a myth?the Gov'nor who did that; well his plane 'crashed',and has never been found.Then it was jobs/trees scare tactics and all the jobs went overseas anyway.What do you think they're going to do with that oil? Not use it here so you can drive you V8! Sell it to China for an even bigger profit! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anthony M Dambrosi EMAIL: anambrose@netscape.net IP: 209.210.87.162 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:40:13 PM They made the same accusations over 30 years ago when the 1st Aka oil pipeline was shutdown. There is a myth?the Gov'nor who did that; well his plane 'crashed',and has never been found.Then it was jobs/trees scare tactics and all the jobs went overseas anyway.What do you think they're going to do with that oil? Not use it here so you can drive your V8! Sell it to China for an even bigger profit! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ann Suarez EMAIL: mitta@bellsouth.net IP: 68.215.71.119 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:45:20 PM I am not gullible, but I am realistic and very disappointed. What ever happened to good old common sense? Why be dependent on anything? Whatever happened to the promises of looking into alternate sources of energy? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barbara Stone EMAIL: BarbaraSt3@yahoo.com IP: 4.229.186.215 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:54:06 PM The writer only wishes we were gullible--so we would believe the ridiculous propoganda coming from the Bush administration and his cronies, the big businesses and oil companies. I wonder if this individual is just another Bush payoff in the money/power ideology of the administration. This guy is the epitome of gullible, how dare he point the finger anywhere but at himself. The damage to our environment is mounting every day with this administration. They continually destroy years of hard work and laws for their gains. It is absolutely appalling how ruthless they are. If they don't care for a law, they change it. They feel they are above any laws, regardless. I am certain history will reflect that it was the worst administration for the environment, along with the most meglamaniac president. It is more like a dictatorship than a democracy. I still find it difficult to believe there were enough uninformed, gullible individuals to re-elect Bush. I fear the dynasty will continue unless all wise up rapidly. In the meantime, SAVE THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE from the assaults ONCE AND FOR ALL. (And bury the writer of the editorial deep within the ice...) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carolyn Snegoski EMAIL: csnegoski@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:54:29 PM We have an obligation to be responsible and care for this planet. We need to be visionaries and look to the future--not for short term profit. Drilling for oil is abusing the planet and all its creatures. Why can't we in America leave some small pristine wilderness area for posterity and for its aesthetic value. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Colata Harlan EMAIL: hwinc@cox.net IP: 68.97.151.19 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:59:58 PM It's time to tell the Bush administration that American's public lands are not for sale to extractive industries. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Colata Harlan EMAIL: hwinc@cox.net IP: 68.97.151.19 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:00:45 PM It's time to tell the Bush adminsitration that America's public lands are not for sale to the highest bidder. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barbara Field EMAIL: bafield42@yahoo.com IP: 72.129.121.177 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:02:58 PM I just returned from visiting Alaska. See the vast beautiful unspoiled wilderness, the clean water and air, and the thriving wildlife made me happy and more optimistic for my children's future. The land is what makes America great. The oil will run out in Alaska too. Tapping the Artic Refuge for oil is not a wise plan for our future. I may not have every single pertinent fact at hand, but I know that I am no more gullible than those who believe this drilling is a good idea. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Merry Smith EMAIL: me@cwis.net IP: 64.58.35.38 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:04:08 PM For the sake of argument let's say I'm gullible. Now they are going to drill a "very small" section of the NAWR but exactly how are they going to get to it without doing any damage to anything? I have flown over this area and you can actually see the imprint of anything that has been there. Once they come it can NEVER be the same and for what? enough oil to run the US a couple of days. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tamilyn Sanderson EMAIL: sirdufus@freeway.net IP: 216.93.40.210 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:06:36 PM Did you know that gullible is not in the dictionary? Apparently neither did the Anchorage Times since they used it incorrectly and called us gullible! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: James Doris RN EMAIL: jdoris57@juno.com IP: 4.247.215.213 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:08:22 PM So the editorialist for the Anchorage newspaper thinks those who know the facts, and have a conscientous interest in protecting the environment and preserving areas such as our Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are 'gullible'. Unfortunately this is the type of greedy mentality we are up against. Lobbyists for the largest oil companies and people like him now feel like they have to resort to name calling and distortions of the truth to protect their flow of money. Isn't it appalling the lengths and tactics people such as this will stoop to out of sheer GREED. When will the people of our great nation and our gov't. realize that the oil industry is ONLY interested in protecting their profits by squeezing out every pennny possible from the finite amount of the worlds fossil fuels? Why don't the oil corporations use their financial resources to develop any of the countless patents they hold which would effectively reduce gasoline and oil consumption? Why you ask? It' simple! It comes down to GREED! They are ONLY interested in increasing and protecting their profits. This is so incredibly obvious to me, but I suppose I'm gullible. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Beth Johnson EMAIL: scottskate50@hotmail.com IP: 208.35.151.9 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:14:38 PM It amazes me that Bush and company want to drill in the Alaska Wildlife Refuge and at the same time gas prices keep going up. Lack of oil, I don't think so, but rather an attempt to scare the truely gullible people that believe this isn't a push to get legislation passed to drill in this beautiful home. Let's try downsizing our vehicles! If we are so short on fuel what the hell are we doing sending an unmaned shuttle to Mars, talk about stupid. Bush and company need to stop believing that everyone is as ignorant and uncaring as they! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: T. Whitehead EMAIL: surveyit@comcast.net IP: 24.98.66.34 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:15:49 PM Gullible???? How much oil do you think the USA really needs? Americans would stand on their own two feet more without the tainted oil. We need the Artic refuge as well as many others to stay safe. We want and demand our children and children's children stay safe from the self-serving greedy bullies and the break down or our environment. Another point... What happened to "FOR the PEOPLE BY the PEOPLE? New energy sources...there are many possibilities...quit blocking them. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Thomas Filip EMAIL: s2gesfan@yahoo.com IP: 12.72.32.23 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:16:47 PM Call me gullible-call me anything you like, and if it helps keep the "drillers" out of the Refuge, I'll even thank them! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Thomas Filip EMAIL: s2gesfan@yahoo.com IP: 12.72.32.23 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:17:30 PM Call me gullible-call me anything you like, and if it helps keep the "drillers" out of the Refuge, I'll even say thank you! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Thomas Filip EMAIL: s2gesfan@yahoo.com IP: 12.72.32.23 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:18:10 PM Call me gullible-call me anything you like, and if it helps keep the "drillers" out of the Refuge, I'll even say thank you! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mindy Kronenberg EMAIL: cyberpoet@msn.com IP: 4.173.5.160 URL: http://msn.com DATE: 08/18/2005 11:18:20 PM "Gullible?" If that's part of the new, insulting rhetoric, so be it. But call this exactly what it is: an opportunity for greedy forces to exploit the fragile environment of this continent for the sake of profit. The oil gleaned from this drilling project will do little to alleviate a larger energy problem, but it will succeed in creating ecological devastation. As a responsible and conscientious American citizen (code word: "gullible?")I am aghast at such a campaign of arrogance and ignorance rampaging in the name of raping nature for such pernicious objectives. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ruth Jamieson EMAIL: truthy@care2.com IP: 216.104.106.249 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:25:58 PM Drilling for oil ANYWHERE is unacceptable. Alternative power sources MUST be used. Earth has been violated too much and will soon fail to support any higher life forms due to polluted air and water and depleted soils. The need for oil to support human culture is PERCEIVED. The need to protect our one and only planet for our very survival is REAL. Humans who persist in indulging in their perceived needs in environmentally destructive ways, for any reason, are sentencing their progeny and that of all species to extreme hardship, suffering and extinction. The evidence that we , and earth, are near the point of no return is clear, as is the epidemic of denial of this fact. Anyone who disregards this reality is guilty of crimes against humanity and all life on earth. They are effectively the executioners of millions. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Andrea Mooneyhan EMAIL: andreagll@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:28:35 PM The Anchorage Times as well as a select few of opposing polaticians are barking up the wrong tree. Instead of pushing to deplete our natural resouces, they need to focus on educating citizens to conserve energy and the natural wild that surrounds us. There are still beautiful lands in American that has not been destroyed yet. "Yet", is the key word. We would all benefit from taking pride in this beautiful natural world around us. The ignorance that surrounds us is horrifying. And I must say that there is a thin line between being ignorant and gulliable. Piont . . . . When you point your finger there are three fingers pointing back at your self. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Susan Krause Grekso EMAIL: sueksci2@dwave.net IP: 63.247.34.107 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:38:47 PM Obviously, the word gullible has a different meaning for the editor of the Anchorage Times than it does for people who care about the environment. Many take the viewpoint that this earth and its environments are important and worthwhile. The pristine habitat which is important to its inhabitants needs to remain intact and not drilled. If protecting them is gullible, then I, too, am gullible, but only from your perspective. Equally important is the perspective of all living things within the Artic Refuge. Their silent plea for protection is louder than your insinuation of gullibility. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Eric Madis EMAIL: emadis@juno.com IP: 4.242.33.148 URL: http://www.ericmadis.com DATE: 08/18/2005 11:41:01 PM I am just wondering if you looked at the paper's other editorials. They give a complete picture of the political views of the staff and management of the Anchorage Times, which could only be described as closely aligned with the agenda of the most conservative Bush Administration members, namely Richard Cheney and his small army of neo-cons. This group deeply resents any laws or attempts that protect coastlines, refuge areas, and even National Parks (they already have access to the National Forests), and will never stop their push to drill in these places, despite the fact that (1) these places will not make a significant change in long-term oil supplies for the US, and (2) there is no way that we can avoid developing renewable and alternative energy sources. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robert French EMAIL: conorbobfrench@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:42:18 PM I think it is the Anchorage Times that is gullible - thinking that drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge is going to be anything more than a momentary fix to this country's oil addiction. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Todd Nelson EMAIL: todd_n2001@yahoo.com IP: 207.191.235.92 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:53:50 PM We don't stand a chance in the long run of blocking oil drilling in this great place or others like it if we don't operate as investors through green funds like Calvert and as consumers and voters to chip away at our cumulative oil consumption. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Paula Bauer EMAIL: psb@ranchomurieta.org IP: 63.166.157.154 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 11:54:02 PM We must continue the effort to protect the precious and irreplaceable Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It is absurd to think that drilling alone, anywhere, will give the United States energy independence. This country must face head on its insatiable appetite for fossil fuels and develop an intelligent energy policy that incorporates the aggressive development of alternative energy sources, and far better energy efficiency in motor vehicles, homes, and businesses. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pamela Lienhard EMAIL: plienhard@gmail.com IP: 67.129.81.131 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 12:02:21 AM I am so thankful for the work the National Wildlife Federation is doing to fight for the protection of the AWR. We are only gullible if we ever believe another word coming from this administration and the corporations that own it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Veronica H EMAIL: hooffstettershaven@msn.com IP: 4.161.132.182 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 12:14:46 AM We must save our last frontier, Alaska, from this proposed devastation. When will man learn? It is imperative that alternative fuels (such as hydrogen) become the norm. It is getting late. We can not afford to wait any longer. For the sake of our children, please support the efforts of the NWF, and spread the word. Let us stop our dependency on foreign oil. Let us preserve Alaska, she is our rare and special jewel; pristine, wild, lush and beautiful...she deserves to be protected and defended. NO drilling in the Arctic Wilderness! The diversity of wildlife and their habitats are depending on us! OUR OWN lives DEPEND upon it! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marjorie Ratner EMAIL: towhee@charter.net IP: 24.216.229.98 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 12:15:06 AM I'm part of the public who is not gullible. I don't believe for one minute that we need this oil, and that taking it will cause no harm. The taking will spread in area, causing more harm than oil interests predict, and be of very limited use some years down the line. I want our leaders to foster alternative sources for energy and to increase fuel efficiency. This oil-based Washington leadership is profiting from our high energy costs and is doing little to reduce them. Our president bicycles while his choice to go to war is ruining American and Iraki lives and is costing us billions--all to get his hands on more oil. Require fuel efficiency!!!!! Marjorie Ratner ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Juliana C. Mujica EMAIL: juliana_c_m@hotmail.com IP: 206.148.8.89 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 12:27:04 AM We are living in a world upside down, where the greed and selfishness are promoted and LIFE is of no major concern, in any form. The most rich / powerful people in this "still" most beautiful planet are ruining it with bombs tests, sonars, nuclear weapons manufacture, slaughter of animals for ANY reason, discard of waste from oceans to outer space, etc etc... instead of helping it be healthier, for our own sake and for future generations. If we are "gullibe" ... they are no more than "beings" as their "human" part is more than questionnable. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mark Bohrer EMAIL: lurchl@ix.netcom.com IP: 67.123.75.24 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 12:33:42 AM With such a small proven reserve in ANWR, why persist in trying to drill for it? Why not spend the Federal oil incentives on alternative energy development? I'm not an expert, but my engineering background tells me to go with plan B (wind/tidal/orbiting solar) if plan A (fossil fuels) starts to sputter. And if we destroy the natural environment for wildlife, what does that give humans to look forward to down the road? Let's think about it... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Edward Guilmette EMAIL: tguilly@cox.net IP: 216.161.215.111 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 12:38:04 AM We are gullible only if we believe what the oil companies say. Look at some of the other areas that the oil companies have been able to drill. I think thier records stand for themselves. The oil companies have only one thing that they are interested in and that is their bottom line. "STOP THE OIL COMPANIES DEAD!" NO DRILLING IN THE REFUGE. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joel Hofslund EMAIL: jhofslund@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.196 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 12:38:42 AM I've actually been up the Dalton Highway to Deadhorse, so I am certainly not gullible about the Arctic. It's beautiful, in a way that is hard to describe, delicate, and, frankly, damn hard to get to (I had to drive through a forest fire on my trip). Deadhorse is like any other mining town, seedy and messy, but not excessively so. All the same, I wouldn't want a whole string of Deadhorses scattered across such a beautiful place for what amounts to a few drops of oil. It would be far better for the oil companies to recognize the inevitable, and start investing in alternative technologies, or they'll wind up as dead as the steam engine. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tim McCarthy EMAIL: tribalvisionswildlifeart@yahoo.com IP: 68.56.177.104 URL: http://tribalvisionz.com DATE: 08/19/2005 12:46:03 AM To the writer of this opininated article in the Alaska Times- you have a very unique and clever way of distorting the truth. You are so skilled in trickery and deceipt that you should be working for the devil himself.(namely GWB?)You'd probably be getting paid a lot more money on your paycheck! But alas, you'd have to spend it all at the hospital anyway because people like you always end up getting sick in the end and die from cancer or some other degenerative disease,because you know you are LYING- BIGTIME- and just for that reason alone - you will not survive the changes that are sure to take place in the very near future, especially in Alaska. Global warming is a reality that is affecting Alaska as gas affects a canary in a coal mine. The shore line of Alaska is now in the process of disintegration and it will continue on this same path. Global warming, oddly enough, will eventually lead to the begining of another ICE AGE. The more condensation that occurs due to more evaporation because of global warming in the atmosphere and the oceans is what causes the formation of the coming Ice Age.It is the Hopi Elderly Elder's greatest wish that everyone reads the book, "The Hopi Survival Kit" by Thomas E. Mails.It tells us what we must do to survive in the coming Earth changes and how we can indeed alter the course of world history by our own actions and thoughts as individuals. And we will not be "gullible" to anyone's lies, especially the lies told by the evil forces that would destroy what pristine land is left of our beautiful Earth Mother and all life for their own selfish ,short-term monetary,economic gain. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jean Williams EMAIL: creatinggreenpiece@juno.com IP: 4.242.117.114 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 01:08:13 AM If drilling were to begin in the refuge tomorrow, it would take 10 years to reach consumers and would not reach peak production until 2025. Our tax dollars would be better spent investing in renewable wind, solar, and fuel cell technology, than drilling in one of the last pristiine and unique places on Earth, for what would amount to a drop in the bucket, by current demands. The truth is obvious, that Alaska's economy would be greatly enhanced by drilling in ANWAR. It would bring in revenue and much needed jobs, but at what cost? Do the people of Alaska really want to pay that price? Do they WANT to see the caribou herds shrink closer to extinction? I hope this editorial opinion is shared by a minority of self serving egotists, rather than the whole. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: JB Fox EMAIL: Trailfox7@cs.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 01:30:56 AM Gullible? Many more unkinder words could be said for the fool who accepts the propaganda and hush-money of corrupt businesses and people that sells out the last pristine environments of this earth to inflate their own pockets when they should evolve and focus their attentions on cheaper and more effective energy alternatives that would benefit mankind. Keeping up with the times instead of stubbornly clinging to the past because it’s comfortable and suitable for their incomes: like the dinosaurs, all good things must come to an end, or change with the times. As far as we who are so gullible that we are blind to the so called ‘facts’ that you have barely been able to portray for yourself or your readers in your own paper column, we are viewing the true facts as they are, uncensored and untreated to the benefits of the pocketbooks of those who seek profit. And what’s even more amazing is that this same company is responsible for one of the BIGGEST environmental disasters of our century IN Alaska, no less: Valdez, and they have yet to clean up nearly twenty acres of beaches IN Alaska that are still contaminated with oil and compensate business and people affected by it over sixteen years after the fact. The environment is still recovering and it just bewilders me how ANY place in the world would accept their dirty money after such brain dead business practices, irresponsible employees/employers and lack of concern!!! It just goes to show that man will most certainly destroy itself with illusions of power and superiority and the only ‘green’ they will ever care about is not environmental, but what comes into their wallets. It’s certainly a sad fate for those of us who do care. Soon, there will be nothing left to leave our children but a dead, empty world that we ourselves created—and that is a most discouraging thought. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Irene Turner EMAIL: dturner@mc.net IP: 209.172.148.4 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 01:32:11 AM I, along with many other intelligent people, am not gullible. The government has covered up their lies with too many stories. I thought the government was suppose to represent the people who voted it in and not by the corporations trying to buy it. Knowledge is power and not money. We've had over 25 years to produce fuel efficient vehicles. Why isn't the government backing up the bright minds working on such projects? I will continue to do my best to protect God's Creation. By the way, I wasn't spammed. I've been a member for over 20 years and if I want to contribute money for a worthy cause, it's my right, as U.S. citizen. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lyn Henri EMAIL: lrosaj@hotmail.com IP: 67.185.83.7 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 01:35:10 AM Why does greed have to take precedence in how this country is run? That's a sign of someone being gullible, not those who don't want to see the wildlife ruined by oil drilling! I think the economy in Alaska won't be increased by oil drilling; pure greed will, though, via oil companies and the greedy politicians running amok in the White House, especially our president! Why does GWB think that oil drilling in the Alaska Refuge is the only way to protect national security? That's a cheap shot, and so is the article against those who want to keep the Wildlife Refuge a wild place! We're at the brink of ethical extinction in this country, what with the fanatical dependence of oil, which had reached the boiling point, as in greedily wanting to drill in one of the last wildlife areas of the U.S., if not the world. It's deplorable to me that greed and corruption takes precedence over saving the wild places in our country. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Audrey Barnhart EMAIL: snakelady@dia.net IP: 66.97.235.100 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 02:19:04 AM Drilling in the Arctic NWR would be a like amputating a healthy limb to relieve symptoms of hardened arteries for a few months. By the time the stub healed over, the heart symptoms would increase again. It would be a bizzare approach to a problem that needs preventive treatment, not experimental surgery. Personally, I think our culture is very gullible--we have bought the greedy 'American Dream' and called it a better way of living. Do we really NEED a second home, a television, a second car, a jam-packed schedule, a health club, and gourmet coffee in styro cups? Do we NEED economic growth? I think we NEED huge, wide-open spaces to be there for our kids, and we need to trim down our lifestyles to make plenty of time to spend outdoors in wild places, big and small, with our children and grandchildren. We NEED to buy back the gift of nature that we as a culture have sold for profit, as emotional health insurance for our local and global communities. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Davi-Ann Mason EMAIL: daviann_mason@yahoo.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 02:24:49 AM The National Wildlife foundation is one of the most honorable organizations in this Country and when they say wildlife is threatened, do I belive them or the ones who stand to profit... I will stand by the NWF always! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Al Moore EMAIL: supermacxx@gci.net IP: 24.237.152.212 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 02:40:46 AM Hi, I live in Alaska and I feel the same way as all of those who wrote to support ANWR. I'd like to know if this complete section of comments, by those who also support ANWR, has been delivered to the Anchorage Times? I think this would be an excellent idea! Give them an item to digest and see if they continue with these articles. I've Google searched for a 'Times' site, but have not been able to locate one. I'll keep looking for one and then I'll send in this web site and tell them to open their eyes and review it and hope for their enlightenment. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tara Athan EMAIL: tara_athan@safe-mail.net IP: 70.36.19.200 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 02:45:05 AM The two sides of the Arctic NWR drilling issue are not divided according to gullible/not gullible. One one side we have those who value wild, pristine nature, even though they have never been there and probably never will. On the other side are those who value money and economic development, even though (amazingly) they may not receive any direct profit from it. This fight is not about the Arctic NWR. It is about setting a precedent that will help define the future course of the United States-for coexistence with nature or for extinction of all. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Daniel R Vallero EMAIL: dukeswampy@juno.com IP: 67.150.72.54 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 03:11:13 AM contact the National Wildlife Federation for the truth! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laurie Gutenberg EMAIL: Laurie-Neil@msn.com IP: 24.16.9.78 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 04:21:54 AM It is my humble opinion that many Alaskans have a skewed impression of reality and are therefore the ones who are gullible. My grandfather who was highly educated and intelligent, lived in Alaska since the 1950's. He recently passed away but was very proud of and awed by his state and its magnificent beauty. He was, however, also very supportive of the oil companies. He was all for the first pipeline and even after the Exxon Valdez dumped oil all over Prince William Sound, where he kept his boat harbored (in Valdez), Grandpa would not say a single bad word about oil. As far as he was concerned, any expansion that could be done was a good idea. As an educated person who has grown up "outside" and come to visit my grandparents and Alaska often, I find his line of thinking incredible. After many heated discussions around the dinner table, I can only come to the conclusion, as I stated previously, that his (and many of his friends') perception was skewed. The State of Alaska is so vast and it's population so sparse (compared to most of our Nation's other great states) that many people who live there think a little drilling on some land where nobody lives anyway won't hurt anyone. My grandfather in fact very patriotically believed that Alaska was, and would be, saving the United States from Arab dependancy. He believed the politicians and their skewed version of truth. In his defense, he also saw jobs for the unemployed and higher and continued annual dividend checks which many Alaskan families count on to live. They don't seem to see the big picture. They don't see that the benefits Alaskans will realize will be short-lived. They don't see that wrecking the land also wrecks our water supply and increases global warming. I believe many Alaskans have been befuddled by the government and pacified by their annual checks. Gullible? Look in the mirror. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Teresa Grieshaber EMAIL: teresagrieshaber@msn.com IP: 24.111.27.248 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 04:26:18 AM How ironic to use gullible when the newly-elected republican senator from South Dakota had the president come here to campaign for him. Then he was flown in a fuel-powered jet to the arctic to "look over" the situation. He then made a public statement saying energy is more important to our environment then a few caribou and he supports drilling there. He has already used more money and fuel than they will ever get by destroying the arctic . ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kristin Hanson EMAIL: thora7@gci.net IP: 24.237.151.47 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 04:34:34 AM I have lived in Alaska for 25 years and I have always been against ANWR. The politicians have lost my respect because of ANWR and the Exxon Valdez oil spill. They have yet to pay a penny to anyone in Alaska, that they were ordered to pay, by the courts! The only people that want ANWR open are the gullible ones to believe all these untruths and hidden reality of what is going to really happen up there if they open it to oil drilling. The politicians are trying to pull the wool over everyones eyes again, and for what? $$$$$$$$$ what else! I have seen so much destruction in Alaska in the 25 years that I have been here, when are we going to stop destroying Mother Earth and start helping her to survive. ANWR oil is just a few drops in the bucket, do not let them fool us anymore! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dianne E Miller EMAIL: dianmiller1@comcast.net IP: 24.19.180.170 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 05:31:50 AM Those of us who have taken the trouble to educate ourselves AND then do something about preserving our national treasures should have pretty tough hides by now. Gullible? Hardly. It's a measure of just how low the pro-oil interests will sink to bully and browbeat anyone who dares oppose them. So, if I and the MILLIONS of other likeminded Americans are considered "gullible," I can only believe that it's because you've sold out and refuse to admit the truth of your position, no matter how ridiculous or wrong it may be. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: michael hinshaw EMAIL: nanimwe2@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 05:36:42 AM One wonders where the journalist ethics of objectivity has gone in these days. I thought that journalist students were taught that it is ethically correct to only report the truth, not distort it to support ones position. It is also a very weak arguement to use an ad hominim attack. One attacks the person when ones argument is weak. One does not need to attack the person when ones argument is strong. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kevin Tipton EMAIL: kevtipper09@hotmail.com IP: 147.188.209.144 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 05:42:37 AM I am not surprised that proponents of drilling have begun to squirm and resorted to these tactics. Does anyone else find it ironic that they are calling us "gullible"? Personally, I feel I have a fairly in-depth understanding of what is goin on. It seems fairly simple to me...for a modicum of oil that will make little difference to us in the long term, we will change forever a pristine wilderness. Regardless of what is said, even with the much bally-hooed new methods that will mean less damage, the area will be changed - forever. That is not acceptable, especially when the same people refuse to even consider conservation measures that would mean much more to less reliance on foreign oil. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Barleycorn EMAIL: greenman@surfglobal.net IP: 65.141.175.204 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 05:53:17 AM How about a new idea? Stop making engines that run on oil and gasoline? The technology exisits, it is only denied us because of the 'cost effectiveness' of the change. Got news for you: money isn't real, but Mother Earth is. Time to wake up, everybody. Stop drilling in the refuge? Yes. Stop drilling period? Yes! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bostjan Kravcar EMAIL: kravcar@iskratel.si IP: 193.77.24.12 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 06:44:53 AM I dare to ask all of you, who claim that drilling the Arctic refuge is for the public benefit - can you honestly say you're doing this for the future of your children, which should be the first and most important meaning of your life ? I know I am concerned if my kids will be born to a living planet or an empty barren desert, so one of us is not honest. Do I drive a car that burns petrol ? I do, but that's becuse "big guys" refuse to offer me an alternative ! Destroying the last pristine wilderness for a few hundred barrels that will last some 20-30 years at the most according to your own expert analyses, and then what ? Well "oil boys"..figure it out, if that's your legacy for your kids. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Donna Ruff EMAIL: donature@verizon.net IP: 70.17.190.85 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 07:17:28 AM The actual facts speak for themselves. The gullible here are those who continue to blindly use oil as though it were not a limited resource. We need to reduce our dependence on oil, and we have the brains, money, and technology development ability to do so. Americans are not stupid nor deplete of the ability to adjust; however, those who push for intelligent long-term technology that would assist our own survival are consistently labeled in derogatory terms. There is no sense being used here, but many dollars being spent and made by keeping most Americans in the dark about the real needs for our future. Step up to the plate and insist that money is spent on developing alternative technologies and a reduction in consumption. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lyn Henri EMAIL: lrosaj@hotmail.com IP: 67.185.83.7 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 07:20:19 AM I've not even been to Alaska at all, yet the dumb GWB administration is hell-bent on destroying everything with his crappy allies in the big oil industries with their insidious wrecking ball and chains! That's not fair! I think they need to leave their grimy hands off this wild place---and play with the oil supply in their own dirty minds! Are we so dependent on oil that we need to ruin such beauty in Alaska? The GWB administration wants all of us to think so. Some legacy for future generations, huh? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: kb EMAIL: calicokatzen@ecoisp.com IP: 4.239.39.41 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 07:42:17 AM the anchorage times is gullible & is probably funded by gwb's buddies to try to destroy alaska for their own profit. shame on them. leave the earth alone - she has enough problems without making more. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: aj EMAIL: ut_fans@msn.com IP: 71.113.128.21 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 07:45:38 AM why do humans, especially the author, think that we are the only thing on this planet that really matters? what right do you believe we have to go in and damage and destroy a complete ecosystem that has been in existance since before there was humans on this planet? why would you beleive that such a small amount of oil is going to save us and answer all our questions about our future? maybe instead of spending billions of dollars to brain wash us, we should spend that on finding ways to have cleaner energy and live in co-existance with the planet and every other species on it? i am sure that the author is getting paid by the oil companies because there can't be anyone out there that is as gullable as this author sounds! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sheila Polk EMAIL: spolk@ganong.com IP: 142.166.79.50 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 07:48:55 AM Gullible? Definately not! Once wildlife becomes extinct........we are next! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nancy EMAIL: georgec@dmcom.net IP: 209.23.27.79 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 08:18:05 AM I am appalled that we as a nation have so little regard and respect for anything at all anymore. Our government, and big business are only interested in the almighty dollar. They are very self serving. They have millions, and just want more and more. There comes a time when we as constituents must say enough is enough. I believe that the Artic Wilderness is one place where we as concerned citizens must draw the line. The Artic Wilderness MUST be left alone. It's time the greedy individuals who apparently run our country start being accountable to all the people, not just their cohorts and fellow partners in shame. Nancy C ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Roseanne Scepansky EMAIL: rscepans@hotmail.com IP: 165.89.84.88 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 08:18:58 AM Is nothing sacred anymore? Are all promises hollow intended to be broken when convenient? This just overwhelms me with deep sadness and anger. For being the suposedly superior life forms on this earth, how is it those in power ignore the truth. Don't "You" and you know who I mean. Don't you care what will become of your children's children after you are long gone? We cannot afford to destroy one more natural resource/habitat, one more species of anything. Balance must be restored. Humans are the most destructable force upon this earth. They don't have to be! Please stop being greedy and let the inventors who have already discovered alternate resources be allowed to share them. It is for the greater good of all life on earth. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bonnie Bartlett EMAIL: bdimichele@cc.nih.gov IP: 128.231.88.6 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 08:20:00 AM Alaska's wilderness is one of the last places on this planet where wildlife, and native flora can exist in harmony. We cannot exploit this part of our planet, it will never recover. Bonnie Bartlett Rockville, MD ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: M Fesenmaier EMAIL: maryjof@genevaonline.com IP: 64.201.77.25 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 08:26:50 AM We (the NWF and its supporters) are NOT gullible about the facts of drilling in ANWR. We are NOT gullible when we believe that the combustible engine is out-dated technology that needs to be replaced immediately. We are NOT gullible when we are active at the local level to save our green spaces. It's ALL connected, and we are NOT gullible enough to act as if it's not. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lori Lojak EMAIL: myethan@bellatlantic.net IP: 209.195.135.106 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 08:33:26 AM Why would anyone believe what the oil companies have to say? Remember, they are the ones that are charging you over $3.00 a gallon for gas and are 'swimming' in profits. The oil companies do not care about people or wildlife, they only care about the 'green' in their pockets! They will use lies anyway they can to get what they want WITH the governments help. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Manuela Vieira-DaPonte EMAIL: stonesfan3@aol.com IP: 134.80.35.68 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 08:36:25 AM Gullible? The only gullible people are those that trust and believe the current administration and the lies they perpetuate!!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Helene J. Carr EMAIL: hcarr@ossining.k12.ny.us IP: 166.109.117.176 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 08:39:53 AM There are other oil reserves we can use without maintaining our dependence on foreign oil (Gulf of Mexico perhaps). There are alternative fuel sources that have been available for decades but government won't put the time, money and effort into it - I assume because of pressure from big oil companies. I voted Republican in the last election and am following a conservative path. However, I have never agreed with the party's position on the environment. I am not gullible. I know that money talks and the Anchorage Times is probably saying what big oil or government officials is paying it to say. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cami Dukay EMAIL: cdukay@hotmail.com IP: 144.81.24.3 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 08:42:59 AM Gullible – how can we be gullible when the facts are so clear. Gullible because we are not greedy ? Gullible because we care about nature and wildlife ? You should be ashamed of yourselves ! Bottom line – oil companies are in it for the money – Bush is backing drilling because his financial backers are pushing him to do it – like a puppet. Please think before you publish another article. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gini Squire EMAIL: Smokymtngirl@msn.com IP: 65.54.97.192 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 08:43:04 AM Mother Earth will give what she can but expects to be given respect in return. You can only take from a fountain for so long before that fountain will go dry and I do believe that our fountain is close to drying up. If we don't learn to treat our resources with the respect they deserve then we will have to learn how to do without them. I would consider myself gullible if I believed that drilling in the Artic Refuge is going to make a difference, if I believed that there was enough oil to solve all our problems ~ that would be gullible. There is a better way. MOther Earth needs to be treated like our own backyards, don't do something anywhere else that you wouldn't do in your own backyard! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: K Tietjen EMAIL: ktietjen@juno.com IP: 70.107.255.85 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 08:43:41 AM I'm all for protecting wildlife. At the same time, I'm also all for not giving money to people that are trying to kill us. We the people of the United States are not allowed to drill for oil, build new refineries or do much of anything for fear of angering a group of people. I think that the energy plan was planned out by those that have something to gain. Some independent group (including nature conservation organizations) needs to put forth an energy plan that allows us to not be so dependent on foreign countries for energy needs (this includes drilling somewhere near home). ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cami Dukay EMAIL: cdukay@hotmail.com IP: 144.81.24.3 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 08:43:57 AM Gullible – how can we be gullible when the facts are so clear. Gullible because we are not greedy ? Gullible because we care about nature and wildlife ? You should be ashamed of yourselves ! Bottom line – oil companies are in it for the money – Bush is backing drilling because his financial backers are pushing him to do it – like a puppet. Please think before you publish another article. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Heather Merbs EMAIL: hmerbs@aol.com IP: 168.11.77.199 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 08:52:23 AM What makes our country great is not its ability to conquer other lands…but preserve our own. We are a powerful and wealthy nation because have the means to set aside beautiful, unique and wild places within our borders like ANWR and the ability to keep our water and air clean. When we lose that ability, we become less powerful as a nation. We will become like poorer nations who scramble for resources, looking under every rock for oil, at every tree for lumber. We become like the non-democratic countries that compromise the health of their people to satisfy the greed of a few. When we give up our wild places to satisfy the greed of a few, we diminish ourselves as a country. No amount of "policing" other countries will bring back what we have lost when our beautiful places and clean air and water are gone. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: JDG EMAIL: pcservicetek@netzero.net IP: 136.181.195.9 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:00:06 AM There was a Documentary on PBS - "Extreme Oil". I thought it was very good series but also very sad - to see what these oil companies do. They have a total disregard for people, their health, their Land, the environment, and to the law. But ultimately they are providing a product that we buy, use and support. When the time comes that we don't need oil in our vehicle. Thank God. I think the people calling us gullible are the same people who are upset at what the cost is for them to fill up their big Truck/SUV. We as Americans need to show that we are interested in alternate fuel sources for our vehicles. High Gas prices may actually be a good thing. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joan Benincasa EMAIL: joan_b@comcast.net IP: 69.141.232.176 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:04:41 AM The drilling for oil in the Artic refuge is being sold to the American public on the premise that it will make us less dependent on foreign oil, ergo, the price of oil will decrease significantly and the American public would benefit with lower fuel and gasoline prices. This will NEVER happen. This proposal is a windfall for oil companies. The American public will never see a dime of any so-called savings. I fear that the American public are going to be the gullible ones and believe it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Maryjane Sweet EMAIL: mjs84green@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:05:16 AM The people who are gullible are the ones who think that the oil in Alaska will save our energy crisis. The only solution to the problem is to conserve oil. Dont buy that Hummer for recreational use. Try car pooling etc. etc. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Melanie EMAIL: ciphereli@sbcglobal.net IP: 69.177.12.249 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:13:08 AM How can they possibly expect us to be gullible enough to believe their pack of lies? Drilling is NOT okay in a wildlife refuge, no matter what they say about minimal impact blah blah blah. Do we really need more destroyed and useless land, when we've already trashed so much of this planet? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Peffer EMAIL: doglvr@visuallink.com IP: 66.84.80.22 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:18:37 AM Enough is enough! As humans we have destroyed enough of our earth in the name of "development". The only thing we have developed is "greed". It is time for us to save our earth from more greedy development, and we can start by NOT drilling in the Arctic. It is up to us to repair the damage that has already been done. If we dont take care of our land, wildlife and natural resources, who will? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rudranath EMAIL: Rudranath@webmail.southwest.cc.nc.us IP: 65.210.100.13 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:26:16 AM It is ironic that many Alaskans ae okay about destroying the very habitat in which they live?? Talk about biting off the hand that feeds you. There will certainly be many consequences of drilling in the refuge and many of them will negatively affect the local people of Alaska. People of Alaska wake up!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: M. Snelson EMAIL: madonna-snelson@utulsa.edu IP: 129.244.6.215 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:26:43 AM I shudder to see yet more evidence that our country is slipping back into the 19th century where the great robber barons took what they wanted without a thought about the good of the people and the land. This is simply another instance of big businesses such as ExxonMobile, Enron, the R. Murdock web and others of their ilk, in league with the current administration in an effort to dispoil the land and treat the people as pawns in their neverending greed for the big profit. What saddens me most is that the American people are willing to sit back and let it happen. Have we learned nothing from the past? Then we must be doomed to repeat it. We, as the people, must stop this mass consumerism, lusting after the biggest house, cars, etc. We, also, are guilty of fueling the depressing trend of destruction. M. Snelson ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Julie Bernhardt EMAIL: gardentoad9@hotmail.com IP: 68.58.30.142 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:27:15 AM I've researched both sides of this issue and know that the gullible people are the ones that believe in this smear campaign against us. Once this land is ruined we can never go back and undo the damage. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jamie Rodriquez EMAIL: tigerpaws@ou.edu IP: 129.15.70.225 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:27:28 AM I am sorry for you if you believe what oil companies tell you and even more so if you believe what the Bush administration tells you. It is a sales job-that is the gimmick-sold hook, line, and sinker to the gullible who want a quick way out of the mess these people and those like them have gotten this country into. Drilling for oil in ANWAR is a useless exercise and the price is the loss of a pristine wilderness. If energy companies and the administration were really interested in energy independence there would be a "Manhattan Project" for energy. We have been to the moon and are exploring Mars-we can solve our energy problem with our best minds dedicated to the greater good instead of windfall profits and political payback. Sincerely, Jamie C. Rodriquez ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anna EMAIL: annastarco@yahoo.com IP: 199.144.64.24 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:33:26 AM The facts show it loud and clear, even if you argue that the oil drilling is necessary it is only a temporary fix and so temporary (at our comsumption rates) that it would barely make a difference at a major cost to the environment. Congress has a lot more important issues to concentrate on than keeping tabs on oil companies. If anything, it is good that NWF is around to motivate and inspire people to speak out and become politically active so that we don't complain to ourselves and never get anything accomplished. This is OUR government, we need to take back control over it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patty Bickel EMAIL: pbickel@pennswoods.net IP: 12.163.89.32 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:40:23 AM "Gullible." C'mon, is that the best you can throw at us? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: nathan pate EMAIL: jknp@sbcglobal.net IP: 70.246.148.29 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:47:08 AM yes i'm gullible, if gullible means having a masters degree in environmental science, and studying the procedures, effects, objectives, outcomes, and politics of oil drilling for about 10 years. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cathy Thornal EMAIL: thornacl@eckerd.edu IP: 198.187.212.183 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:58:39 AM How can so many "religious" people insist that God is the guiding force in our country's foundation? It is so obvious to all us "gullible" folk that GREED is the almighty for the oil companies, the Bush administration, and anyone else who mistakenly believes the small amount of oil in the Alaskan Refuge will lower gas prices so you can have more money in your own pocket. In order to give more profits to the oil companies and Bush, we will sacrifice a place, as we have so many other wilderness places, that's beauty can make you feel God's presence all around you. I say it's time for the author of that article to face up to the truth! Free energy (wind/solar)is where the money for developement should be spent instead of destroying this pristine wilderness forever. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: spike EMAIL: pschram@du.edu IP: 216.187.154.82 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 10:08:09 AM One more attempt by our most recent wefare recipients (the oil companies) to get an even bigger slice of OUR PIE! This obscenity has gone far enough. It IS time for the revolution to start and the oil company uppity-ups and those who support them (including the oily politicos who accept their monies as campaign and PAC contributions) need to be the first ones up against the wall. These same politicos are NOT taking the necessary step of getting this country off of the oil standard so we need to get rid of the politicos: by whatever means necessary. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Arianna Huffington McDonald EMAIL: huff@netmail.com IP: 66.69.149.70 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 10:09:15 AM Actually this article is right, there are gullible people out there that have little education and no scientific knowledge and believe what the wacko enviro-left wings say. What we need is a better education system paid for by the increased oil taxes that would come from ANWR, then our society would be better off. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robert Rodriguez EMAIL: robrod007@yahoo.com IP: 65.2.203.40 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 10:15:06 AM I am NOT Gullible! What I am is informed. The Arctic Refuge should only be used as a last means under National Security Type necessity for the possibility of discovering oil and utilizing it for National Defense purposes only. Other than that, we should truly be spending Billions, not millions developing alternate energy sources. When will this or any other administration wake up and realize it's getting late in the game. It's almost the end of the 3rd quarter with one quarter left. Get off your rear ends, all you politicians, both Republicans and Democrats and put the money where your mouth is. Put it in Alternative Energy Resources studies and development. But don't you consider drilling the Arctic National Refuge. And this, coming from a staunch Republican Conservative! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Bev Olson EMAIL: cmcyakima@aol.com IP: 172.20.97.88 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 10:29:11 AM Money and greed is what motivates the Bush administration and all of HIS oil buddies to exploit a resource that really hold so little promise to our energy problems. And now, the promise of big oil dollars into the state of Alaska is prompting brown nosing publicists to sell out. I feel sorry for the people of the state of Alaska when all they see is a few quick bucks! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Helen V. Brautnick EMAIL: hbrautnick2@comcast.net IP: 69.250.26.89 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 10:30:36 AM Gullible Us!! Yes we were gullible to vote for Bush and his mobsters a second time. (If you did thinking things would swing back into balance for the environment.) Now we know that is not true. How can any intelligent person think for one minute that six months of oil is worth the end of a pristine nature preserve? I say they are gullible for not opening their eyes, ears and brain to the real truth! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lynn & Mike Noel EMAIL: lynnmikenoel@yahoo.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 10:35:42 AM The only gullible people are those who believe that these newspapers are not bought and paid for by big oil.The BIG LIE is alive and well in Bush's Washington. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anna Walters EMAIL: awalters.chi@littlebrothers.org IP: 66.88.34.178 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 10:36:01 AM Just because I don't live in Alaska does not mean I don't understand the issue, nor does it mean I do not have to right to fight for the protection of this land. I do understand this would financially benefit the local population, but the cost is just too damn high - and can never be recovered. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: lj strong EMAIL: ljk4@att.net IP: 70.187.41.24 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 10:40:50 AM We need to stop being reactive, as a nation we are starting to cling desperately to keeping things as they are. When you cling to the past you are back sliding. Constantly grabbing in an attempt to keep yourself stationary instead of accepting that life moves foward. We need to start looking toward the future in a way that accepts resposiblity for the damage we've done and takes into account the damage we will do. We need not to live cradle to grave but, cradle to cradle. Develop a way of life that is more cyclic (like reduce, reuse, recycle) less linear (build, use, toss). Drilling in the Artic is a sad attempt to try an allow ourselves to believe that we don't have to change and grow. We can live as we are for generations. It is not true. We must find better and cleaner ways of transportation. More oil is not the answer. Less dependancy on oil is the answer. We need to proactively change our way of life to embrace a new way of getting around. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: C. Robertson EMAIL: cat1222@comcast.net IP: 24.147.189.0 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 10:46:52 AM If I am gullible because I care about protecting our environment for my, my children's and my grandchildren's sake, then gullible I am. How ignorant for big business to attack those of us who care more about the world we live in then their big profits. Shame of them. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: C. Robertson EMAIL: cat1222@comcast.net IP: 24.147.189.0 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 10:48:42 AM If I am gullible because I care about protecting our environment for my, my children's and my grandchildren's sake, then gullible I am. How ignorant for big business to attack those of us who care more about the world we live in then their big profits. Shame of them. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barb James EMAIL: jamesxx@sbcglobal.net IP: 68.79.4.34 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 10:49:06 AM There is so little unspoiled land left - the Arctic Refuge should not be drilled for oil. There's not enough oil there to help and why are we still so dependent on oil anyway? Why haven't we been working on alternative fuel and energy sources? Leave the land for the animals who call it home and don't disturb it by drilling for oil. Don't call those of us who care about the land gullible - is ExxonMobile subsidizing your paper? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: kerry d lawson EMAIL: musky5552@yahoo.com IP: 71.115.88.212 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 10:50:15 AM This is part of a last ditch effort give money to big oil before the congressional Republicans begin to shuffle away from this leadership as the elections near. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: CELENE GARDNER EMAIL: KICENO@AOL.COM IP: 63.65.14.195 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:02:03 AM How much is the oil we are already drilling for in Alaska helping the American Public are we the sole recipients of all this oil or is it sold overseas at a very large profit for the oil companies? If they and the mining and lumber industries had their way we would not have old forest land, beautiful nation parks or pristine wilderness they would rape the land and then discard the mess for the taxpayers to live with or clean up.They are willing to sell our heritage and our souls out for the almighty dollar. Their day of retribution can't come soon enough, a pox on all of them and their house. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: CELENE GARDNER EMAIL: KICENO@AOL.COM IP: 63.65.14.195 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:03:59 AM How much is the oil we are already drilling for in Alaska helping the American Public are we the sole recipients of all this oil or is it sold overseas at a very large profit for the oil companies? If they and the mining and lumber industries had their way we would not have old forest land, beautiful nation parks or pristine wilderness they would rape the land and then discard the mess for the taxpayers to live with or clean up.They are willing to sell our heritage and our souls out for the almighty dollar. Their day of retribution can't come soon enough, a pox on all of them and their house. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marsha Hanneman EMAIL: Materialhandler@northlandstainless.com IP: 66.14.78.208 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:06:40 AM I am not as gullibe as the newspaper who printed that editorial,they do seem to honestly believe the stories the Bush oil families have been saying. They have been holding hands with the Saudias the hole time. I know who benifits from high oil prices. If they go high enough then some may be fooled into believing that Alaska is our only hope to lower prices. It is not much oil compared to what we use. We need to conserve and reduce.Not drill for more. Use the WIND!!!!!!!!! Our family put up a 20 KW wind turbine ourselves and it works great!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Pemberton EMAIL: johnpemberton@comcast.net IP: 65.195.232.14 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:14:30 AM I am not gullible. I know that my $20. is going to stop greed in the ANWAR. To believe the editorial is to believe anything that is printed. You have degraded the editorial product of the Times. Look at a satellite photo of Midland, Texas and tell me that the footprint is small. Road after road to a "test" well to best find where to drill scar the landscape forever. How much money do the citizens of Alaska get for ruining their own backyard? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Christine Lee EMAIL: polkaroo0117@yahoo.com IP: 24.43.209.86 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:15:16 AM How disgusting, sad, and frustrating that journalists have the gall to wrongly accuse a non-profit organization that is attempting to preserve the few pristine habitats that remain across America; not a small feat when people like Bush are in power. Instead journalists should be showing the gullible supporters of the Bush administration how foolish they were to allow such an individual to rule a nation. This country is on a self-destructive, downward spiral. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lorraine EMAIL: lfarina@wiley.com IP: 12.149.50.2 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:18:57 AM How unfortunate that the polar bears will not be able to be relocated to survive someplace else, not to mention all the other unique wildlife that thrives there. Taking the land is the tip of the iceberg. Remember the Exxon Valdize and how much damage that oil spill did to the environment. They never even finsihed "cleaning" it up. If they dig for oil it will have to be shipped out on tankers. We can't afford another oil spill that kills so much wildlife. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jody Harper EMAIL: istakota@yahoo.com IP: 64.213.98.232 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:22:11 AM Yet another example the deviousness of the Bush Administration and their cronies. Take a look in your own mirror, the face you see staring back will be “gullible”. Gullible is some one writing such propaganda, and for whose benefit? Not the American public, or the Alaskans. The author of the article is the definition of gullible: 1) naive and easily deceived or tricked (by the Bush administration and the big oil companies); 2) easily tricked because of being too trusting (too trusting of the oil companies and those involved with them). It is quite apparent that trust can be purchased from the “gullible”. For myself, I have never, nor will I ever walk blindly into the support of anythng without having done my research first, can the author of the article say the same? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Katherine Sweeney EMAIL: csweeney1@kc.rr.com IP: 65.26.16.85 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:26:15 AM "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: K.Greenberg EMAIL: kmgrnbrg@iowatelecom.net IP: 69.66.146.88 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:26:35 AM I treasure the idea that there might just be a few places in this world untouched by Mankind. Please leave the Artic Refuge as it is, and quit insulting concerned intelligent citizens for caring. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Angie Unruh, RN EMAIL: angharad320@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:29:55 AM I expect that, in all these previously written words, some or all of my sentiments have been expressed, those of the obvious destruction of ANWR if drilling is allowed there (witness current drilling in Prudhoe Bay and the still obvious destruction from the Exxon-Valdez fiasco; those of the only obvious profit motives of BIG OIL (who are they trying to kid?); and the sorrow and anger I feel about the current and planned destruction of any of this planet in the search for and production of fossil fuels; not to exclude the obvious... that we are well able to develop alternative fuel technology...NOW! So I just think that, instead of trying to present a cogent argument for representing all these sentiments, I will just send the NWF more of my hard earned dollars so that they might be able to litigate against fools who write letters implying that the NWF is bilking us out of our money, and that they might be able to increase the monies they require to continue providing thinking, reasoning persons the information that they do provide. Maybe the monies they secure from caring citizens like myself will be RESPONSIBLY used to prevent the systematic destruction of the flora and fauna that exist on this earth and thereby keep most of us alive and well!! No..not just alive and well, but able to enjoy and to participate in life...ALL LIFE...as it exists today and to preserve it for generations to come... not just for their physical, but for their mental health, as well! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Amy Bueno EMAIL: thinkustomnos@cox.net IP: 68.2.173.162 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:31:11 AM It is horrible when the real truth is turned around to make many caring people look like fools. We are not gullibe, we are exactly opposite because we stay strong since the truth is behind us. It is so important for people to realize that drilling in the Arctic isn't going to cure our nationwide dependency on oil. We need to be supporting fuel-efficient vehicles if we really want to make a difference in our world. We will stand united on this matter because we DO know the truth. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lois Elg EMAIL: loiselg@ptd.net IP: 216.182.11.2 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:40:22 AM The only gullible people are the ones who believe that no damage will be done to the Arctic Refuge by drilling for, and transporting, oil in this pristine environment. It's easy for them to close their eyes and see only the dollar signs. Once the damage is done to the land, the sea, the wildlife...it is lost to us forever. Do we really want to do this to our children and grandchildren? Hasn't a lesson been learned from past thoughtless destruction? I can't thank and support organizations like the National Wildlife Federation enough for their perseverence in fighting to preserve our earth. I thank them for myself, my children, and my four grandchildren...especially Julia, who is 5 years old today. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: minilady EMAIL: minilady68@hotmail.com IP: 66.45.91.14 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:44:50 AM Opening the Refuge for drilling is not going to help the issue at all and will distroy a littlle place of beauty and peace. It was made a refuge once, it was meant to be protected.. it should stay that way. If we trully want to find a solution to the oil problem, we need to face the reality that the US waste oil in huge SUV and Truck, consume more plastic product than every where else in the world, do not recycle much, and still pass bills that allow to manufacture bigger and bigger vehicules and do not do much to get hybrid cars fast on this market or at a decent price. The SMART Car has been in Europe for several years now !!! and it is own by Chrysler. It is once more the battle of money & profit vs protection and respect. Will the people of America wake up and take back their democratic rights or will they keep on slowching on the couch being entertain by stupid TV so Mega COPR can keep them distracted on the reality of this world ??? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Caryl Dawson EMAIL: caryl@caryldawson.com IP: 68.49.206.198 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:48:17 AM Gullible! As a frequent visitor to Alaska to whale watch I have seen the beautiful State trying to fool the tourists and its own residents. Float on the rivers in a huge ship and notice the small band of trees by the river and the bald mountain in back. In the name of profit the state is chipping its heritage and protection away. Deforesting in the small town of Kake produced loses of homes in the flood waters that were not absorbed by the trees - because they were gone. How can anyone think that the disturbance of 2,000 acres will not leave a mark on the land or its people? When it is through drilling will the oil companies remove the rusting hulks of ugly metal? I don't think so, it will be too expensive to remove and it is not going to be a beautiful addition to the wilderness environment. Please preserve some beauty for the children a 100 years from now. Our earth is fragile, we cannot continue to abuse it and expect it to bounce back and feed us. Even the animals of the Arctic are dying from our progress. When we destroy the animal food chain, the land food chain, we seal our fate at the top of this food chain. Please think ahead to the future and leave something on this earth left for the people to come. When the oil is gone we will find a way to continue living as we do today. I believe we have the technology today to do that. Let's use it and reduce dependence on blood sucking countries to provide us the oil. Technical independence will strengthen us, provide new jobs and not allow the terrorists to try and bring down the US by raising oil prices to reduce our standard of living. If we raise our standard of preserving our land and way of life we can defeat those who are jealous of our way of life. The United States leads the world in technology and people from around the world will risk anything to come to this land of opportunity. Let us show by example that we have the knowledge and moral ability to preserve our precious land. Let's not show we can be badder than the bad guys are. Native cultures used the land they lived on, not abused it. Let's not show how unlearned we are in our quest for progress. Let's show that we have learned from history, not ignored it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: christine iannucilli harris EMAIL: ciannucilliharris@yahoo.com IP: 68.89.229.54 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:57:30 AM The current administration has a compassion deficit that correlates with the unprececdented budget deficit.It is hardly a surprise that greed and profit are primary motivators for all that they do.They lack compassion for the impaired soldiers they created and then tried to deny veterans benefits for.A government that fails to provide for those who are unable to care for themselves such as disabled soldiers loses its moral mandate to govern.It is unrealistic to expect a dipper of fresh water from a poison well.Our government has become incapable of seeing its own indecency.The gullible ones are the people who believe the current administration is comprised of moral people.Hope for a clean environment doesn't make us gullible.It is a refusal to be victimized by their immoral choices ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Luci Mazzetta EMAIL: isdorthystillalive@hotmail.com IP: 67.162.41.228 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:58:04 AM I frown upon those who feel this is over our heads and that we are hell-bent with gullibility...But whatever we are said to be, we are not; Not Imbeciles; Not Cowards: SHALL WE SPEAK POLITICS? ....As a famous little saying from Ghandi..."Be the change you Want to see in the world." That's all that counts, right? I'm thoroughly proud of everyone who has made any effort to fight back this nonsense.You know who you are, and you deserve the acknowledgement. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: christine iannucilli harris EMAIL: ciannucilliharris@yahoo.com IP: 68.89.229.54 URL: http://yahoo.com DATE: 08/19/2005 11:58:20 AM The current administration has a compassion deficit that correlates with the unprececdented budget deficit.It is hardly a surprise that greed and profit are primary motivators for all that they do.They lack compassion for the impaired soldiers they created and then tried to deny veterans benefits for.A government that fails to provide for those who are unable to care for themselves such as disabled soldiers loses its moral mandate to govern.It is unrealistic to expect a dipper of fresh water from a poison well.Our government has become incapable of seeing its own indecency.The gullible ones are the people who believe the current administration is comprised of moral people.Hope for a clean environment doesn't make us gullible.It is a refusal to be victimized by their immoral choices ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Luci Mazzetta EMAIL: isdorthystillalive@hotmail.com IP: 67.162.41.228 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:58:52 AM I frown upon those who feel this is over our heads and that we are hell-bent with gullibility...But whatever we are said to be, we are not; Not Imbeciles; Not Cowards: SHALL WE SPEAK POLITICS? ....As a famous little saying from Ghandi..."Be the change you Want to see in the world." That's all that counts, right? I'm thoroughly proud of everyone who has made any effort to fight back this nonsense.You know who you are, and you deserve the acknowledgement. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Catherine L. Stevens EMAIL: clswdcut@yahoo.com IP: 207.224.60.177 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 12:15:10 PM I truly understand fear and anger. It makes us very reactive instead of wise and thoughtful. It contributes to instant gratification and our egos. But many people, including me, have thought about the energy issues for many years and have seen the appalling consequences of our present use of the fossil fuels. I will turn 60 this next week. I was born and raised in Houston, TX and have seen the devastation of the environment and people from the refineries there. There are lots of reasons to conserve our resources and many of us are already walking the path of simplicity instead of the path of overcomsumption. There are people who are frail, elderly, pregnant who are in need of more energy than I need so I feel that my sacrifices are for the greater good. But when I see others who are just being greedy it bothers me. I think it is being selfish and unkind and I have decided to speak that as my truth. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Catherine L. Stevens EMAIL: clswdcut@yahoo.com IP: 207.224.60.177 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 12:17:01 PM I truly understand fear and anger. It makes us very reactive instead of wise and thoughtful. It contributes to instant gratification and our egos. But many people, including me, have thought about the energy issues for many years and have seen the appalling consequences of our present use of the fossil fuels. I will turn 60 this next week. I was born and raised in Houston, TX and have seen the devastation of the environment and people from the refineries there. There are lots of reasons to conserve our resources and many of us are already walking the path of simplicity instead of the path of overcomsumption. There are people who are frail, elderly, pregnant who are in need of more energy than I need so I feel that my sacrifices are for the greater good. But when I see others who are just being greedy it bothers me. I think it is being selfish and unkind and I have decided to speak that as my truth. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Eldon M. Nason EMAIL: emnason@jemni.net IP: 67.76.56.68 URL: http://www.jemnidistributors.com/Publishing DATE: 08/19/2005 12:20:46 PM “Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men. “True they have tried, but their efforts have been cast in the pattern of an outworn tradition. “Faced by failure of credit they have proposed only the lending of more money. “They know only the rules of a generation of self-seekers. “They have no vision, and when there is no vision the people perish. “The measure of the restoration lies in the extent to which we apply social values more noble than mere monetary profit.” Excerpt from Roosevelt’s Inaugural Address March 1933 Those of us not blinded by the glitz & bling of “mere monetary profit” nor by the reflection we see each morning in the mirror, have chosen to apply more noble social values to our time as stewards of this terrestrial embodiment that sustains us all. We have been successfully battling the “unscrupulous money changers and self-seekers” for the preservation of ANWR for a very long time. As we draw closer to the epiphany of petro-collapse we face what may be insurmountable odds in our struggle for the survival of all species including our own. Our adversaries, the corporatists and the global elite, are stronger than ever before. They have infiltrated and taken control of our entire government and seek to control every resource on the planet at any cost. Their propaganda machine, media outlets like The Anchorage Times, attempt to control public opinion by discrediting facts and “spinning” reality to conform to their agenda of illicit consumption and profit maximization. We may lose this battle, our “last stand” for ANWR, because we have allowed corporations to acquire more rights than people and in so doing have made profits more important than the web of life. “Unless you become more watchful in your States and check this spirit of monopoly and thirst for exclusive privileges, you will in the end find that the most important powers of Government have been given or bartered away, and the control of your dearest interests have been passed into the hands of these corporations.” Andrew Jackson, farewell address, 04 March 1837 The radicals in the GOP, the puppets of the “unscrupulous money changers” that now control our future, have been dubbed the “Neo-Cons” by the propaganda machine. They are not “New” and they are not “Conservatives”. They are the “Good o’l Boys” and the most radical leaders in the history of the United States. They are FACISTS. “Fascism should more appropriately be called corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power.” Benito Mussolini, Encyclopedia Italiana We are “GULLIBLE” – even with history as our guide we have through our actions or lack there-of allowed the current state of affairs become a reality for the world we live in. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Edward Kush, PhD EMAIL: edkush@hamptons.com IP: 198.136.32.56 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 12:36:50 PM I am a research engineer with expertise in energy. I am also a well-informed environmentalist. I am not gullible. If we need to substantially destroy one of the most pristine and wildlife- important areas left to us for the sake of energy-guzzling, we are indeed a weak nation with misguided priorities. Even a small effort at improved energy conservation could provide far more relief than the relatively small quantity of fossil fuel ANWR would provide. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Catherine L. Stevens EMAIL: clswdcut@yahoo.com IP: 207.224.60.177 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 12:37:21 PM I truly understand fear and anger. It makes us very reactive instead of wise and thoughtful. It contributes to instant gratification and our egos. But many people, including me, have thought about the energy issues for many years and have seen the appalling consequences of our present use of the fossil fuels. I will turn 60 this next week. I was born and raised in Houston, TX and have seen the devastation of the environment and people from the refineries there. There are lots of reasons to conserve our resources and many of us are already walking the path of simplicity instead of the path of overconsumption. There are people who are frail, elderly, pregnant who are in need of more energy than I need so I feel that my changes to my old way of life aren't sacrifices but are for the greater good. But when I see others who seem to act thoughtless and wasteful, it makes me feel sad because I have done those very same things and finally had to learn the hard way to treasure what I have. We are all part of the web, none of us are excluded. That is why I feel it is necessary to continue to speak out with my own life experiences in the hope that someone else may learn without having to learn the hard way of total loss. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Peter F. Davis-Dr. Edward L. Davis EMAIL: pdaviskk@hotmail.com IP: 24.218.51.59 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 12:49:46 PM Brazen arrogence like this papers publicity for Exxon goes beyond blatant arrgance and chutzpah-its criminally negligent. Anyone can be a criminal-this paper was-it putting inteligence and caring into something thats worthy of printing and dissemination-negligence takes little effort-and causes great pain-thats what a crime is-this paper is criminal. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Susan Grace Blandin EMAIL: b2nharmony@worldnet.att.net IP: 12.12.200.12 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 01:01:46 PM I moved to Alaska because I believed it was the "Last Hope", hope for the future of biodiversity, hope that we would learn from the errors of the past and protect one, The Artic National REFUGE, if not the last areas of wilderness. Alaska has some areas pristine and untouched, some to be protected with a gentle touch, and some to watch over and care for. How sad it was to find so many people encripted with greed, only watching their own bottom line, the PFD. These people are easily influenced by powerful greedy oil companies which remain very connected to the polititions and the choices they make. This sadly even after the Exxon Valdez, which continues to affect the coastal area; never to be pristine again. Almost daily there are reports, in small print, about 'oil spills' along the existing pipeline, just talk to someone who works there. The pressure in the line is so high,one small pin hole can devastate a very large area. We have the facts. There isn't enough oil to fix the problem, it's only a bandaid on a very large incision. Will we wait to put our energy into renewable resources until "its too late"? How sad that 'gullible' people believe the untruths passed on by the oil company's PR staff and don't take the time to look at the facts. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Darcie Holcomb EMAIL: dholcomb@ucriverkeeper.org IP: 69.38.59.210 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 01:11:55 PM It is a disgrace how the media twists the truth and selectively reports information that supports the interests of the oil industry. The truly gullible ones are those who voted for Bush and actually still believe that his decisions are made in the best interest of the public. The recent transportation budget does nothing but continue to line the pockets of the industry giants rather than focusing on ways to reduce our dependence on oil. The benefits of drilling in Alaska are not worth the costs--there is not enough oil in the refuge to make a dent in our foreign cosumption rate now, much less in ten years when it would actually be available in the marketplace. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marilyn EMAIL: Haimikins@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 01:16:14 PM It would be criminal to drill for oil in the Artic. There is only enough for 6 months and even if there were more the Artic should be left alone. Bush and the administration are in the pockets of the oil companies, anc always will be. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barbara Hayes EMAIL: detroitgardenctr@yahoo.com IP: 4.229.81.91 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 01:38:22 PM Besides the fact that so little oil exists, and it will take so many years of environmental degradation to get to it, the future of the native Gwi'nich (sp?) people, who rely on the yearly caribou migration for sustenance seems to be ignored. The caribou migratory route lies in the path of the area to be disrupted. Whether they will continue to migrate through this area seems to be doubtful. Drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge is completely unjustified. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Heather Quick EMAIL: quickheather429@hotmail.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: http://hometown.aol.com/amstlit/index.html DATE: 08/19/2005 01:43:11 PM The gullible are those who support Bush and his "Christian" values. If Bush were truly a Christian he would value life rather than destroy it. Everyone knows that oil drilling and petroleum products create more pollution and environmental damage which in turn damages and kills all life forms. So to all you so-called 'Christian' Bush supporters driving around in your tax write-off SUV's smoking your cigarettes and supporting this war of blood for oil, WHAT DO YOU THINK JESUS WOULD SAY TO YOUR ACTIONS??? Jesus says save the Artic Refuge, Bush is Satan!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Moni EMAIL: sammonilynn@yahoo.com IP: 66.7.14.83 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 01:46:52 PM As Chief Seattle said: "The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth." How can humans be so selfish and keep destroying land and animals who are more important to nature's balance than the material/ luxury thirsty human. Humans destroyed so much already- look for yourself: - No clean water - Pollution - Diseases - Extinction of cultures And species - Ongoing wars - Global warming and so on. How much further is this going? Everyone who doesn't see we HAVE to stop destroying and start respecting, appreciating and protecting, is "gullible"- simply "brainwashed"! About the contributions: It is people like the heads of the big oil companies who make the need of spending money to do something necessary. NWF and other environmental organizations are very important and have my full support! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Allie K EMAIL: allie@ihavefire.com IP: 66.41.172.183 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 01:50:13 PM The people in the middle east want YOU dead. They don't care about you, your children or your land. You can't reason with them - you can't change their minds (if we could we would have already done so). They WILL continue to come here and do their best to KILL as many of us as possible. The truth is we DO use fossil fuels. We can't magically overnight completely change our way of life and the fuels that drive us. Do you REALLY want to continue to fund the insane people that strive to kill your children?? Should we as a country continue to give money to those who would love nothing better than to get their hands on a nuclear weapon and destroy our precious land as well as those living on it?? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sue O'Harra EMAIL: oharras@mail.nih.gov IP: 128.231.88.6 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 01:53:17 PM Round and Round we go, and all the payoffs go in the big boys pockets, including business, govt officials and the president. That is what it has come to--the almighty Republican wallet. The ANWR problem is all about money, profit and nothing else, at the cost of the environment. The right needs the oil for all the outrageous vehicles on the road. We could learn a few lessons from England about transporation. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carl Zichella EMAIL: carl.zichella@sierraclub.org IP: 67.114.41.26 URL: http://www.sierraclub.org DATE: 08/19/2005 01:56:05 PM Talk about gullible... the author of the editorial could set thje world's record for gullibility if he (or she) actually believes drilling in the Arctic Refuge will have any impact on United States oil supply. He is entitled to his feeble opinion but not his own facts. Nothing changes the fact that most of the world's oil is elsewhere than North America, located in countries that for the most part don't like us much, and that drilling in one of the most remote locations on the planet will cost more and take longer than drilling in those other places. Finally there is more oil under Detroit in the form of auto fuel economy standards than we can ever obtain by drilling ALL US sources (and the persian gulf) combined. If we were to do something meaningful by drilling the Arctic it would be one thing. But it is actually meaningless, which also means it is stupid as well as destructive and a waste of our time. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Margery Dieball EMAIL: grandiose@earthlink.net IP: 4.253.133.222 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 02:03:46 PM I prefer gullible over greedy. At what point do we stop with the greed and start being accountable for the environment? At what point do we make an effort to leave some kind of decent legacy for our children and grandchildren? Do we wait until all the last great wilderness places have been spoiled? I read once that "we did not inherit the earth but barrowed it from our children". I think our children need to call in the loan because we are not good caretakers. I find it pathetic when people cannot argue the points of an issue but must attack those who disagree with them. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: claudia Gibson EMAIL: claudia.gibson@comcast.net IP: 24.5.96.150 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 02:24:16 PM If we don't keep em on the run, they will surely overrun us. And in the end all will be lost to the faceless corperate interests that could care less about anything but their bottom line. We are at the edge of the abyss. Pay attention. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jessica Ramos EMAIL: jramos@youstinka.com IP: 4.18.60.142 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 02:28:33 PM I really like how he called the 2000 acres a "tiny portion" of land. When do we stop? If we don't try and save these "tiny portions" of land soon we won't have anything left. This what Bush and his cronies try to do, trivialize the issues and try to make them seen less dire than they are. And unfortunately a lot of the public is uninformed of the issues and tend to believe what their "president" says. I wrote a letter to the editor of this newspaper and I urge others to as well. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pohakamalamalama Palmer EMAIL: watrbaby@aloha.net IP: 64.75.150.53 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 02:32:23 PM Aloha, What I do know is I'm neither naive or gullible. Drilling in the Arctic Refuge will only profit OIL not America. We will lose more than we can afford without the tiniest bit of oil availability to compensate. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Garrit EMAIL: garritv@hotmail.com IP: 216.91.52.65 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 02:42:52 PM The major gullibility many Americans, and the world, are guilty of is continuing to believe we can rely on oil. The subsidies Congress gave to the oil and gas industry could have been a huge investment in new technology for powering cars and heating homes--and actually implementing that technology. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: amy EMAIL: private@nowhere.net IP: 158.83.111.139 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 02:43:44 PM Everything that has been said here is the absolute truth! We are NOT GULLIBLE! We are the AWARE ones who KNOW that humans are destroying themselves by not taking the time to learn about the earth, its environments, and the way of nature, and by not taking CARE of it! Everyone else is IGNORING the environment and being CLUELESS about their own position in nature's scheme of things! It's absolutely absurd! The ANWR is a WILDLIFE REFUGE and on top of that it's already a well-known FACT that drilling there will NOT solve ANY problems! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Doris Loud EMAIL: louddl@corning.com IP: 199.197.135.1 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 03:15:46 PM Is it any surprise that many refer to newspapers as "rags"? I'm obviously not talking about the composition of the paper on which is printed such worthless..um... info? We certainly can't call it facts, can we? Further; is it any surprise that so many people take the media with more than a few grains of salt? It makes me wonder if the Anchorage Times has been that gulled by the promise of money that blatant mendacity is their only defense. My biggest fear is that we, as "the most intelligent beings on earth" are going to irreversably screw up all life on it. I wish those with the power to reach many had the same concerns. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Traci Tomte EMAIL: tmtomte@msn.com IP: 70.59.30.204 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 03:15:47 PM If given an inch, we KNOW the Shrub administration will TAKE a mile. I wish America would impeach this bum. Bush and his followers have been shown to be liars and cheats (WMD's anyone?), yet he still has his "sheep" bawling for yet more leeway in the Artic (95% of Alaska just isn't enough). There is not enough oil there to even justify their position. Leave this land alone. Stay out of the refuge. IT IS A VAST WASTE of time, money, energy and of course, a pristine environment. I don't see how Bush and his sheep sleep at night - must be counting their vast mountains of oil money... --unless, of course, the shepard and his flock don't have a conscience (to share) or common sense to begin with... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kelsey EMAIL: surferchic509@yahoo.com IP: 68.65.206.97 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 03:16:36 PM It is time for the government to start listening to the people and stop putting their greed ahead of what the majority of this country has stated time and again - that they want to leave the Artic Refuge alone. This place was set aside as a haven decades ago for a reason, and America needs to stand up and refuse to let one greedy administration destroy this pristine ecosystem forever. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lisa Dekker EMAIL: dekkerwest@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 03:26:29 PM Greed and desperation from the behemoths that want to crush the truth; that's what we're hearing. I've seen the photos, bought the books, talked to those who've been there and I know that the Refuge is worth every donation, and every penny spent to oppose the forces that would destroy it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Elaine Bridge EMAIL: xxpanthereyezxx@yahoo.com IP: 131.91.136.234 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 03:41:57 PM Attacking an organization that actually works for the people and represents it's members truthfully and dutifully is absurd and simply shows the desperateness of an opposition that has realized that it doesn't have a leg to stand on, but still insists that their ideas are correct despite mountains of evidence to the contrary. However, this article does indeed show that the opposition to environmental protection is vigorous and has at least some power or else articles as ridiculous as this one would not be printed every day all across the U.S. This article shows us (the average citizen who supports environmental protection) what we are up against and the forces that must be overcome in order to succeed in our endeavers to rescue the planet from our fellow humans. I urge every one to keep up the fight to save the future of our planet. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jessica Way EMAIL: badkittee76@hotmail.com IP: 66.14.227.234 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 03:55:28 PM I've had opportunity to read articles from both sides of this argument. I'm not one to blindly follow anothers beliefs without doing my own research. Having done my research, I feel stronger than ever that we need to protect our wild places from those who would harm them. I make donations to NWF, WWF and NRDC about once a month or once every two months. I don't make a lot of money, but the small amount I donate makes me feel awesome, not taken advantage of. Taking a look at the larger picture, people need to re-read their 9th grade biology books, where we are taught the importance of a BALANCED ecosystem. We need to take a shot of humility to remember that, just because we are the most intelligent species, it does not mean we are the most important. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Catherine Horrocks EMAIL: horrocks@clover.net IP: 69.95.62.217 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 03:58:03 PM The American public will pay any amount at the pump to keep their "gas-guzzling" cars. That is " gullible." Why are companies fighting so hard for this amount of oil? It's for profit. Nothing else. The American way of life translates into the bottom line. We need a portion of our population to preserve land for future generations. We all have a common cause that unites us. Our best defense is to keep informed and watch legislation closely. That's what Bush is always talking about.. in theory, not practice. DEMOCRACY! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Audrey Fox EMAIL: tarzanjane817@earthlink.net IP: 207.245.125.34 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 04:06:07 PM Once again big business is using the media as an outlet for distributing false information in order to line their DEEP pockets. They're not satisfied with a piece of the pie, they want the whole thing. Greed is a powerful, dark element. If we stand together to fight for what's right we will prevail. In the end good always overcomes evil. Stand tall. Peace! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Audrey Fox EMAIL: tarzanjane817@earthlink.net IP: 207.245.125.34 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 04:08:01 PM Once again big business is using the media as an outlet for distributing false information in order to line their DEEP pockets. They're not satisfied with a piece of the pie, they want the whole thing. Greed is a powerful, dark element. If we stand together to fight for what's right we will prevail. In the end good always overcomes evil. Stand tall. Peace! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nuri EMAIL: NuriBPierc@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 05:06:45 PM What a shame! Closing our eyes to the future when everything will be destroyed and we won't have oil anyway. Conservation and working towards other energy sources must be the key energy policy, not destroying ANWAR ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dede Brown EMAIL: dede3@verizon.net IP: 70.18.218.225 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 05:09:34 PM People are not gullible. They are worried that the entire current line of thinking has lead them astray, that their culture is open to question, and that there is no leadership ready to make the adjustments required to rebalance the situation. ANWAR is both a real place and a case in point. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dede Brown EMAIL: dede3@verizon.net IP: 70.18.218.225 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 05:10:25 PM People are not gullible. They are worried that the entire current line of thinking has lead them astray, that their culture is open to question, and that there is no leadership ready to make the adjustments required to rebalance the situation. ANWAR is both a real place and a case in point. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Norman Howell EMAIL: aanh2@comcast.net IP: 24.6.105.198 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 05:40:00 PM Whose gullible? As a farm boy in Kansas, I saw first hand the awfull damage an oil drilling operation can do to the terrain. More than thirty years after an oil well was drilled on our land you still could not grow anything in and around the well head. In addition they dumped salt water into the freshwater aquafer and now it is not possible to irrigate the land or use the water for any purpose at all. Only the oil companies made a profit and then left the mess behind for someone else. Now fifty years later you can still see the scars. The Artic will be permanently damaged. I have been there twice. What a beautiful place. Keep it that way. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Leigh McKeirnan EMAIL: Lmckeirnan@yahoo.com IP: 69.169.9.237 URL: http://yahoo.com DATE: 08/19/2005 05:45:00 PM I used to be gullible. That was before Eagleridge logging , bankrolled by Weyerhaeuser,logged us out of the value of our homes, our buffers, the 8 ft across old growth with eagle's nests, buffers in the codes, clearcut creeks and landslide areas unbeknownst to us, and the pipeline that slid out. They also did this in other areas of the county and other states I later found out-before going bankrupt and not compensating anyone. After 126 homes were lost they came back and logged the cliff above a landslide at the end of our street. Our street hasn't slid yet,although it's creaking and sinking and the street pipes had to have 30 service calls in about a year, but they recently allowed the hill behind us to be skinned off again. And they call those who care about the environment radical. The power of greed will leave nothing for posterity. The world is at stake. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Robert Kennedy EMAIL: rfkenn@boston.net IP: 66.69.149.70 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 05:56:03 PM Just like no windmills in my backyard, there should be no oil rigs in Alaska, and Bush is a Nazi for saying there should be. We need solar power out in the west where no one lives and can see them, not windmills off Nantucket or oil rigs in ANWR. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jen EMAIL: gijen5@hotmail.com IP: 10.83.114.106 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 06:43:05 PM The only gullible people out there are the ones who believe that bringing Bush's oil machine into the Artic Wilderness will be carried out with great care and environmental concern. Any activity of that kind will destroy countless species and habitat for an amount of oil that won't even fuel the machinery used to extract it. I've got a few words for all those in favor, alternate fuel sources! If they drill in ANWAR, what's next Yellowstone? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dianna Wilson EMAIL: dwilsonlnc@alltel.net IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 06:44:08 PM I rather pride myself on my ability to make objective decisions. After reading several different kinds of materials, from different sources, I came to the conclusion long ago that the amount of oil found in the Arctic Refuge would be minimal. I also know the delicate balance of nature and her creatures would be forever destroyed. I realize the large oil companies have a great deal at stake but we MUST oppose their greed and listen to the rational of scientists AND of the will of God to protect all the Earth's inhabitants. I can only hope that people can do their own research -- in an open and honest manner -- and come to the same conclusions that I have. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Leslie EMAIL: bushstar01@yahoo.com IP: 4.160.192.73 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 06:59:06 PM We are not gullible about the Artic. The only person I see who is gullible are the people who believe we dont know anything. Why would we fight so hard and give money to something we do not believe in. We already have to save money to pay for the overpriced oil. We are looking farther into the future then anyone dares to look. Farther then a small hopefull amount of oil that no one will profit from expect the oil companies making so much money they don't even know what to do with it. What is that money going towards any ways? Trust me "we" are not gullible. It is the people (ex. government) who do not believe in what we do and are brainwashing everyone into thinking Alaska is the answer. Get the facts straight and open your eyes then you'll see yourself running to ones who already had the answers. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: suize EMAIL: suizelyn@yahoo.com IP: 4.159.32.52 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/susan hooker/ DATE: 08/19/2005 07:19:46 PM The ones who believe oil is part of our future are the ones who are gullible. The industries and individuals who are creating and using alternative energy sources and conservation methods are actually the non-gullible people. The cost of oil has risen because we are on the downward slope of supply. We will not run out in this generation or the next, but we will run out. What we need in this country is an intelligent energy policy, not a money driven energy policy. Drilling in ANWR is just morally corrupt. What will God say to the people who are destroying his work? Thank you, I think not, He will be angry. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sharon Picone EMAIL: sharon_picone@yahoo.com IP: 65.33.234.50 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 07:35:47 PM Which intelligent person would not want to protect something as precious as the Arctic Refuge. As far as I'm concerned, this is a cut-and-dry issue. We shouldn't even have to defend our stance on this matter. But since a whole lot of money is involved (isn't it always about money?), it's to be expected. As an editor myself, I find it very insulting that the editors of the Anchorage Times think that everyone opposed to the drilling is gullible (read: stupid). I have news for them. I think that their first mistake is to assume we don't have a brain in our head to make environmentally-conscious decisions; their second mistake is to think that name-calling will cause us to back down. I have only three words for them: BRING IT ON! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Holly Ducharme EMAIL: wlfwoman57@yahoo.com IP: 69.241.184.107 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 07:53:41 PM Gullible ? Yeah right ! They must really think we tree huggers are nieve. Big business has always been good at whitewashing the truth. This just sounds like an attempted whitewash job. Being the child of a gamewarden who worked on a national refuge and a proud native american I grew up, loving mother Earth and her creations. This is just an attempt to cover up the selfish actions of big business exploiting nature once again for their own greedy means. We are thinking of the future for our children, while all they are thinking is of the here and now in terms of capital gain. We need to think about being able to leave this world as beautful as it was entrusted into our care, not uninhabitable and not able to support life. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Melanie Ward EMAIL: mmward@gci.net IP: 24.237.138.182 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 07:57:36 PM I am not surprised at the editorial in the Anchorage paper. I don't buy that one or the Fairbanks paper because the editorials are one-sided, anti-environmental, supportive of Bush, Murkowski's, and their cronies. The editorials always attack environmentalists and conservationists and anyone who doesn't agree with them, whatever the issues-local, national, global. Editors who spoke the truth about Alaska's issues, and/or did not agree with the oil companies, Bush, or Murkowski were fired from the Fairbanks newspaper. Anchorage is a greedy, self-centered town. Murkowski's and their cronies are selling Alaskans out the same way Bush is with the rest of the country. As an Alaskan I can tell you that there are a lot of us, including the Natives, who do not want the gas pipeline or drilling in ANWR. ANWR was supposed to be protected from any kind of development. It is not supposed to be used for any purpose other than a protected wildlife refuge. We are all being held hostage by the oil and gas companies and the Bush and Murkowski administrations. Theirs is a record of greed, abuse of trust, and disregard for the environment, people and wildlife. Conservation and alternative fuel technologies have been squelched for decades by government and the big oil corporations. The writing is on the wall-conservation and alternative fuel technologies DO have an important role to play NOW. Our planet, our country, our state has lost too much already. We need to continue to take a stand for what is right. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Andrea Shrestha EMAIL: bowen.andrea@gmail.com IP: 24.124.40.19 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 08:01:43 PM I am a student of Statistics and have actually spotted blatant errors in graphs and charts from oil companies. Universities have to check and update their data many times and it has to correlate with others' findings before it is published. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barbara Gooden EMAIL: bzg4@netzero.net IP: 4.240.165.56 URL: http://www.svmatch.com/onlineusers/5/ DATE: 08/19/2005 08:27:56 PM Living in New Mexico with battles going on for the preservation of some of our most pristine places, I can only say that after reading all the great comments already posted, I am impressed with the caliber of people that understand the situation. I can't retaliate to being called gullible--not worth my time. How great that some many comments have already been received. I agree with everyone of them. Keep up the good work! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barbara Gooden EMAIL: bzg4@netzero.net IP: 4.240.165.56 URL: http://www.svmatch.com/newusers/2/ DATE: 08/19/2005 08:29:28 PM Living in New Mexico with battles going on for the preservation of some of our most pristine places, I can only say that after reading all the great comments already posted, I am impressed with the caliber of people that understand the situation. I can't retaliate to being called gullible--not worth my time. How great that some many comments have already been received. I agree with everyone of them. Keep up the good work! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sherry L. Seese EMAIL: sherry.seese@us.army.mil IP: 167.154.148.89 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:12:00 PM It's hard to believe that a large newspaper, of all entities, would publish such biased material and expect the American public to believe it no less! I don't feel I have to defend my knowledge or beliefs against this trash. I have talked to people who live in Alaska and the mentality there is the same. They don't appreciate what is in their backyard; neither do most of their lawmakers. It is a particularly dangerous type of blindness these people are suffering from. This is a blindness that could ruin their spectacular land and one of God's most precious places. With all the facts already in place, they should realize how drilling in the Arctic Refuge would come back to haunt them in a short time - how it would bankrupt their state. Alaskans are blind and their lawmakers, like most of the Republicans under Bush, are crooks or dupes. Nuf said - gullible indeed!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dessi Armstrong EMAIL: dstoilkov@hotmail.com IP: 24.2.62.247 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:19:58 PM It is time that we face the harsh reality that humans put their own interest first. By doing that, we alter and destroy links of our eco-system, animals, plants, water ways, air. We are harming ourselves. We must put the Earth (along with all of its animals and plants) first, in order to help ourselves. Drilling for more oil doesn't solve the problem. It is like having a leaking bucket, you put gasoline, and it leaks out, and the crack widens, and you need more and more gasoline. So, what is the solution: more gasoline, or changing the bucket?. Drilling in the Arctic, or anywhere else, won't help us. New, cleaner, technologies will. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laura EMAIL: fluffylb@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.196 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 09:44:37 PM "Gullible" are people who believe Arctic drilling will solve our energy problems. Why don't they try taxing the gas guzzling SUV's and use that money to find cleaner, safer alternatives for fuel. Enough of "my" national wilderness goes to timber companies, cattle ranchers and oil companies. If this keeps up we will have very little wilderness left. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gerald P. Tercho EMAIL: Terchogp@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.196 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 10:09:09 PM The Anchorage Times editor, or whoever the writer is, needs to get (and report) both sides of the story. The total amount of oil, as estimated by geologists, under the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge consists of about 2.7 years worth of oil, based on the US current consumption. Moreover, it would take about a decade to develop this so-called oil source. (Imagine the destructive effects on this area!) The area where "big oil" wants to drill is in the heart of the calving grounds of a major elk population in Alaska, and would adversely affect the wonderful balance that exists now. I am planning to visit this area in 2 years and would be horrified to see any evidence that big oil, it's cronies and the current administration had their way in destroying this most precious resource. Let's fight like hell to preserve this beautiful refuge! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: TED F. BERTOT EMAIL: michele.ted.bertot@frontiernet.net IP: 67.139.87.100 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 10:50:53 PM Cancel my subscription to the Anchorage Times right away! Ooops! I don't have one... and, after reading this sample of their "journalism" I wonder why anyone does? To wrap garbage in, perhaps? But, why does our government always seem to side with corporate interests against human interests? One of the comments above suggested "follow the money..." And, if you follow the money trail from congressperson after congressperson's campaign funds, it leads back to large corporations and vested interests. Here's an idea: If ALL political campaigns were funded by public (tax) $, and private contributions of any sort were illegal, and those funds were available to any candidate who could gather the signatures of, say, 2 or 3% of the registered voters in their jurisdiction, would we have a different sort of government? Would we again have a government "of, by, and for the people" instead of one of, by, and for Korporate Amerika? Think about that! TED F. BERTOT, Rochester NY ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Theresa ormsby EMAIL: ormsbyt@xtra.co.nz IP: 210.55.123.226 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:19:44 PM Hi I read with regret that the powers to be think I am guillible. Greedy people that cannont see past the nose on their face should stop and ask themselves this question. What right have they got to deny future generations the natural beauty and the animals that exist here today. Theresa ormsby ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Audrey EMAIL: limyeening@yahoo.com.sg IP: 219.74.38.195 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:26:06 PM i would think that being the race which wants to play god to all other living things, we could at least spare their habitat and not use it for whatever puposes which are not necessary to the point that we will die due to its absence. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marilyn Sieck EMAIL: helvajean@ameritech.net IP: 66.73.173.164 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:35:20 PM Once again, shame on you! Have you ever seen the movie Soylent Green? Is that what you want for our children? We're polluting ourselves right off this planet in the name of progress. Unfortunately, we're obliterating other species of fauna and flora first. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lynette Ferrero EMAIL: l_fling@hotmail.com IP: 63.235.229.188 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 12:16:07 AM I do not feel that as an environmentalist I am being gullible. I believe that future generations have the right to see the pristine beauty that all of nature has to offer. I understand that we are running out of areas in which to drill for oil, but we must use our imaginations as well as good initiative in order to find other ways of obtaining the oil that we and other continents need for energy and fuel. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Pam Gray EMAIL: pamelapurple1@yahoo.com IP: 208.229.228.159 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 12:20:01 AM It's important to accuse others of your crime before they accuse you, to create confusion. Oil allies are expert at propaganda. They convinced enough voters to elect George Bush, and continue to accept his blatant deception passively. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lynn B. Price EMAIL: wintress_1@yahoo.com IP: 66.214.105.70 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 05:00:36 AM "It's like what Gandhi once said: "[f]irst they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you ... then you win." If the squawking from Anchorage tells us anything, we've managed — after a half-month of work! — to knock three down, with one to go." -- That's a great quote used by NWF. And listen up, to those who think we're 'gullible'...we know much more than you give us credit for. We also know more about the lying likes of you and your kind. Does the word "REFUGE" mean anything to you at all? Of course not, because you are all too willing to go in there and decimate one of the last pristine places left on earth! And we know that if you start drilling and running pipelines there, you will not stop at what you call a "tiny area". Your actions will spread and spread, just like the oil when does when you spring a leak! Leave this place alone. Enough of our planet has suffered! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rosa Fischer EMAIL: Rosa.Fischer@t-online.de IP: 84.153.52.204 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 05:27:16 AM I travelled a lot around to world until I came first time to Alaska. I love this place and I think that it's more important to save pristine wilderness than to drill for oil at the Arctic Refuge. Using energy efficient cars or looking for alternate energy resources would be a better investment in the future of America than drilling for every single drop of oil in such remote places. Every investment in the last 150 years left its garbage behind. You can find garbage from gold rush and coal mining and other investments everywhere in the arctic environment. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Fitzgerald EMAIL: gabhadubh@hotmail.com IP: 194.145.134.198 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 08:40:36 AM The French writer Flaubert once said "the Earth has limits, but human stupidity is endless" And so it is with the "hired liars" and "ecological imbiciles" of the Bush administration who are in thrall to the oil and other planet thrashing industries. In the United Nations Millennium Ecosystem Report, compiled by 3650 scientists from 95 countries, it is stated that more ecological damage has been done by human activity to the planet in the LAST 50 YEARS, than in the whole history of mankind together. Alaska is just another example of this and shows how much contempt for the future these people have. This newspaper must have the same double standards as the one in Ibsens classic play "an Enemy of the People". We are not gullible. On the contrary we are shrewd, hardened and toughened by the experience we have got from facing down these planet thrashers. Think again Editor ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michelle Barnes EMAIL: michellef@dep.tds.net IP: 69.21.49.123 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 08:52:30 AM It's unbelieveable that our goverment and the oil companies are so GREEDY. They are willing to sacrifice our refuges, the wildlife, and anything else that it will destroy all in the name of MONEY!!!!! If they are allowed to do this in the Arctic Refuge, what and where is next? I say keep the HELL out of all refuges, our forfathers made them refuges for a reason, they are probably rolling over in the grave to see how the goverment, oil companies and anyone else who would rather destroy the Artic Refuge. Its down right WRECKLESS!!! Its important to save these pristine wilderness areas, The goverment should stop trying to play god, we should be protecting our planet,the wildlife, the plants and the people instead of trying to KILL us all off and in the name of MONEY. I'm not GULLIBLE, I believe in protecting whats left of earths natural beauty. To bad that you DON"T ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: stephanie morales EMAIL: stphn_morales@yahoo.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 09:22:23 AM will this never stop, ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Brenda EMAIL: witch13@comcast.net IP: 68.51.45.247 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 09:26:17 AM It is a shame when people think they have the right to destroy nature for their own means. Since Bush and his administration has never cared about the environment it should come as no great shock. It should come with great protest. I have never been gullible when it comes to protecting the environment. The gullible ones are the people that think drilling in the arctic will really do any good. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Heather Grace EMAIL: cheagrace@yahoo.com IP: 69.209.171.248 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 09:37:13 AM The oil companies do not care about the planet or its wilife...only the bottom life and thats how much their profits are up. And how much to sell your soul Anchorage Times? All the money in the world won't make a difference once the Earth has been depeleted of its resources. Do all these big oil companies and The Anchorage Times really believe that they would be satisfied with this small sliver of land? Get off your high horses and get to work on making this planet a better place like the rest of us. We need alternative fuels...not more oil. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cindee P.Cummings EMAIL: figetswolf@yahoo.com IP: 63.157.162.32 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 10:30:07 AM OUR GOD MADE THIS EARTH AND HE CAN TAKE IT AWAY,BUT HUMANS DON'T NEED TO DESTORY WHAT WE ARE BLESSED WITH.EVERYONE WILL HAVE THERE TIME TO PAY FOR THERE ACTIONS.THE LORD WILL SEE TO THAT,HAVE FAITH AND TRUST. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lisa Bisson EMAIL: j-l-b@mindspring.com IP: 4.156.216.241 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 10:47:36 AM I'm NOT gullible, just sick of corruption and greed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tom Tamplin EMAIL: Tom@tamplint.freeserve.co.uk IP: 84.65.162.167 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 10:50:50 AM "gullible" - easily duped or cheated I believe the Oil Companies have my concerns and needs at the heart of their business - that's gullible I believe we can keep removing the earth's resources without damage - that's gullible I believe we can go on burning oil without any climatic effect - that's gullible I've look at what's happening and do not like the results. - that's considered decision making. Tom ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carley EMAIL: catsuninc@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 10:52:17 AM Isn't it bad enough that we killed the nautral life that was here, with the reservation results that didn't work? Why are you so anxious to deliver the death blow that will destroy the earth and create alifeless rock orbiting the sun? We need to learn to communicate with the animals more than just cross into other human communications, and in destroying their homes we destroy ourselves. Has money become more important than life itself? What's wrong with these businessmen? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rose Hotchkiss EMAIL: gibcats@yahoo.com IP: 67.77.228.169 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 11:01:51 AM I am appalled – no, I am outraged! Gullible would be the people who fall prey to your propaganda; and I take pity on them. Will they live to see their error? Maybe not, but their children and grandchildren will. It saddens me that we would use up and destroy the resources and beauty of Earth and its inhabitants out of greed and selfishness; that we should care so little for future generations. We cry out about our dependence on foreign oil, yet what are we doing to find alternate energy sources? How many of the vehicles on the highways today are SUV’s? Where do we set our thermostats? We’re a nation of gluttony and waste and we should be ashamed. Am I gullible? No, I am sad and fearful, and yes, I’m outraged. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: staci-lee sherwood EMAIL: slsrescue2000@yahoo.com IP: 129.44.122.107 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 12:24:54 PM I'm appalled at the ignorance of the masses for letting the corrupt polluters bamboozle them and disgusted by the arrogance of industry. JUST WHO THE HELL GAE THEM THE RIGHT TO DESTROY GOD'S CREATION. TALK ABOUT THE MOST IMMORAL UNCHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR. LIERS AND HYPOCRITES IS WHAT INDUSTRY IS. I'M NOT GULLIBLE - YOU ALL ARE FOR BELIEVING THESE ERKOFFS!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: staci-lee sherwood EMAIL: slsrescue2000@yahoo.com IP: 129.44.122.107 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 12:26:29 PM I'm appalled at the ignorance of the masses for letting the corrupt polluters bamboozle them and disgusted by the arrogance of industry. JUST WHO THE HELL GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO DESTROY GOD'S CREATION. TALK ABOUT THE MOST IMMORAL UNCHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR. LIERS AND HYPOCRITES IS WHAT INDUSTRY IS. I'M NOT GULLIBLE - YOU ALL ARE FOR BELIEVING THESE JERKOFFS!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laura M. EMAIL: lauamar2@yahoo.com IP: 24.167.66.71 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 12:30:08 PM I think they've bitten too much more than they can chew, not to mention all the lives of their men in the fields they'd lose. You simply cannot work out in the oil field and not be affected by it! I lost my DAD to cancer and the oil business...I'll be damned if it happpens to me or you much less any of the preserves out there! Stop & think about it! Reality it's for real people! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jennifer S. EMAIL: mcs@mail2sun.com IP: 24.15.164.32 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 12:38:58 PM Preservation of the Environment for our generation and for future generations is NOT gullible! What IS gullible? The belief in "Big Oil" and endless resources!! I rest easy in the knowledge that God protects those who preserve His creation and those that destroy it have a special place in Hell!! This country needs new leadership! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Paul Kripli EMAIL: p.kripli@att.net IP: 69.14.243.188 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 12:54:45 PM The Republican Greed with War and Oil Machine is constantly churning towards destruction of every last wilderness in this country and the rest of the world. Newspapers are paid by large rich Corporations to not print the truth, but just what they want the public to think. You are biased and insulting to those of us who know the truth and do not just listen to ridiculous media articles attacking good people. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mary Lou Nowak EMAIL: mlanowak@earthlink.net IP: 4.159.246.99 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 02:02:22 PM "There is no future for a civilization that knows the price of everything and the value of nothing..." Step outside of your greed and lust for power and look, really look, at the Earth. Oil and automobiles, sidewalks and skyscrapers will not sustain us, much less provide any promise of continuation. "In the Wilderness is the preservation of the World." ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gail Needham EMAIL: gailn888@hotmail.com IP: 4.156.81.83 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 02:22:28 PM Oil companies spend millions to convince gullible people that global warming is a myth. They try to convince us that drilling in the Artic region will actually spare us the nuisance of having to alter our energy consuming ways. They distort the facts about how much land will be marred, and they pretend the dusturbance won't impact nonhuman species. Do the research and you won't believe what oil company PR machines tell us. Let's get real about what is truely important. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Maria Sautter EMAIL: mariasautter@bellsouth.net IP: 65.2.73.59 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 02:27:00 PM Human greed is destroying this planet. We must ignore anyone trying to dissuade us from our purpose to preserve all life on earth. My legacy will be that I did everything in my power to convince those who care only about consumerism to appreciate the beautiful place we live in. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Diane Laskin EMAIL: RubyHazard@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.135 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 03:17:00 PM Gullible is believing the Bush administration and "Big Oil" when we've already seen their lies proven in the past. A refuge is just that, a REFUGE! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Chris Allgeier EMAIL: callgeier@shrinenet.org IP: 12.8.233.147 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 03:22:41 PM I am not gullible. The author of this article is the gullible one only believing what they want to hear instead of fully understanding the facts. I do not want our nation focusing on a quick fix that will wipeout any natural ecosystem we have on the earth. If we "drain America first" what will we leave future generations? Nothing except the exact same issues we are facing today. I suggest we start "draining America first" in your back yard, or better yet the 1500 acre resort that Pesident Bush holds so dear. No legislative member supporting this drilling will ever get my vote again nor will any company supporting this get my buisness. The "gullible" SOB I am I will continue to pledge my 10 to 20 dollar donations to preservation societies. Because our future is the most important thing to support at this time. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Paula DiNetta EMAIL: pdqshiatsu@netzero.com IP: 172.173.72.19 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 03:52:26 PM Hey, I'm with Gandhi. They're finally starting to notice that we're not fooling around, aren't they?! Just keep up with the pressure and stay focused on the fact that we are trying to preserve not destroy. Persistence and "right" thinking (Buddhist not political...) always pays off! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dan Nelson EMAIL: dann@tcinternet.net IP: 66.77.226.60 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 03:55:49 PM You know, oil is going to run out sooner or later (if it was not then why do proponents always say We have to have that little bit of oil). so when it does we will be left without all that diversity and a bunch of rusted pipelines and oil-soaked ground. So leave it alone. let the other oil supplies run out and at least we will have something decent left. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Elaine Kolek EMAIL: elaine41@netscape.com IP: 172.195.162.33 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 04:07:03 PM Bush and his "administration" (all his oil friends, too) ought to take lessons from NWF, WWF and NRD! Start working for the "good of the people" (oh, right..what am I thinking?)! Start thinking of something other than POWER. Guess I am gullible to think that might actually occur to them. Research, facts and the "will of the people" mean absolutely NOTHING to George W. and his pals. All of the previous postings have done such an excellent job of "taking the words right out of my mouth" that I'm finding it difficult to say anything new or different. All I can say is that we are ALL in trouble .. now..as well as in the future. It's way past time to pay attention. We've allowed money hungry, unethical, power seeking liars to dictate the lives we lead and the way we live them! ENOUGH!! Demand an accounting and we'll get nothing but lies and distortion. My belief is: "If his (George W.) lips are moving, he's lying". Want to know the truth? "Follow the money". Thank God for agencies like NWF!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Paul Chamberlin EMAIL: poisey3251@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.196 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 04:10:15 PM Maybe we should take a lesson from the Native Americans who said whenever you make an important decision you consider seven unborn generations. I wonder how much natural beauty will be left to enjoy if we have legislators like the current crop of sewage slime who sets greed and power above any concern for nature or the environment. You can call me any name you wish- it just shows your ignorance and willingness to sell out to Big Oil and all of the garbage that comes with it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sandra EMAIL: sand7@sbcglobal.net IP: 67.37.50.14 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 04:30:30 PM They should all be ashamed of themselves! How can they sleep at night?? They have no interest in our earth other than their greed!! They are pure evil!!!!! We need to stand united against them in order to save mother earth, which will also save mankind. We OUT-NUMBER them, so if we stand strong, we can do it!!! God save our earth & all the beauty it contains. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carolyn Hartt EMAIL: hartt_c@yahoo.com IP: 24.19.127.204 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 04:36:13 PM "Stay out of the artic national wildlife refuge; it is far more valuable left pristine, than as an oil resource. Let us instead learn from Nature herself how to live sustainably rather than destructively." ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gregg Oelker EMAIL: n2caves@earthlink.net IP: 216.175.85.66 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 05:12:17 PM I'm not so gullible to think that our poor oil companies need more profit. We need better leadership in this country to think toward a future with less dependence on oil. We need an "Apollo Project" to invent other sources of energy. We can lead the world to a new future. The Arctic refuge should be left alone!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Holly J. EMAIL: hjedlicka@earthlink.net IP: 69.68.33.21 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 05:57:20 PM People need to wake up. We cannot keep expanding and consuming...there is only so much to be had. Drilling in the Arctic is just one more way that we - as humans- are depleting every last bit of sacred land we have. The technology is out there to use alternative, sustainable energy sources. It's time for the government and the big businesses to step up and invest in the future of the entire world, not just themselves in the "now". ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Andrew Randazzo EMAIL: sanke3b@yahoo.com IP: 24.55.162.144 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 06:16:38 PM I do not regret to inform you that I am not gullible and that you possibly need to do a little more reasearch befor making such accusations. You see one of my close family freinds is a proffesional geologist and does studies for a proffesianal envormental protection company, not to long ago she did a study in the artic refuge and they concluded seen as there is a very limited supply of oil underneath the artic refuge it is not worth all the enviormental damage it would cause. The fact is that yes America needs to stop depending on other countries but not buy driling oil but buy discovering new ways to power veichels and such. So as I said befor mabey you are miss informed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Teri Landauer EMAIL: terilandauer@yahoo.com IP: 64.28.50.117 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 07:23:54 PM Mud-slinging creates dissention. It's important not to fall prey to this incredibly useless form of communication. Yes, people are misinformed, but we must move forward; we must remain civilized and calm; we must never lower ourselves to such juvenile rhetoric. Rather than answer directly, lets simply continue to keep informed, and communicate that information effectively. Eventually, it will take hold. At the same time, it is hard not to mourn the loss of money spent by oil companies opposing the preservation of the Refuge, essentualy brain-wasing the masses. This money could easily have equipped several skyscrapers with solar panels that would have helped ease the demands on energy. Chins up! Let's move on and do what we can to continue our efforts to save the Arctic Refuge, and other wilderness areas. Our grandchildren will thank us for our efforts, and our successes! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Julie E EMAIL: 3js@att.net IP: 71.96.142.202 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 07:32:07 PM Every time I hear about the Alaskan governor and other Alaskan representatives supporting the drilling, I wonder if they are truly representative of the opinions of the citizens of Alaska. I find it amazing that people in the lower 48 states would be more concerned about protecting the wildlife and beauty of our last frontier. I think it is the people of Alaska that are being hoodwinked and "gullible" when they elect government officials that are more concerned about lining their pockets than about representing the people of the great state of Alaska. However, if instead it is true that Alaskan citizens do support the destruction of their land for oil than it is truly a sad day when it is those of us in the lower 48 who are the only ones who believe that Alaska should be protected -- ironically and sadly, protected from Alaskans, the very people that should be its stewards. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lynelle Ducommun EMAIL: ducomun94@sbcglobal.net IP: 68.72.118.138 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 07:50:54 PM The truly gullible are those who have believed that Bush, the government and Bush's business friends are actually helping America. How? Look around you, test the water, smell the air, look at the Federal deficit. Who wins here? No question, it is not the people of America. Those who voted for him have given him carte blanche to rape the land, kill the animals,pollute the air and water and use our tax dollars to do it. WOW, stupid is a better word than gullible for anyone who believes him. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ken Herren EMAIL: herrenkm@grnco.net IP: 66.139.182.230 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 09:18:37 PM Dear Editor or Any and All of the oil companies involved. I OWN ANWAR and all of the other Lands in the State of Alaska. It was given to me at birth, and I have held on to the property because I am a Joint owner with every citizen of the U.S. of America. I do not want to sell it or give it away to you or anyone else. The Good Lord himself told me to be a good Steward of all the Lands of America and to Respect the Environment and all Animals present on these lands. Sir, I feel sorry for the readers of your so called Paper. Are you trying out for an Ancor job with FOX News??? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jenni Lynn Reis EMAIL: sanddogs3@netzero.com IP: 63.235.37.107 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 09:21:51 PM This is yet another example of the Bush Administration's short-sighted, narrow-minded plans that would result in an irreplaceable loss...if it is their plan to take humankind out of existence, they are well on their way. This is one crafty and dangerous Administration- a rich and powerful one with good PR people...We must continue to educate others, and support organizations like the NWF -future generations depend on it. The only gullible people here are the ones that refuse to take their blinders off! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ken Herren EMAIL: herrenkm@grnco.net IP: 66.139.182.230 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 09:23:23 PM From a Gullible Old Man to My dear friend the Editor, or Any and All of the oil companies involved. I OWN ANWAR and all of the other Lands in the State of Alaska. It was given to me at birth, and I have held on to the property because I am a Joint owner with every citizen of the U.S. of America. I do not want to sell it or give it away to you or anyone else. The Good Lord himself told me to be a good Steward of all the Lands of America and to Respect the Environment and all Animals present on these lands. Sir, I feel sorry for the readers of your so called Paper. Are you trying out for an Ancor job with FOX News??? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: michael hall EMAIL: michael33jjj@aol.com IP: 12.217.167.158 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 11:31:52 PM And i thought that trying to rape Mother Nature would be illegal. I didn't realize it was part of the Republican platform and policy. I understand though anything is legal when the rich folk want to make a $. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Derek Dennison EMAIL: ddennison01@comcast.net IP: 68.54.227.219 URL: DATE: 08/21/2005 10:14:33 AM I am certainly not gullible. How rude and stupid is that. It is quite obvious that we need to find a way not to be dependent on foreign oil as a source of fuel. I can't understand, however, why our government wishes to continue to destroy the only planet we have. Why not strengthen funding for alternative and renewable forms of energy, like hydrogen, instead of rushing out to drill more holes and destroy more habitat. Everyone knows intuitively that we have only one planet. What will it take for them to stop destroying it? Thanks. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Seabury Lyon EMAIL: sslyon@megalink.net IP: 69.49.157.251 URL: DATE: 08/21/2005 10:55:20 AM "Gullible"? No. Nor are the rest of us who have seen the devastation of an area where oil "exploration", then site "development" occur. It takes many years for temperate areas to recover, and many times as long (if ever) for an arctic area to recover and that's not counting "accidents". If some folks believe otherwise, it is they who are either gullible or deliberately ignoring fact for reasons we won't explore here. I was surprised to learn that only about 5% of the entire state of Alaska is held as parks, wilderness or "refuge". Our Congress and Alaska have left unprotected or doled out the rest to corporations who have NO concerns, morals or conscience beyond quarterly bottom lins. If ANWR were to come on line at projected levels, what relief would come to us who suffer real hardship to heat our homes and drive to work? Rediculously little. Only a few corporate bottom lines would benefit significantly. We who oppose this oil grab aren't gullible. We're waking up to the fact that it is WE THE PEOPLE who must provide real conscience and morals to the stewardship of OUR resources, now and forever. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Al Goggins EMAIL: goggins@cal.berkeley.edu IP: 69.107.57.221 URL: DATE: 08/21/2005 12:31:56 PM Gullibility is in the eye of the beholder. Selling resource extraction in the ANWAR as anything but pointless corporate welfare which will do virtually nothing ot ease our energy needs preys upon the gullible. Selling the idea that the professional resource extraction companies will not exact a terrible toll upon the environment preys upon the gullible. Selling the idea that the Anchorage times is remotely factual and objective likewise preys upon the gullible. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Barbara Fitzpatrick EMAIL: bfitz_1951@yahoo.com IP: 130.184.14.139 URL: DATE: 08/21/2005 12:34:02 PM Projection is a psychiatric condition in which one accuses everyone else of one's own actions. Gullible enough to believe ExxonMobile's phoney science and the Bush Administration's "edited" reports? I'm not. Apparently the writer of that editorial is. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joseph O'Sullivan EMAIL: josullivan58@hotmail.com IP: 24.193.128.107 URL: DATE: 08/21/2005 12:41:10 PM Our system of environmental protection including the national wildlife refuge system is the result of two things. Environmentalists had the facts on our side and environmentalists got involved in the democratic process. Oil companies and their conservative allies did not like losing in a fair fight so they are now fighting dirty. They lie about the facts so people will no longer support environmental protection. I am not gullible enough to go believe with this oil-company sponsored nonsense and I will not stop speaking out against the attacks on the environment. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: David Pierce EMAIL: dapierce54@yahoo.com IP: 24.118.140.165 URL: http://nwf.blogs.com/arctic_promise/2005/08/a_note_to_the_g.html DATE: 08/21/2005 01:30:51 PM Enough lies from the big oil companies that are already making record profits with $67 a barrel oil and their dirty politics and tactics!!!! It's time for all Americans tostand up and fight for wildlife and a clean environment before it's to late!!! I vote and I ask all decent Americans to join me in seeing to it that all are political leaders who do not stand up for the environment and wildlife protection or they can find a new line of work!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: carolyn uyemura EMAIL: carolyn.uyemura@verizon.net IP: 71.111.59.75 URL: DATE: 08/21/2005 01:57:27 PM Not so much gullible as cynical. When will our government--our "leaders"--find the political will to work out an energy policy that will take us beyond almost total reliance on finite, not-ever* renewable fossil fuels? (*not for another million years or so, unless global warming hurries us along!) I will continue to send my $35 a year (maybe more now that I am annoyed) to NWF because it represents my interest in not stripping our planet bare for immediate, short-sighted gain. To my mind, the automobile and oil-gas industries are the greedy robber barons of our time. Put that in your pipe, Ankorage Times, and smoke it! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gail Cameron EMAIL: gcameron5936@sbcglobal.net IP: 64.148.61.194 URL: DATE: 08/21/2005 02:38:15 PM It's about time Americans were awakened to the large scale destruction big money can wreak. More people need to be made aware of the day to day things they can do to help conserve and also speak up against the ruination of something so precious as the Arctic Wildlife Refuge so that big money gets richer and we haven't come any closer to dealing with our gluttonous energy consumption. Everyone needs to make their voices heard! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Richard Fletcher EMAIL: rfletch2@san.rr.com IP: 66.75.235.252 URL: http://www.spawar.navy.mil DATE: 08/21/2005 03:09:22 PM I find it hard to believe that we might be protrayed as gullible and I guess I shouldn't be surprise. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jibralta Merrill EMAIL: baysidebop@aol.com IP: 69.230.86.78 URL: DATE: 08/21/2005 06:02:17 PM Exxon's record PROFIT in 2004 was $8.4 BILLION. Exxon's record profit, so far, in 2005 is $7.2 BILLION. From 1996--2000 (when the Republicans controlled congress) Mobile Oil paid NO taxes. Gullible is Americans voting for Bush & Republican congressmen & senators (who are controlled by big oil's campaign contribution) & thinking that these oil puppets (politicians) will vote to protect the interests of the American people. Cheney's ENERGY BILL has no funding for development of alternative energy resources... The bill gives TAX breaks to Exxon & other oil companies & proposes drilling in nature preserves & building nuclear power plants...the Republicans in congress took out the Democrats' amendment that proposed budgeting for the development of alternative technologies/fuel & raising the fuel efficiency of cars. How anyone can still vote Republican is beyond guillible, it's cutting off your nose to spite your face... and destroying the earth. If you want to pay less at the pump, organize & vote Democratic. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Brian B. Burger EMAIL: burgerhaus@earthlink.net IP: 4.238.224.11 URL: DATE: 08/21/2005 09:45:14 PM Thank you Anchoarge Times for showing your colors. If I was "gullible", I'd also believe that you actuallly represent the majority voice of Alaska's people. The majority of Americans do not agree with you, Times. They do not agree with the energy policy of the Bush Administration, nor of their Big Oil bed fellows. ANWR would produce only a drop in the bucket toward American petroleum demand. This is not strategic; this is not stewardship for future generations. Oil production is already afforded through much of the Slope. ANWR is an effort to preserve some piece of what is yet undisturbed. What a shame that your responsibility in the press has been perverted to represent such a political falsehood. The issue isn't where we can squeeze another drop of oil from the planet. The issue is how do we bridle our demand and how do we redirect our demand upon alternative sources to oil. Strategy is not merely spending $200 Billion in Iraq. Startegy is to make that kind of investment into fuel efficiency and R&D on alternative energy. This from a prior Alaskan resident, retired US Army soldier, and "hook & bullet conservative". Does that fit your stereotype of "gullible"?? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Stephanie Fischer EMAIL: x-wingpilot13@juno.com IP: 66.214.6.195 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 01:20:19 AM Is it "gullible" to want to preserve something for our future generations to come? Just because we don't want to let big business come in and ruin something of "no value", they call us names. While a piece of land in Alaska may not be making billions, it does have worth. If it didn't, why would we fight so hard for it? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cherie O'Dell EMAIL: cherietunanidas@hotmail.com IP: 24.3.36.139 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 07:32:17 AM That trash they choose to call an article in the Anchorage Times is just typical Bush administration propaganda. Since their are no real facts to back up drilling in ANWAR they have to resort to name calling to try and get their way. Guillible is all the Americans who voted to keep Bush in office, not the people trying to stop Bush's war on the environment. Guillible is the short sightedness of Republicans and oil companies that continue to rape our planet for immediate, short-sighted gain to the detriment of all. The tax-payers money would be better spent on developing renewable energy resources instead of invading what little pristine untouched land their is left in America. When will this madness stop!?!? Hopefully in 2008. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cheryl Marriage EMAIL: cheryl@marrfam.com IP: 206.162.205.98 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 10:54:54 AM Gullible is believing the lies of the oil industry and their bought-and-paid-for with our tax dollars government. Remember our "president" and his cronies and their stand on global warming? Who really is gullible? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Amanda Powell EMAIL: lytenen69@yahoo.com IP: 216.226.25.13 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 11:44:31 AM I am a science journalist. I have minor in biology, a Bachelor's in journalism, and am currently working on my Master's. I hardly think I am gullible. Anyone who takes an editorial to heart and believes it to be an unbiased truth is gullible. It is nothing more than an opinion, which the author can use or omit facts at will. By challenging the opinion, it shows that most people are not stupid nor gullible. I do not blindly support a cause nor give money to charities. I do my research first. Apparently, the author did not do their research. The author needs to get off the power trip they're on and realize they do not have as much influence on readers as they think. If there is any influence at all, it is the people who speak out and stand up for what they believe. Not all readers take the word of a journalist as the gospel nor should they. The need/demand for oil is overblown. The only need for drilling in the refuge is to make greedy people richer. Anyone who disagrees with that is stupid and gullible. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: michael wells EMAIL: imwells99@yahoo.comc IP: 68.60.95.8 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 11:56:01 AM What cronies are the Anchorage Times aligned with? What cowardly influences are lurking in the background? Fianlly, are you totally ignorant of the true and precise facts? I may go as far as to say the editor is a Bush Administration puppet, because this is not objective journalism. Mike Wells ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: michael wells EMAIL: imwells99@yahoo.comc IP: 68.60.95.8 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 11:58:15 AM What cronies are the Anchorage Times aligned with? What cowardly influences are lurking in the background? Finally, are you totally ignorant of the true and precise facts? I may go as far as to say the editor is a Bush Administration puppet, because this is not objective journalism. Mike Wells ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jim EMAIL: jmccurle@sei.cmu.edu IP: 128.237.7.43 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 01:13:11 PM hmmm...fact is, most people don't care, don't know, or don't want to know. You're preaching to the choir - whereas the press gets to a bigger mix of people. if you read the comments received, you'll notice that there is nothing constructive proposed that will change what's going to happen... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jim EMAIL: jmccurle@sei.cmu.edu IP: 128.237.7.43 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 01:15:04 PM hmmm...fact is, most people don't care, don't know, or don't want to know. You're preaching to the choir - whereas the press gets to a bigger mix of people. if you read the comments received, you'll notice that there is nothing constructive proposed that will change what's going to happen... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Beth Davis EMAIL: tinkybet@yahoo.com IP: 209.158.197.2 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 01:23:33 PM I think being labeled gullible is so far off the mark of what's really, really important here. And that is the Artic refuge and the inhabitants it protects. That should be our ultimate goal, the ultimate fight and the ultimate win. Let's just focus on that. If we stick together on this challenge, we'll win. Let somebody else get their feelings hurt over the name calling. It's all about protecting nature, God's creations and Mother Earth. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ken Bousquet EMAIL: kenbousquet@hotmail.com IP: 147.240.236.9 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 01:30:08 PM I am not surprised by the Anchorage Times editorial. The editors are simply stating what the majority of Alaskans want to hear. They don’t need facts. They don’t need to think about what is right or wrong. In May, I heard the Lt. Gov. speak about ANWR and his arrogant view can be summed up by this quote: “We Alaskans know best how to take care of the land in Alaska.” The Gov. said the same on the Bill Mahar show about the same time. The Alaskan State Constitution dictates that the State Gov’t manage ALL resources in Alaska for the “maximum benefit of all Alaskans.” Since they measure their success in dollars (nothing else) they are in dire need of another “discovery” to exploit. With the State Gov’t acting as an entrepreneur, they can ONLY exploit resources to continue the ridiculous program of paying people to live in that State. I understand their views on ANWR and the rationale behind it – self-interest, power and greed, without concern for the long term greater good. We’ll fight the good fight knowing that our cause is just. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Emily Klein EMAIL: esklein@care2.com IP: 208.186.253.225 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 01:31:16 PM This article is not unlike much of the propaganda in the press. It is almost laughable that this article calls US "gullible", when they are hoping to play upon the ignorance of others. I, for one, will not sit by and let oil companies spoil one of our very last wild places. It is a heritage we can't afford to destroy, and the so-called "benefits" are far exceeded by the cost. To the Anchorage Times: please don't insult my intelligence again. You have much more to lose, being much closer to this pristine wilderness than I am, don't you want it left unspoiled for your children? You can line your pocketbooks today, but for what? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patti Frost EMAIL: lakelady98597@yahoo.com IP: 66.214.228.94 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 01:40:37 PM So, once again Bush's oil buddies win and the American people lose! There is such a miniscule amount of oil within the refuge, compared to our grotesque needs, that there is NO good reason to drill there. Except, of course, because Bush's friends WANT TO. What a horrible, horrible joke on the American people. We elected a President that does NOT care about the environment (other than his own) and does NOT care about wildlife (unless his pals can shoot it). Shame on us for electing him!!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michelle Upchurch EMAIL: shelldreamweaver@hotmail.com IP: 67.187.48.240 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 01:46:43 PM I have done my own in-depth research, from a wide array of sources, and reached my own conclusion regarding ANWR--I do not just "believe" whatever the media and government tell me to believe. Drilling in ANWR is absolutely unneccessary and is only motivated primarily by greed (money!) and then by fear of the masses brought on by ignorance and lies. I am most definitely not gullible; I grew up in Alaska and see the Murkowski clan for what they truly are--I have been an activist against ANWR for years and will continue to do everything in my power to make my voice heard! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Phyllis EMAIL: byrdra@msn.com IP: 70.16.152.86 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 02:33:07 PM Having been to Alaska in 1884 and again in 1997, I could hardly believe the difference in the glaciers. The melting was hard to see. I cried when I thought about what it would look like when I would return again.We never made it to the far, far north and I hope if in the future if I do, I will not be greeted by the sight of oil wells and pipelines. After reading most of the letters against drilling, I can say I agree with the folks who say that there is so little oil there and that it would not be avainable for 10 years.It doesn't make sense to destroy such pristine land, but please don't blame Pres. Bush for this. This subject has been around a lot longer than George has been president. If you are going to target anyone, send your letters to the big oil companys. THEY are the ones who are pushing for drilling and will be making the money. Think about it..... Who makes the big bucks when companies tear down peoples homes, small businesses, and put up casinos, and super malls??? Target the CEO's who get big rewards for deals they make andleave the little guy barely able to make a living. Hopefully all these letters will do some good by letting the right people know how America REALLY feels about our "last outpost". Phyllis ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Emily Eisenhauer EMAIL: emilyeisenhauer@yahoo.com IP: 209.149.205.2 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 02:36:20 PM After this summer, everyone knows our problem of dependence on oil will take a lot more than stop-gaps to solve. It's time for some real innovation in energy technology and policy; more of the same will not help us. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Patrick Comer EMAIL: pat@fountaincitywoodworks.com IP: 131.156.220.60 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 03:07:16 PM I sent the following note to the Anchorage Daily News after contacting my Senators and Rep. TO: Editor, Anchorage Daily News Greetings: For much of my life, I believed that any newspaper’s editorial writers would be educated, articulate individuals who could propound their views on given subjects after considering several different aspects of them. Then, those views might be regarded as valid and reliable, possibly held in high esteem by all who read them. That doesn't appear to be the case with your editorial regarding proposed oil exploration and development in the state. In summing up your opinion, you could have written that it's simply an opinion of your editorial staff and, as such, needs no further justification. You could decide further to demonstrate your influence on this issue through various political, monetary or other means. Those are perfectly acceptable and professional behaviors. The opinions you actually wrote about the proposed oil exploration and development, however, demonstrated a superficial, uninformed view that lacked support; you made your stand based on your perceptions and presumptions of those who stand counter to you and, in so doing, you reduced yourselves and your status as professional writers to useless purveyors of babbledybook. Perhaps one day you may decide to take an informed look at the issue and give your opinion honestly. Your readers expect and deserve that and that's why they might continue to buy your paper. Sincerely, Patrick J. Comer ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kim Laurance EMAIL: kim_laurance@ssmhc.com IP: 67.66.143.175 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 03:20:33 PM I am not gullible, I've heard the "facts" from both sides and it boils down to lobbying, campaign funding and the big oil companies. Someone has to stand up and not be ashamed or afraid to a resounding NO to their tactics and greed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sharon McGregor EMAIL: sharon_mcg@comcast.net IP: 24.147.119.194 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 03:24:55 PM The oil industry's quest to drill in the ANWR is "business as usual" with this industry. It's time that oil interests matured, with publicly-voiced acceptance that expanded oil drilling and destruction of the environment is neither sustainable nor an environmentally sound answer to our energy needs. Alternative fuels compatible with preserving the beauty and biological diversity of this planet is the answer -- NOW, for this generation and all that follow. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sharon McGregor EMAIL: sharon_mcg@comcast.net IP: 24.147.119.194 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 03:26:43 PM The oil industry's quest to drill in the ANWR is "business as usual" with this industry. It's time that oil interests matured, with publicly-voiced acceptance that expanded oil drilling and destruction of the environment is neither sustainable nor an environmentally sound answer to our energy needs. Alternative fuels compatible with preserving the beauty and biological diversity of this planet is the answer -- NOW, for this generation and all that follow. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lynne Wilson EMAIL: amirah1825@verizon.net IP: 70.17.10.247 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 05:47:25 PM It is sad when so many people exist in this world and don't reralize that being guillible means believing the proganda that our current president and his cabinet diseminate throughout this country. Anyone that believes by drilling for oil in the Artic refuge will help to eliminate our oil troubles is truly guillible. Anyone who believes that the oil companies will drill for that oil and there will be virtually no impact to the wildlife is guillible. Time and time again it has been proven that most companies are only interested in the bottom line and preserving natural habitats is not part of that bottom line. When wiil we learn? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol Quillin EMAIL: cqgarden@yahoo.com IP: 64.109.62.130 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 05:56:47 PM Who's the gullible one? Seems to me that the folks at the Anchorage Daily News are. They seem to be the "Stepford Wives" of big business. They can't honestly believe that big businesss, big developers are out to help us - the "little people" Let's face it the oil companies just aren't happy unless they are destroying land and the animals and people that live there. The bottom line is money for their pockets - not save "us" money. What a bunch of carp this paper has bought into. We must remain diligent in keeping our eyes and ears open to the real truths behind the rhetoric of big business. Man has destroyed more of the earth in the last century than all the other centuries put together. Let's not let the Alaskan wilderness become the next victim of this senseless destruction. The animals need a voice - let's do something for the good of the planet! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lilly Meana EMAIL: lilymeana@yahoo.com IP: 201.139.149.169 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 07:50:31 PM It's funny to believe that those interested in drilling the Artic still believe what Joseph Goebbels Minister of Propaganda of the Nazy Party used to say "lie, lie, that at the end some of these lies will remain". They are not considering that our era of information and communications is fast and precise, enabling people what to ignore and what to believe. So calling us "gullible" is a desperate comment without connecting the brain to the mouth before speaking. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jerry Wilson EMAIL: loje_wi@yahoo.com IP: 64.136.163.85 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 08:26:09 PM The only gullible people are the assholes who voted for Bush in the first place!!! It's definitely a sad day when this government of ours has to screw up a totally pristine ecosystem for a lousy 6 months supply of oil that would'nt even be available at the pump for another ten years!!! This administration makes me sick!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Susan Reynolds EMAIL: jazzygem2@yahoo.com IP: 24.5.199.202 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 09:03:11 PM When journalists are reduced to calling people names, it means the facts are not on their side. That is clearly the case here. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mark Hirschman EMAIL: mahirschman@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 10:18:11 PM If this is what it emans to be gullible....then I believe that we as a nation have a future. To not question what is said is to allow others,like the editors, to make up our minds for us. The more we speak softly, the louder they must scream until it is obvious to all exactly WHO is fighting the losing battle. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mark Hirschman EMAIL: mahirschman@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 10:18:52 PM If this is what it emans to be gullible....then I believe that we as a nation have a future. To not question what is said is to allow others,like the editors, to make up our minds for us. The more we speak softly, the louder they must scream until it is obvious to all exactly WHO is fighting the losing battle. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Chere Sturgeon EMAIL: tippytoejoe@alltel.net IP: 69.40.91.54 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 10:45:20 PM I resent being called gullible!!The only gullible people are the ones that voted for the so-called President Bush. Its bad enough that these nitwits are for drilling in the Arctic Reserve, but they apparently support the inhuman slaughter of wolves and grizzley bears (to be added to the list) thats been going on for the last two years in Alaska. I am so apalled and disgusted with Bush and his administraion, that I would like to ship them all to Iraq!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathy Kawalec EMAIL: kathy@dancinghearts.org IP: 67.37.227.118 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 09:58:56 AM Americans unite! Now is the time to take responsibility for well-being of our home, Planet Earth. Let us not allow ourselves to be berated and defeated by those whose vision is narrow. Let us shift our focus to using clean, renewable energy sources such as the sun and the wind - not in the archaic massive power plant paradigm - but in small, subtle and beautiful systems that give us energy building by building, home by home. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jodee Flint EMAIL: flintfuller@alumni.nd.edu IP: 141.152.178.223 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 10:18:19 AM When we will decide to allocate our resources, time and energy not to the further destruction of rare wildlife habitat, but to the development of clean, sustainable energy sources? Instead, we fight wars, contaminate the planet, drive Hummers, and continue to moan about the high cost of gas. We are already on the downslope of carbon-based fuels, let's not ruin more of the planet for a last gasp effort. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jessie Lombardo EMAIL: stackjj@buffalostate.edu IP: 136.183.28.60 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 11:04:32 AM We owe it to our children to protect the Artic. This land represents the last piece of the earth that humans have not tamed, conquered and controlled. To be called “gullible” is an incredible insult coming from money hungry oil companies who have no one’s interests but their own in mind. We should put forward more time and money developing more sustainable energy sources. I think everyone should take their blinders off and realize that eventually oil is going to run out. It is a non-renewable resource therefore we need to focus on change, instead of drilling the earth dry and destroying everything in our path. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jessie Lombardo EMAIL: stackjj@buffalostate.edu IP: 136.183.28.60 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 11:06:18 AM We owe it to our children to protect the Artic. This land represents the last piece of the earth that humans have not tamed, conquered and controlled. To be called “gullible” is an incredible insult coming from money hungry oil companies who have no one’s interests but their own in mind. We should put forward more time and money developing more sustainable energy sources. I think everyone should take their blinders off and realize that eventually oil is going to run out. It is a non-renewable resource therefore we need to focus on change, instead of drilling the earth dry and destroying everything in our path. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Susan Renner EMAIL: jeffrenner3@comcast.net IP: 24.19.161.97 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 02:04:29 PM Gullible? Not gullible enough to spend our hard earned money on visiting a state with such an attitude. We'll spend our tourism dollars elsewhere, thank you...as will many others given this attitude. An odd comment for a state that has become addicted to payouts from oil drilling. That seems to have affected the editorial judgment of your paper...perhaps that's what keeps it afloat in a time of declining advertising revenues. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Val Thomas EMAIL: dvthomas@sasktel.net IP: 142.165.98.101 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 02:13:12 PM That article was unbelievable. I just wrote the newspaper and let them know how disgusting it was they would even publish such an article by someone with no name mentioned. Also points made were how hard it is to convince governments there are so many species either at risk or endangered and by taking even one little 'piece of the pie' it's like putting another nail in the coffin plus oil interests attract US involvement, Iraq being one sad example. Perhaps the paper should know how so many people feel about the article. The e-mail address I used for the Anchorage paper is: http://www.adn.com/help/v-letters/ Val Thomas ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carolyn Washko EMAIL: andyafricangrey@cs.com IP: 216.222.245.205 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 04:23:52 PM Enough is enough. I have watched big companies and big government screw things up since I was a child. This country was founded on the idea that government should be kept small, and in control of the people, average hard working people. Let's save a last little untouched piece of this planet in lieu of more profits for a few people who don't really need it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: William Stebbins EMAIL: nicebill@moose-mail.com IP: 64.107.134.2 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 05:08:46 PM It is very true that the animals' environment will be destroyed and they should be allowed to have a clean and safe place to live. There is not very much oil there anyway as I read and saw on tv. All those people care about is money. We should use other fuels besides focil fuels like vegtable oil which does work. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: William Stebbins EMAIL: nicebill@moose-mail.com IP: 64.107.134.2 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 05:23:39 PM It is very true that the animals' environment will be destroyed and they should be allowed to have a clean and safe place to live. There is not very much oil anyway as I read and saw on tv. All those people car about is money. We should use other fuels besides focil fuels like vegtable oil which does work. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Karen Mitchell EMAIL: terpette@wildmail.com IP: 66.44.107.140 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 08:21:26 PM Gullible? I've spent over a year following this story. Environmentalists are not gullible. Sheeple who believe that the current Republican government and Big Oil have our best interests at heart are gullible. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ed Myer EMAIL: remyer20002000@yahoo.com IP: 198.104.63.140 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 08:38:35 PM The rate at which we've been devastating what little untouched remnants of Mother Nature exist is despicable. To continue to do so for unbriddled greed is disgusting. But to add twisted lies in your efforts is slimy at best. Leave the Arctic Refuge be. The pittance of oil you derive will be gone in a few months, and the mess lasts for generations. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Cynthia Massie EMAIL: joy-farm6@juno.com IP: 63.28.96.26 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 08:49:35 PM Native American Proverb We have not inherited the land from our fathers, but are holding it in trust for our children. We are not gullible, just faithful. Cynthia ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Will Selders EMAIL: willinthewoods@gmail.com IP: 67.84.184.237 URL: DATE: 08/24/2005 12:05:38 AM Hi Anchorage Times, By my count I am the somewhere between 1500 and 2000 on the list of gullible people. Yes I am "gullible"., but let me guess that you are a conservative right wing Republican oriented newspaper. Was I also gullible when I read about an alleged environmental disaster when a drunk sea captain crashed his tanker the BValdez into rocks off the Alaskan coast and spilled millions of gallons of oil along the Alaskan coast. Geesh, it was only one ship...what's to get all upset about. Am I also gullible when I read about pipeline breaks along the Alaskan Pipeline. Geesh, what's to get excited about the pipeline contractor will cleanup the mess just as soon as he finishes cleaning up the mess from the 100 breaks/leaks that are higher on the priority list. By the way does the Anchorage Times still run articles on the eventual finding of the WMD? Thank you Anchorage Times for getting me upset enough to take this action against you and your "spin-doctors" ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Monica Butler EMAIL: monica.butler@yahoo.com IP: 207.203.88.15 URL: DATE: 08/24/2005 10:04:03 AM Thank you Val Thomas for posting the website to the editor of the newspaper who is calling us "gullibe". I have written my "thoughts" to the Editor and let's just say: no need to repeat them here. Please continue to support the many Wildlife organizations such as the NWF - without them, who will fight the fight for us to safe this beautiful land and its inhabitants? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kimberly Bofill EMAIL: Bofill@wildmail.com IP: 216.78.31.53 URL: DATE: 08/24/2005 10:47:40 AM I believe it's the people who are pushing so hard to drill in the Artic that are gullible! Do you really think drilling there is going to make a difference now? Absolutely not! We won't see any fuel for ourselves if we drill there. Knowing this country it will only sell it out to other foreign countrys. Why destroy precious land and wildlife just for the rich to get richer. If anyone or anything should get richer is should be the land and our precious wildlife. It will all be destroyed if you drill in the Artic and you darn well know so. Think about it. Look at the charts, look at all aspects. Who is going to suffer the most. You talk big about saving the world. Well start saving it instead of destroying it. National Wildlife is a good organziation to protect our wildlife. More than I can say about some of our politicians. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Judy Erp EMAIL: judy.erp@honeywell.com IP: 199.64.0.252 URL: DATE: 08/24/2005 11:21:22 AM Let's see ... The frozen tundra is already losing some of it's solidity due to warming trends caused by fossil fuel consumption; and yet we are gullible? You cannot restore things to the exact original once the damage is done. The number of water resources in trouble world wide speaks to this quite eloquently. The facts of the available oil in the Refuge should make not drilling there a no brainer. But then when it comes to $$$ for the oil companies, good common sense has never applied. Do you suppose when the pipelines start sinking into the ground, they have no clean water to drink or air to breath, these people will wake up - although it will be way too late. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: M. Derringer EMAIL: mme_derringer@yahoo.com IP: 63.246.174.113 URL: DATE: 08/24/2005 06:20:03 PM If loving the Earth is gullible then may an outbreak of gullibility occur ..... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Layla EMAIL: applegirllayla@yahoo.com IP: 4.229.198.110 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 02:04:45 AM I am just disgusted. As if our environment hasn't suffered enough already. I was just reading a great article about the value of our natural resources in dollar amounts (although they truly are invaluable) as compared to the costs of what some people want to do with them: drilling, damming... I am just sick. I've written my legislators, governor, president... what more can I do? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Michael Motta EMAIL: mjmspartan@yahoo.com IP: 35.12.19.196 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 02:45:39 AM I found the Anchorage Times article to be hyperbolic fluff, yet it didn't even contain what's often the saving grace of such pieces -- humor (unless you count laughing AT it rather than laughing WITH it). There's nothing in the article that smacks of serious scientific, environmental, or otherwise political analysis. Furthermore, I don't see how it's a criticism of an organization such as NWF that it focuses on a particular project while conducting fundraising. The ACLU does it and I'm sure Religious Right organizations do it too. It makes sense to tell people what's being done with their contributions. The main point I want to make though is that here is yet another counterexample to the cry I always hear about how the American media is Left Wing. The Anchorage Times article at hand reads like something from the high school Young Republicans club. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lynne EMAIL: wdhlbh@bellsouth.net IP: 68.19.220.201 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 03:59:24 PM Why don't the engineers work harder at increasing the fuel economy of vechicles - work harder at finding alternative fuels - work harder at making on less dependent on ANYBODY'S oil - and forget about spending Billions to extract a minute amount of oil? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Lauren EMAIL: risl@umich.edu IP: 207.225.224.37 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 05:58:33 PM This issue isn't about nit-picking the facts. It's about values. Our kids will never regret land that we have preserved for them. Not to mention that opening ANWR to drilling would waste american's money on such a sort term solution to a very big oil shortage problem. This money should be invested in finding LONG term alternative solutions to our looming energy crisis. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dena EMAIL: kdkpboylan@charter.net IP: 24.151.32.72 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 08:43:40 PM Lets not do so much damage to the earth for so little gain. Wild lands are being destroyed at a rate we can not afford. Please put the money into developing alternate sources of energy...Oh..but then there wouldnt be as much room for corruption...forget it ...that wont work... As my 9 year old says "DUH..." ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: michael hall EMAIL: michael33jjj@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 09:23:19 AM My wish for Christmas this year is that just once, one time only, that we leave a virgin area alone and not rape it. Is that possible? Have we and "moral" nation that we can actually talk ourselves into a gang rape of the wilderness as a "noble cause"? For a few drops of oil that we'll sell to the highest bidder? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: janice mccall EMAIL: janicemccall44@hotmail.com IP: 194.150.177.10 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 10:14:16 AM I am not the one who is gullible. If you think that I am for saving the refuge for future generations you must be joking people need to reduce the amount of oil they are using and them we would not have this problem. How would you like to be "gullible" because you are. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ann Marie Prall EMAIL: amprall@email.com IP: 12.3.226.126 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 11:18:10 AM How dare you! How dare you tell me I am guillible. Here I am in Connecticut fighting to help keep "your" area of the world safe and you insult me by saying I don't have a clue? Well thank God for the National Wildlife Federation and those who care, because obviously you do not. This is not over. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Wendy Walker EMAIL: wendywak@juno.com IP: 71.111.30.217 URL: DATE: 08/28/2005 12:26:31 PM The big oil companies would be better off to examine what if any energy could be produced from human and animal waste. These are commodaties that would never run out. You want to call us who defend the Arctic Refuge gullible? Why not pursue a never ending supply of something instead of destroying something that can produce a never ending source for some thing that will only last 6 months and it will take ten years to get that six months worth? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laurie Klipfel EMAIL: seraphim@grm.net IP: 216.139.112.71 URL: DATE: 08/28/2005 01:25:24 PM Why can't we as a country, try keeping some of our own oil, at home. Instead of exporting to other country's, it's time that we start taking care of our own people, for a change. No other country, is leaving their own, and furnishing everyone else, and providing the needs and supplies, like we have for so long. It's time that we take care of the USA, for a while, no one else will, if we don't. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laurie Klipfel EMAIL: seraphim@grm.net IP: 216.139.112.71 URL: DATE: 08/28/2005 01:32:58 PM If we kept and used our own oil, instead of depending on other country's to buy it from, we be at least closer to solving the problems, without going out and making new ones. The US oil companies, need to quit worrying about making the most money off of their products and start worrying about their own country, for a change, believe me they can afford it and in the long run, will be better off economically for the change. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: frog EMAIL: frog47@nycap.rr.com IP: 66.65.248.133 URL: DATE: 08/28/2005 05:34:28 PM I'm gullible because I refuse to be lead by the nose by an administration who muddies the facts and twists the truth to line the pockets of their oil buddies! I'm gullible because I do not want to see the tundra destroyed by short sighted politicians and fellow citizens? I'm gullible because I believe in the NWF and what we as a group are trying to save? If that is the case we need to change the definition of the word GULLIBLE to mean something VERY different! "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone - you pave paradise" and put up an oil rig! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mark A. York EMAIL: mark_y48@msn.com IP: 4.227.203.43 URL: http://www.markyork.blogspot.com DATE: 08/28/2005 11:16:10 PM Of course the straw man is contributions to NWF. I've not given a cent personally, but I support it nonetheless. The small "sliver" is alas the most important one biologically speaking which is beyond the self-interested shillery of the Anchorage Times ability to comprehend. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Julianne EMAIL: cutiepi1616@yahoo.com IP: 65.67.77.84 URL: DATE: 08/29/2005 10:21:02 PM I think that it is disgusting what they are trying to do! Why don't they focus on something that will benefit everyone, not just thier wallets??!! They need to think of something other than money like..hmm.. let's see how to get away from using petroleum products! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: caring citizen EMAIL: cutiepi1616@yahoo.com IP: 65.67.77.84 URL: DATE: 08/29/2005 10:30:18 PM This is a disgrace!! How can they go and trash talk NWF when they are out trying to make money off of something that is already dwindling at the point where nobody can have it! I don't understand how someone could kill innocent animals just to line thier own pockets! I am really surprised and appaled!! What has our population turned into, we should be trying to help the environment instead of hurt it! I cannot even express my disgust! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: denise EMAIL: tweedy7bird@hotmail.com IP: 69.177.13.152 URL: DATE: 08/30/2005 05:40:48 PM If 95% of the arctic refuge is being used for oil drilling etc...seems like desperation going for the last 5%.We need to realize our natural resourses are finite. We need to invest in solar, wind etc. energy resourses. The oil will run out, not in my lifetime, but within the next hundred years. Within 200 years we will have exhausted our energy resources, seems like we are already desperate for the last available energy sources. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: R. Yaeger EMAIL: yegr@att.net IP: 12.73.123.45 URL: DATE: 09/01/2005 10:21:35 PM They are not lying when they say "only a tiny percentage of the coastal area will be used by the oil companies. But to show how this "tiny" area will affect the animals that live there, please do the following test: take a 3x5 blank card. Draw 100 tiny dots on the card, spaced fairly evenly. Now connect the dots. What percentage of the card is actually covered by the pencil lead? Only a very tiny percentage. Now, imagine each of these dots to be a 24/7 brightly lit, clanking monstrosity and the lines between the dots to be roads traveled by huge roaring trucks and other heavy equipment. Now you have a good idea of how the animals will be affected by this "tiny" amount of disturbance. Keep in mind that this does NOT include the pipelines that will carry the oil. Conveniently for their calculations, the pipelines don't touch the ground, so needn't be counted as part of the percentage of land covered ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Terry Korzan EMAIL: terrykorz@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: http://nwf.blogs.com DATE: 09/04/2005 10:37:16 AM Of course Ankorage would be attacking any efforts to protect ANWR. They have a lot to gain in its destruction - dollars, that is. I can sympathize with their need for jobs and for a boost in their economy. I live in northern Ohio and no one knows better the sad situation our economy is in than those who live around here. We've been in economic devastation since the 1970s. However, any jobs created through the destruction of ANWR by oil drilling will be short-lived since there isn't enough oil there to sustain our wasteful thirst for it. We need to invest in alternate energy sources. Let's create jobs in the development of these alternate energy sources and our country will be much better off in the long run. As a biologist, I can assure you that we need to protect all of our remaining wildlife preserves, especially this last great untouched wildlife preserve - the ANWR - for ourselves, our children and our children's children through at least the next seven generations. Thank You! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rick Glatz EMAIL: rickglatz@hotmail.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 09/05/2005 02:36:05 PM As much as we want to stop them now, how are we going to do so in the aftermath of Katrina and gasoline over $3.00 in the US? You know the pro-drilling politicos are going to use this..... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Rick Glatz EMAIL: rickglatz@hotmail.com IP: 205.188.116.138 URL: DATE: 09/05/2005 02:37:27 PM As much as we want to stop them now, how are we going to do so in the aftermath of Katrina and gasoline over $3.00 in the US? You know the pro-drilling politicos are going to use this..... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Melanie Murawski EMAIL: melaniejm@juno.com IP: 67.99.175.237 URL: DATE: 09/08/2005 02:24:58 PM The editorial states “America’s biggest hope for new domestic oil production lies under this (ANWR) sliver of land”. If six months worth of oil that will take 10 years to obtain is America’s biggest hope for new domestic oil, then doesn’t that speak volumes about our need to seek out better fuel economy and alternative fuel systems and sources NOW! The money would be better spent in that direction rather than ruining the ANWR. The gullible people are the ones who don’t already see that, not us who support protecting one of the last pristine natural areas left in this country. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Alex EMAIL: APet89@aol.com IP: 64.12.116.196 URL: DATE: 09/11/2005 11:07:50 PM Even if there was a significant amount of oil in the Arctic (which there isn't), it WILL run out eventually! The gov't needs to find OTHER sources of energy. They KNOW it'll run out someday. So why not find those other sources NOW and USE them? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Engel EMAIL: bbiengel@charter.net IP: 24.247.215.79 URL: DATE: 09/12/2005 08:41:44 AM What I and millions of others know is that ANY fossil fuel activity, other than the oil companies deceptive rhetoric, pollutes the land, air, and water. Unfortunately, the oil companies know there are millions that actually believe their bull. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John Engel EMAIL: bbiengel@charter.net IP: 24.247.215.79 URL: DATE: 09/12/2005 08:46:49 AM What I and millions of others know is that any fossil fuel activity, other than the deceptive rhetoric of the oil companies, pollutes the land, air, and water. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: A. Cerbin EMAIL: alcerbin@aol.com IP: 152.1.159.76 URL: DATE: 09/13/2005 01:02:06 PM Passionate, yes. Gullible, no. I've been tracking this matter for the last few years now and the fact that people are down right distorting the truth to get support to drill in the refuge is disgusting. The truth is that there is very little oil in the refuge and like so many of you have said the cost of getting it would be the loss of biodiversity. I think these oil companies are quite gullible in not realizing that the world needs biodiversity in order to survive. Let's hope more people realize this in the next few days to come. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: John May EMAIL: greenknight2814@aol.com IP: 207.200.116.204 URL: DATE: 08/21/2008 12:21:47 AM for three and one half square miles of nothing but a tundra grass moquito sanctuary, your're ruining the American Economy? The only thing hurt by drilling in the cosatl wasteland of ANWAR is the vanity of environmenalists, who gladly break their piggy banks to fill up their tanks. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Adam Kolton TITLE: Poor-k Excuse STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: poork_excuse_1 DATE: 08/19/2005 01:44:31 PM ----- BODY:

When you work "inside the beltway," as I do, politicians and their staff members sometimes tell you things they wouldn't dare say to their constituents or the media. Mainly I hear lots of reasons -- or more accurately excuses -- as to why they can't do something, even though they claim to agree with our position.

Take the Arctic Refuge as an example. More than a dozen GOP House members who say they oppose drilling, supported the congressional budget resolution (which included a drilling provision). Had just a few of these lawmakers decided to oppose the budget, the resolution would have been defeated on the House floor and the drilling debate would be over -- at least for this year.

Two different staffers told me that their bosses voted for the initial budget blueprint because they did not want to negatively affect the amount of federal highway dollars that would go to their districts. Who controls those dollars? House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska), one of the chief advocates of Arctic drilling. Young has cut road allocations for members who have gone against him on the Arctic and other Alaska issues, but you'd be hard pressed to find reports about such instances in the media or talked about publicly.

Who would dare admit they cast their vote, not on the basis of principle but politics? Who would acknowledge publicly they were willing to trade the wildest place left in America for their own piece of personal pork?

Well, the highway bill has since passed Congress and President Bush signed it into law two weeks ago. You'd think that would ease the pressure on lawmakers who oppose Arctic drilling to actually vote their conscience when the final budget bill comes back to the House floor this fall.

Sadly, though, there is always more pork -- some other quiet deal to cut for politicians willing to name their price. But we're doing something to stop that. By shining a bright spotlight on everything they do and say about the Arctic, we can keep Congress honest about their decisions. Together, we are thousands of eyes and ears that can catch everything they have said -- on the campaign trail, in interviews, or in our calls to their offices.

So tell me what you know -- I'll tell you if it jibes with what we're hearing "inside the Beltway."

Washington can be kept honest by the weight of citizen involvement. So, the next time you talk to your lawmaker's office let them know you want them to oppose any final budget bill that includes Arctic drilling.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: BetterThemThanUs EMAIL: sergtdasrgsdfg@wertqwer.com IP: 12.40.178.65 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 02:10:06 AM I would rather see a few dead animals than a few thousand dead Americans. Get real 99.9 percent of us will never even see these places in person, let alone visit there. If displacing a some animals means getting us out of the middle east, then I'm all for it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jennifer EMAIL: jennifer.lantz@insightbb.com IP: 12.220.253.227 URL: DATE: 08/26/2005 05:55:46 PM Well "BetterThemThanUs" you are certainly showing your intelligence. :/ Keep in mind..if they open ANWR, then that will leave a huge opening for them to open every other park and wilderness habitat. You may not care about wildlife and animals, God help you, but they are the ONLY spirit this country has left. If you destroy and continue to advocate the destruction of, our wilderness, the Hell you receive will greatly surpass any Scary Movie you've ever seen. Because it will be YOU that starves very shortly once the weather is so hot, the rains stop, the crops wither, the wells are dry, the hospitals are full, the painkillers are on back-order and the electric doesn't work because the oil is still gone: all a result of too much greed..It is people like YOU that will suffer the most. To that I say AMEN! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Matt Woodley EMAIL: mathew.m.woodley@enc.edu IP: 10.1.0.2 URL: DATE: 04/19/2006 08:04:28 PM I don't know about all of that craziness, but it will certainly not "get us out of the Middle East" drilling in the Arctic will only give us a 6 month supply of oil at best and it will take about 25 years and it is not just Caribou that will suffer the Gwich'in people cannot live without the Caribou maybe you should go and see it. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: Guest Writer: "Most Treasured Place" STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: most_treasured_ DATE: 08/18/2005 07:30:00 PM ----- BODY:

A guest post by Robert Stagman, M.D., of Mercer Island, Wash.

My wife, Gail and I rafted and hiked through the Arctic Refuge on the Kongakut River for 10 days in late June, 1992. We were surrounded by millions of acres of beautiful wilderness in the 24-hour light. Along with our guide and one other adventurer, we witnessed the Porcupine Caribou Herd on its grueling calving migration from the Yukon Territory to the Arctic Refuge coastal plain. The experience was magnificent, and though we have traveled extensively and visited every continent, the Arctic Refuge ranks among our most treasured places. It is both awesome and humbling.

There is, first of all, striking natural beauty with the high peaks of the Brooks Range merging into the multi-colored lowlands laced with wildflowers and studded with wetlands, segmented by meandering rivers flowing into the Beaufort Sea. There is the vastness and remoteness, where the hand of man is truly undetectable and the experience of wildness reaches a pinnacle. But, above all, this place is, in every sense, a refuge, a sanctuary for the myriad species for which its protection means survival so that their story may continue.

We doubt that anyone not blinded by ignorance and greed could possibly move to desecrate this magical place with the machinery of oil exploration when it is so clear that no long term relief for our energy problems will result. Drilling in the Arctic Refuge must be debated vigorously on its merits and cannot be permitted to occur through political subterfuge. There are simply no more places like this.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Wren Siegel EMAIL: wrenbeth@yahoo.com IP: 24.8.176.4 URL: DATE: 08/20/2005 01:08:07 AM I trekked through ANWR along the Tinyaguk River in 1994. I have been on treks through the Grand Canyon, in Hawaii, and the wilderness of Utah. But none of those places comes close to how remote the Arctic is... it is true wilderness. I feel beyond fortunate to have spent 9 days in a place that may not exist as wild ever again, UNLESS our lawmakers vote with conscience. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: susan krause EMAIL: skrause442@yahoo.com IP: 24.191.55.225 URL: DATE: 08/25/2005 08:47:03 PM We need to get people of faith involved, especially the Episcopal churches. (The majority of the Gwitchen native people are Episcopalian.) THIS IS A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE, AND THESE PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR ENTIRE WAY OF LIFE. Scripture says we are to do good, especially to the household of faith. If we are Christians, how can we NOT help our brothers and sisters??? Sue ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shalen Fairbanks TITLE: And On the Right ... STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: and_on_the_righ DATE: 08/18/2005 02:00:00 PM ----- BODY:

Two dozen House Republicans, including three committee chairmen, have asked Speaker J. Dennis Hastert not to use a congressional budget procedure to clear the way for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. They said in a letter to Hastert (R-Ill.) that the budget process "is an inappropriate venue to be debating this important environmental issue" and warned that it would further complicate already difficult budget issues. We believe the debate on opening this unique land to oil and gas exploration should be done outside the budget process.

AP Wire Report, August 11, 2005

When I saw this wire report in my email this morning, I just had to share the news. Members of Congress and others often fall into the trap of viewing oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge as a partisan issue  -- but news like this is reminds us that it's not. I'm glad to see Congress hearing that message both from inside and outside the halls of the Capitol.

Now comes the next step: the actual vote. The vote on next year’s budget WILL determine the fate of the Arctic Refuge.  The real test for the 24 signers of the Republican letter, along with every other member of Congress who has promised to make protection of the Refuge a priority, will be whether they back up their words (and signatures) with action and actually vote "no" on any budget reconciliation bill that includes drilling measures.

We can shine a spotlight on members of Congress who have pledged to protect the Arctic Refuge, and ensure they keep their promises. Write a letter to the editor of your local daily -- the opinion pages are often the most read pages of the paper. You can rest assured that your member of Congress reads it, along with hundreds of other people in your community.

If your lawmaker supports protection of the Refuge, use your letter to thank him or her for their efforts to date -- and remind our senators and representatives to put their words into action when the budget reconciliation measure comes to a vote.  If your member supports drilling, or has yet to decide on the issue,  is undecided, or pro-drilling in the Refuge, a letter to the editor should mention the record 24 Republicans who have raised their voices in favor of keeping drilling in the Refuge out of any federal budget bill.

Remember: writing a letter is as easy. For quick tips, check out http://www.nwf.org/action/lettertoeditor.cfm.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shalen Fairbanks TITLE: Dialing In for the Arctic Refuge STATUS: Draft ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: dialing_in_for_ DATE: 08/17/2005 12:17:23 PM ----- BODY:

"Against drilling ... Hurrah"

"Protective of the environment but has made no decision of the budget reconciliation bill. Asked him to vote against drilling in ANWAR."

"The Senator is still weighing the issue. I said that I am very disappointed at this late date that he does not see the wisdom of protecting the environment."

These are just a few of the hundreds of comments we've received from citizens across the country. They've taken the time to call their members of Congress, and helped all of us find out where our lawmakers stand on drilling in the Arctic Refuge.

It's been exciting to hear from people -- many of whom have never contacted their elected officials before -- about their experiences talking to their congressional offices. I spoke to a woman this month in Michigan who called to say thanks for giving her the opportunity to get involved in the fight to save the Arctic Refuge. She said that so often, Washington, D.C., seems so far away that it's hard to believe one person really can make a difference -- but by picking up the phone and actually calling her senators, she realized that her voice did matter.

Listening to her, I was reminded of a quote by President Theodore Roosevelt: "The government is us; we are the government, you and I." I think it's sometimes easy to forget that "we the people" have a lot more power than we actually use.

I'm glad to hear that senators and representatives are hearing from the people and not just the oil lobbyists. So keep the calls coming. Maybe you can use another Roosevelt quote in your conversations: "Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it."

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Larry Schweiger TITLE: $67 a Barrel STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: 67_a_barrel DATE: 08/13/2005 04:23:37 PM ----- BODY:

The price of oil peaked at a record $67 a barrel yesterday. That's bad news for all of us. High gas prices hurt American families.

But drilling for oil in the Arctic Refuge wouldn't offer any relief. Why? Because the price of oil is set on a global market. Even by the most generous estimates, the amount of oil beneath the Arctic Refuge would amount to just a trickle in that market. A Middle Eastern country deciding to cut its production even slightly could more than offset any price reduction from expanded domestic drilling.

Consider this, too: America, by far, consumes more oil than any other country in the world. But the rest of the world is catching up. The number of cars on the world's roads will quadruple in the next fifty years, largely thanks to the booming middle classes of India and China. They want just as many cars as us! And all those cars will need gas, which means more demand — and higher prices — for oil on the world market.

(Did you know there's no guarantee that any oil produced from the Arctic Refuge would even stay in the United States? It could be exported to India, China, or elsewhere.)

We need to solve the problem at its root — which means reducing our nation's thirst for oil. Here's an idea: how about taking back the billions of dollars in senseless taxpayer subsidies for big oil companies already enjoying record profits at the pump? How about using that money instead to expand incentives for Americans to buy cars that go farther on a gallon of gas?

We could start tackling those ridiculous gas prices today.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Gary B. Cunnane EMAIL: gcunnane.gli@lighting.net IP: 66.80.32.106 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 02:24:18 PM The auto insurance companies should discourage the use of these gas guzzling SUVs instead of encouraging people to buy them. If people had to pay a surcharge for driving a big truck on top of the high gs prices maybe they would get it. These people were not around in the late 70s when the Big Car died of starvation waiting on gas lines. Did we not learn anything back then? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kevin Temple EMAIL: webs@alaska.com IP: 69.178.49.182 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 03:06:30 PM I think this whole argument posted on your site is sadly funny. You miss the point of why America uses so much oil it's not the cars we drive. The fact is America uses more oil then other countries due to the fact WE PRODUCE more than any other country. We produce more products of every kind and 90% of them require or are packaged in something that needed oil to be produced. Oil use from those big gas guzzling SUV'S is only a fraction of what we use. Its not the cars or trucks we drive that is causing Americas dependency on oil ! Why is it we tend to forget the real reasons we use oil. Look around you look at all the plastics open your refrigerator hell for that matter look at the monitor your viewing this website on, Your keyboard is made of that's right good old OIL. They all required OIL in order to be made. Next time you go to the store make a REAL IMPACT tell the fools at the checkout they don't need to put your milk in a plastic bag - the plastic container it is already in is more than enough. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathleen Buchanan EMAIL: buch@swbell.net IP: 69.153.20.80 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 05:48:51 PM LETS STOP ANY SUBSIDIES TO ANY COMPANY USING LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL, PLASTICS, OR ANY PRODUCTS THAT USES LARGE AMOUNTS OF THESE ITEMS. TAX IMPORTED GOODS THAT ARE THE SAME ACCORDINGLY. DON'T LET IMPORTED GOODS GET AWAY WITH WHAT WE DON'T ALLOW AMERICAN COMPANIES TO GET AWAY WITH. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Vinay EMAIL: vinay4u@hotmail.com IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 06:00:27 PM Kevin, you're right - it's not just the cars we drive. We could be more energy efficient in lots of other ways. And yes, part of the reason we consume more as a country is that we produce more. But still, automobile fuel efficiency standards are the low-hanging fruit of the conservation picture. We have the technology right now to make cars that are just as safe and powerful as one ones on the road today, but go farther on a gallon of gas. But the government has done little to encourage such innovation. Until very recently, you could get 10 times more of a tax break for buying a Hummer than buying a Prius! That's just not sensible. All the government would have to do is give fuel-efficient cars the same subsidies it gives the gas-guzzlers, and the free market would take care of the rest. People would buy the no-compromise cars that also saved them money at the pump. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kathleen Buchanan EMAIL: buch@swbell.net IP: 69.153.20.80 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 06:29:22 PM The Gas Guzzlers have better lobbiest. We need to seen who is voting for the gas guzzlers and who is voting for the fuel effiecient cars. We really need to keep tabs of who is voting for the people and who is lining their own pockets. Then put it on a website for everyone to see. Any Taker Young Enough and Knows How to Mke a Web Site? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dianne EMAIL: dianmiller1@comcast.net IP: 24.19.180.170 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 08:19:07 PM Folks, I want to tell you that I had to replace my Geo this year, and I did NOT buy a brand-new Prius, because I could not afford the $$$ to buy a new car. I've always had to buy used cars for cash in the past, but this time I actually had good enough credit to get a loan to buy. I bought a '96 Miata that's already been owned by two other people and gets 28 miles to the gallon--and I'm not a bit ashamed, either, because the pollution caused by the manufacture and marketing of my car occurred nearly ten years ago. I would happily put a different fuel source in this car which I LOVE and enjoy if one were available that was also affordable. Is anyone working on that? If not, why not? I'm sure I'm not alone. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laura EMAIL: lauamar2@yahoo.com IP: 24.167.66.71 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 09:54:52 PM I've seen the new solar powered vehicles, but being new and improved they cost a lot more than my familys'cars. I think I'll wait until they come down a lil, eh? Besides the fact that I'm unable to drive any more, I think the pollution was the determing factor in my decission. They usually have at least 2,200. lb's of weight relying on the driver behind the wheel of a car perhaps 2,800.! Stick to your and the animal rights and always be prepared for the worst! Thanks! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Karen EMAIL: purvisfamily@bellsouth.net IP: 198.203.175.175 URL: DATE: 08/17/2005 08:37:15 AM I admit I am speaking from emotion rather than factual information...but Willie Nelson is running vehicles on VEGETABLE OIL. We can grow all the corn we want in this country, and help our farmers in the process! Corn is not a finite resource - we can grow more every year. Is this a viable solution to our dependence on oil? Looking for feedback from those with more factual information! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dianne EMAIL: dianmiller1@comcast.net IP: 24.19.180.170 URL: DATE: 08/17/2005 01:31:35 PM Karen, I could very well be wrong, but I doubt Willie is running his vehicles on pure ethanol from corn, as the engines in most vehicles currently on the road will not tolerate this. My Miata, for example, normally uses unleaded gasoline and cannot use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol, or it will ruin the engine. Currently in the wintertime in Washington State, unleaded gasoline has ethanol added to it, and you can hear the engine knocking! I also do not believe that burning ethanol will significantly decrease the CO2 emissions that affect global warming. We need a technology that gets us entirely away from the internal combustion engine--after all, that is our primary target, not just lightening the load on our pocketbooks. Many of us have had our hopes up that fuel cells would prove to be viable, but that remains to be seen. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Norm Strahle EMAIL: normstrahle@yahoo.com IP: 65.194.140.2 URL: DATE: 08/17/2005 07:16:11 PM Corn is a finite resource. We only have so many acres to grow corn and can only produce so much per year. Worse yet, growing corn does have a negative impact on the environment. The vast majority corn today is grown using pesticides and artificial fertilizers, all which feeds into streams, rivers, oceans, ground-water, etc. In order to produce enough corn to make the slightest dent in our oil consumption would consume vast amounts of open prarie and/or forest. The idea is politically appetizing to farm-belt politicians, but not sound environmentally or a realistic sollution. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Shi EMAIL: shigo@copper.net IP: 69.72.6.113 URL: DATE: 08/17/2005 07:30:07 PM I don't doubt that Willie's running on vegetable oil. Before securing local petroleum sources, German tanks operating in North Africa ran on vegetable oil during WW2 (yes, the technology has been around at least that long). Presently, kits are available which enable diesel-powered vehicles (VW Rabbit and a Dodge pick-up, for example) to run on used vegetable oil. Not ethanol, but the exact same stuff coming out of many restaurants' deep fryers. Not bad...reducing demand for a limited natural resource while recycling. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dianne EMAIL: dianmiller1@comcast.net IP: 24.19.180.170 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 04:06:24 AM So, does that mean if I can fit a VW Rabbit engine in my Miata and get a conversion kit I can run on Crisco? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jay Trilling EMAIL: jamtrill@yahoo.com IP: 69.168.41.183 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:04:55 AM I think this country needs more incentives to use public transportation. People rely too much on their cars to get around everywhere. Why is it that I live in the fastest growing county in the nation (3 years straight) and yet there is no subway system here to this day? The closest subway station is about 20 miles away. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jessica EMAIL: jessica1294@insightbb.com IP: 12.220.120.172 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 05:56:33 PM I may only be a kid but I know a lot. For one, I know that $67 for a barrol of oil is too much! Second, why should they distroy such a perfect and peaceful place filled with wildlife just for a stinkin barrol of oil. That's just plain stupis and they need to stop. I just wish I could stop it! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Adam Kolton TITLE: Green Elephants STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: green_elephants DATE: 08/10/2005 04:31:00 PM ----- BODY:

In July, more than 20 moderate Republicans sent House leaders a letter that urged them to drop Arctic drilling from the budget bill. That’s good news -- and we salute them for it.

But how far do they plan to go? Back in 1960, when Congress refused to pass the law that created the place we now call the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, President Eisenhower called in his Secretary of Interior -- and ordered him to create the refuge by executive order. Twenty years later, Republican Senator Bill Roth (Del.) fought to double the refuge in size -- and helped to ban oil drilling on its costal plain.

How do today’s ‘Green Elephants’ measure up to that standard? Do they have the same courage and vision as Eisenhower, Roth and Teddy Roosevelt? Because if Republican leaders refuse to heed those representatives’ July letter, only their votes -- cast firmly against the budget bill -- can ensure that we hand the Arctic Refuge intact from this generation to the next.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Annoyed EMAIL: foo@bar.com IP: 66.235.54.73 URL: DATE: 08/11/2005 01:01:36 PM Thanks for spamming me with your junk. I particularly appreciate you retaining a spamming service to do the dirty work for you. Kind of reminded me of NWF junk mail we used to get. Way to practice conservation that you preach! You just made sure that NWF doesn't see a single red cent from me, my company or any of my friends and associates who dislike getting spam in their mailbox. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol Saal EMAIL: csaal46516@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/11/2005 02:53:55 PM I love NWF! I also support them! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: laura EMAIL: wtsmarketing@comcast.net IP: 167.104.6.43 URL: DATE: 08/12/2005 04:37:40 PM To "Annoyed" You are annoying, now go away and try to find something productive to say and do! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Friend of ANWR EMAIL: bam@together.net IP: 165.121.147.133 URL: DATE: 08/12/2005 08:39:50 PM After several trips to ANWR my wife easily recognized an attachment that will last as long as my soul. Several weeks ago she suggested that my ashes someday be spread along a stream in ANWR, tears followed with a sort of bewildered acceptance. But now I think I will reject her offer, the thought of all the trace chemicals and pollutants I have accumulated during a long life in the lower "48" ... they don't belong in ANWR. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shalen Fairbanks TITLE: Why I'll Be in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 20 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: why_ill_be_in_w DATE: 08/08/2005 07:01:30 PM ----- BODY:

I've never been to the Arctic National Willdlife Refuge -- but I have been to Alaska. It's an absolutely amazing place, full of stark snow-capped mountains, dark blue water teeming with wildlife, massive glaciers, and so much more. For some reason, the colors seem brighter there as well -- the pink of the tundra flowers, the white in the snow.

It's a place where you get used to seeing bald eagles soaring among the trees and moose, and caribou grazing in valleys (or in the middle of your hiking trail). Alaska is one of the few places I've been where the natural world still reigns supreme. As a friend of mine so aptly said: "If you can go to Alaska and not come away with respect and awe for the natural world, then you don't have a soul."

I've been asked several times why I am so passionate about protecting a place I've never been to. My response is a simple one -- I want the option of going there, and I want my seven-year-old niece to have the option of going there. I also like knowing we have a place where the beauty and magic of nature is left alone.

For all those reasons -- and because Kristine, my niece, just pointed out that drilling for oil where the polar bear babies are born is just dumb -- my family and I are going to be in Washington, D.C., on September 20 for Arctic Refuge Action Day. Thousands of people from across the country are signing up to come to the nation's capital and make show of force that will tell Congress we mean business.

You can be a part of this historic event as well -- just send an email to alerts@nwf.org, and let us know you're interested in more information. If you can't make it to DC, but have an interest in attending (or even hosting) a rally or event in your city, let us know that as well. Working together, we can -- and will -- ensure that the wild beauty of the Arctic Refuge is protected both now and for future generations of people ... and polar bears.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Mark Crocker EMAIL: zolaboris@yahoo.co.nz IP: 203.96.146.39 URL: DATE: 08/09/2005 09:38:15 PM I just want to offer my support to all those who are fighting to stop the drilling in the Arctic Refuge.I'm sure there are alot people outside North America who will be feeling the same. Be strong and good luck. Regards to all. Mark Crocker New Zealand. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Doug Zornes EMAIL: dzornes@mtaonline.net IP: 65.74.114.6 URL: DATE: 08/12/2005 02:01:46 PM I've lived in Alaska for 23 years. I love the outdoors and I love Alaska. It always amazes me how people outside of Alaska view Alaska and as of late the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. First of all every time I see an aricle on ANWR they ususally show a picture of the north side of Mt. McKinley which is several hundred miles away or some other mountain range in Alaska. The truth is that ANWR is as flat as a pancake and has no trees growing on it. Most people wouldn't make it five minutes with the misquitoes in the summer time and the -50 to -70 degree weather in the winter time will freeze water in a matter of seconds. There are no roads and the oil companies do most of there construction in the winter time on roads paved with Ice that melt in the spring. The rest of the time they fly in and out in helicopters. The area they would affect is equivelant to a postage stamp on a football field. So unless you grab your tent and spend a couple of weeks in the misquito infested swamp like tundra I suggest you find some area where you live to save and let Alaskans take care of there own back yard. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Kevin Temple EMAIL: webs@alaska.com IP: 69.178.49.182 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 03:32:45 PM Shalen Fairbanks it is nice to know you feel the way you do about Alaska how in your own words "It's an absolutely amazing place, full of stark snow-capped mountains, dark blue water teeming with wildlife, massive glaciers, and so much more. Alaska is one of the few places I've been where the natural world still reigns supreme." Tell me did you visit it before the 1970's ? The reason why I ask is you give a great description of my home state. You do realize that there is one of the worlds largest oil operations called the pipeline? It cuts through the state from Prudoe Bay to Valdez. Amazing how your description of the visit to my home didn't seem to tell of the nasty pipe you saw or how the wildlife was devastated by this intrusive thing. You may want to tell Kristine your niece that the caribou population actually has multiplied 5 times greater than it was before the pipe came into existence. Doesn't it go to figure that the polar bears would love more tasty caribou to munch on. Not talking about facts when it comes to impacts on the environments is to quote your niece Kristine " JUST DUMB " ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: M. Mercurio EMAIL: mercurioteach@aol.com IP: 204.249.107.254 URL: DATE: 08/17/2005 02:53:16 PM Kevin, Your comments are just as dumb. There are "facts" on both sides and just because the facts weren't cited in a blog post doesn't mean that they aren't available on NWF's site. You can't make a case for opening ANWR by citing the caribou population growth. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: kim p EMAIL: fsu_little_girl@yahoo.com IP: 128.227.60.192 URL: DATE: 08/22/2005 05:20:03 PM doug- i am a PhD student studying population genetics, and citing that the caribou population has grown does not seem like a great indicator to me. if the caribou population is growing, that means that a predator species is probably declining and unable to keep the other population in check... maybe you should take a lesson or two in ecology before you go spouting off again.... :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: katie EMAIL: katlynfinch@yahoo.com IP: 66.103.161.12 URL: DATE: 08/23/2005 12:06:14 PM I have never been to Alaska, but when I retire it is one place I would like to stay in my retirement. I do not want to see the bueatiful land lost, all our states have already been taken to many different corporations and Alaska is our "pure" state. To me it seems like if tons of oil refineries go up there, we will have global warming like no other- movie day after tommarrow mean anything. Not a good idea. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Larry Schweiger TITLE: Moonshot STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: moonshot DATE: 08/05/2005 10:50:58 PM ----- BODY:

     People my age will remember the day a young, charismatic President challenged the nation to put a man on the moon before the decade's end. Despite the odds, America rose to meet John F. Kennedy's challenge. Why? Because we're a can-do nation. It's in our spirit.
     Fast-forward about forty years. Some politicians, including the President, are telling us we can't meet our future energy needs without drilling in special places, including the Arctic Refuge.
     What happened to the can-do American spirit that put a man on the moon? Are we really to believe that despite all our ingenuity and technological prowess, we have no choice but to sacrifice our nation's largest and most pristine wildlife refuge for oil?
     The truth, of course, is that the Arctic Refuge doesn't contain enough oil to meet America's energy needs. For that matter, neither does any other place in the United States. We consume one-fourth of the world's daily production of oil, yet sit atop just three percent of its reserves, including the oil in the Refuge. No amount of domestic drilling is going to bridge that gap.
     Most Americans understand this--we want cleaner, safer, cheaper ways of meeting our energy needs, not a drilling frenzy. Fortunately, practical solutions exist. Making the average car go just three miles per gallon farther on a gallon of gas, for example, would save more oil than could ever be extracted from the Refuge!
     The answers are right in front of us. What's lacking is the political will to make them a reality.
     Don't let anyone tell you we can't. Instead, ask your leaders why they won't.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol Saal EMAIL: csaal46516@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/11/2005 02:50:44 PM I think the Moon Shots are here the air. CJS ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Roby LaPorte EMAIL: roby@wowizowi.com IP: 68.96.87.15 URL: http://robylaporte.com DATE: 08/15/2005 08:21:19 PM Well said, Larry, I couldn't agree more. It is a lazy, uninformed American that can not understand this simple fact; the need for alternative fuels is the reality. Not now, but years ago! We already know alternatives are out there, but do you think the oil companies will allow any of that to happen? I would like to see how much they spend to keep them suppressed. We will always need oil, but we don't need to burn it on transportation. We're running out of time, friends, I have got to believe we're smarted than this! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Penelope Hynam EMAIL: penelopehy@caribsurf.com IP: 216.110.106.44 URL: DATE: 08/18/2005 10:44:49 PM Gulkible? I am a mature woman who has spent years working in conservation and was President of the largest regional environmental association in the Caribbean. And I have also spent much time in the unforgettable beauty of the Arctic. Let me tell you what gullible is.. it is those who believe that their life and that of their children's lives will be made better by short-term greed and the rape of the earth. Sadly they will discover their horrible mistake only when it is too late for them and us. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Arctic Promise Team TITLE: More Information: About the Refuge STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 0 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: more_informatio DATE: 08/01/2005 09:02:00 PM ----- BODY:

Refuge_map_1The 19.6 million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Alaska is one of the wildest, most pristine places in the United States. The 1.5 million acres of its coastal plain being proposed for oil exploration, often referred to as the 1002 Area, are the most biologically productive part of the Refuge, and the heart of its wildlife activity. A total of 135 bird species have been recorded on the Refuge’s coastal plain, and about 70 of them are regular nesters.

As many as 300,000 snow geese feed on the coastal tundra in the fall before flying on to their wintering grounds, in California’s Central Valley and other western states. Northern pintail ducks, mallards, red-throated loons, tundra swans and white-fronted geese are among the many other migratory species known to inhabit the Arctic coastal plain during the year.

Many other wildlife species rely on the coastal plain. It is the central calving ground for the Porcupine caribou herd, and the most important land denning habitat for polar bears in the Alaskan arctic. It is habitat for wolves and grizzly bears, and year-round home to muskoxen, arctic foxes and wolverines.

Nearly 95 percent of the potential oil reserves area of Alaska’s North Slope are already designated for leasing or open to exploration and drilling. The additional five percent in the Arctic Refuge has been formally protected since the Eisenhower administration for its unique wilderness and wildlife values.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Adam Kolton TITLE: Doesn’t Arctic Drilling Belong in the Energy Bill? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: doesnt_arctic_d CATEGORY: Politics CATEGORY: The Push for Drilling DATE: 08/01/2005 04:09:00 PM ----- BODY:

Congress at long last cranked out an energy bill last month — one that took six years to make. But it leaves out way too much — such as measures sought by conservationists on global warming, renewable energy and fuel economy ... and the issue of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Excuse us?!

Let me be clear: drilling in the Arctic Refuge would be a huge mistake. But in any case, the place to debate the issue, if anywhere, is in the energy bill — so why drop that from there, where dealing with that question makes the most sense?

The answer's easy: because the politicians never gave up on the idea, and found a clever way to ram it through. By sliding their Arctic drilling scheme into the budget reconciliation bill — usually meant to deal with spending cuts and revenue issues — drilling advocates are attempting to get around their inability to get their invasion of the Refuge approved through normal means.

Congress can’t filibuster a reconciliation bill. That creates a loophole large enough to drive a fleet of Exxon’s seismic vehicles through. Even our environmentally enlightened politicians have kept quiet about what’s really going on here: a blatant effort to avoid a full, fair and open debate about the fate of the wildest place left in America.

The facts [note: Word document] are clear: this is a place that has been protected for nearly a half century, and a place that at best may meet two percent of U.S. oil demand — maybe — in 20 years. So if Congress wants to talk about drilling in the Refuge, it should at least put the debate back where it belongs — in the energy bill — and have an honest discussion about Arctic drilling and the energy choices we need to make as a country.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tommy EMAIL: 2martins@fuse.net IP: 216.68.41.151 URL: DATE: 08/08/2005 10:13:34 PM Excuse me, but I need more information about why exactly it is so wrong to harvest a natural resource that is available to us in an area where extreme consideration for the natural wonder that exists there would be taken, where the local citizens are in favor of it, and the world sources of it are diminishing. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tommy EMAIL: 2martins@fuse.net IP: 216.68.41.151 URL: DATE: 08/08/2005 10:32:42 PM Also, if you live in this world, you are depending on oil, even if walk everywhere all the time. It is insulting and arrogant to maintain a position on such a critical issue as this, where you only see it one way. Pretending that the struggles for this precious resource are not going to rule your future is naive. Invent a new technology or get out of the way of those of us who are attempting to deal with it in the least harmful manner. The luxury of letting it come from boring desert sands from far far away is growing slimmer by the day. Join the realistic world and put your energy into contributing in a quality manner, using your respected convictions to help effect a positive balance we all can live with. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol Saal EMAIL: csaal46516@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/11/2005 02:49:06 PM Excuse me, but we do not need to drill oil in Artic. We have plenty in Texas and the Ocean. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: zevdog EMAIL: zevdog@zipcon.com IP: 63.249.23.247 URL: http://profile.typekey.com/rstagman/ DATE: 08/15/2005 02:06:19 AM Tommy, I have been to the Arctic Refuge. Have you? Before you talk about dealing with it in the "least harmful manner" you owe it to yourself and the rest of us to go there. There are few places like this, and oil exploration will destroy it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dan EMAIL: dmontesi@belenjesuit.org IP: 209.136.11.181 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 02:15:23 PM Finding more oil will in the short term reduce the price of oil. In the long term it will create a greater dependance on oil thus making us even more beholden to the Mid-East. My vote is for the development of alternative energy sources. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laurie R Towle EMAIL: lauriertowle@optonline.net IP: 69.118.127.240 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 02:34:25 PM How much longer is the US going to exploit natural resources to get oil? We have a space program with incredible technology , why can't we devote national resources to viable fuel alternatives? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joel EMAIL: joelraeber@comcast.net IP: 68.215.209.141 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 03:50:40 PM We've seen what "extreme consideration" the oil companies take with the Exon Valdez disaster. We can't allow them to destroy an national treasure just to make more money. There are alternative technologies available, but Bush won't put that in his energy bill because the oil companies are paying him ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: gloria LaFontaine EMAIL: glopo2@netscape.net IP: 64.193.5.7 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 04:59:48 PM How do we contact other Rep. who are not in our state or do we? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: glopo EMAIL: glopo2@netscape.net IP: 64.193.5.7 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 05:00:48 PM How do we contact other Rep. who are not in our state or do we? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Roy Major EMAIL: rfmajor@earthlink.net IP: 4.154.115.97 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 05:01:06 PM Only one car dealer in our area is advertizing the hybrid, and they are not patriotic enough to list a price that provides and incentive to buy. I have not seen much written recently about producing hydrogen with solar and wind energy instead of fossil fuels. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dale Melada EMAIL: dlmelada@yahoo.com IP: 68.35.66.133 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 10:45:33 PM The photos are excellent and give one a feeling of being there. I spent time at the Philadelphia Art Museum to study about Caribou when in H.S. It is a shame our law makers didn't do the same. Thank you for helping me be prepared to communicate to my Senators and Representative by the excellent information you gave here. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joe Quinn EMAIL: quinn@ncweb.com IP: 12.168.211.66 URL: DATE: 08/15/2005 11:50:27 PM The present Pipe-Line sure isn't helping the present effect on the gas I buy. This is just another pipe dream that will make a few rich and hurt us and all following generations in the future of seeing and visiting an area untouched by civilization ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: gretchen van der slem EMAIL: gvdsl@nextel.com IP: 70.246.56.197 URL: DATE: 08/16/2005 12:52:26 AM excuse ME, but I happen to LIVE IN TEXAS and I'm glad u think getting oil from here is good...but how would u like it ruining YOUR backyard???? Y all this dependence on oil when diesel engine cars can run on a vegetable oil amalgamation and POW!!! We no longer need to use fossil fuels!!! Gee...what an idea. Why is the obvious so hard for them to see? Greed. It's what's turning this earth on its axis right now. It's the most powerful entity on earth and it's run rampant everywhere. Please write to your Congressmen/women and tell them to listen to you & do the RIGHT thing. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joan Elliott EMAIL: elljo2002@yahoo.com IP: 144.160.98.31 URL: DATE: 08/16/2005 03:12:09 PM It seems to me that with all the time and energy already spent on this issue, we could have made quite a lot of progress toward energy efficiency,had it been directed in that endeavor. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Laura EMAIL: lakiesel@gmail.com IP: 64.242.194.97 URL: DATE: 08/16/2005 03:45:08 PM To Tommy: The precedent set by Prudhoe Bay has shown that we cannot "harvest a natural resource that is available to us in an area where extreme consideration for the natural wonder that exists there would be taken." Currently, there are a reported 400 spills a year in Prudhoe Bay, and one should not forget the infamous Exxon-Valdez spill of '89, that killed nearly 260,000 animals and wrecked a whole fishing community. This community has still not seen the entire proceeds due to them from their lawsuits against Exxon. When an oil spill occurs in the Arctic, it is impossible to completely reverse the damage. The toxins will freeze and thaw and re-freeze overtime, causing damage to generations of wildlife. Should we endure another spill reminiscent of the '89 disaster, the coastline of ANWR (which hosts more polar bear dens than any other place, and which is the calving grounds of the Porcupine Caribou) will have suffered from a loss or depletion of species --we cannot compensate for this. Even Sen. Murkowski, the most ardent supporter of Arctic drilling estimated only a 9% offset in domestic oil demand for a brief amount of time (a far more generouse estimate than more credible sources dictate-somewhere in the realm of .07%). Is it worth it to risk this landscape? DO you dare to look at a present picture of Prudhoe BAy or read its figures and claim that the Refuge, this natural wonder, will still stand mostly intact [if oil drilling were to occur]? Or will it look like another science fiction oddity as does the Bay? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tommy EMAIL: 2martins@fuse.net IP: 216.68.43.121 URL: DATE: 08/19/2005 11:47:41 PM To Laura: I'm sorry you cannot justify limited drilling in ANWR. The precedent set with Prudhoe Bay was created by technology that is more than 20 years old. New technology allows for 80% less footprint on the land. ANWR is 19.8 million acres and the proposed drilling area is approx. 2,000 acres, or .01%. That's like one sixth of Dulles Airport. And it's not just about the oil or the nature. It's about the people, the American citizens, who will experience economic benefit, to the tune of between 200,000 and 700,000 new jobs. Pristine wilderness and wildlife are supreme to me, and there is plenty of it here in this beautiful country. But guess what? People are here too and so are their needs. Like I said before, you can't escape the fact that until we can ween off the oil, there are going to be struggles over it. Please tell China that they really shouldn't encourage their millions of wannabe car drivers to buy Toyotas. If you buy food,clothing,shelter or anything else, let alone drive a gas powered car, you depend on oil burning machines. Drilling oil out of our own land seems a small compromise is the big picture. Why not try to see it? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Larry Schweiger TITLE: For Thadeus STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: for_thadeus CATEGORY: Getting Involved CATEGORY: Larry Schweiger DATE: 08/01/2005 03:53:09 PM ----- BODY:

When I think about why the protecting the Arctic Refuge matters to me, what first comes to mind isn’t the vast herd of caribou that rely on the refuge, or the polar bears whose icy habitat is shrinking every year, or the ancient Gwich’in people who have survived on that unspoiled landscape since time immemorial. They are all deeply important reasons for saving the Arctic Refuge, but they’re not what I think of first.

Instead, I think of my grandson Thadeus, whose first birthday is just a few days away. I think about what kind of world he’ll grow up in. Will it be one where we’ve spoiled our last, best wilderness in an attempt to feed our nation’s deepening addiction to oil and gas? Or will it be one where we’ve curtailed that addiction through conservation and technology, while leaving my grandson, and yours, the natural legacy they deserve?

Make no mistake: the Arctic Refuge fight is about much more than protecting a pristine sliver of Alaska’s coast, as important as that is. It is about the inheritance we intend to leave our children. We can drill in the Arctic Refuge and saddle our children with our debt – the debt of fossil fuel addiction, global warming, and scarred landscapes. Or we can leave them a gift that we know in our hearts is their rightful due — a cleaner, safer, more secure world, one that respects a place for wildlife and nature.

Either way, the impact of what we decide will be felt long after we’re gone. That’s why we must hold our leaders accountable now, while there’s still time to change course.

Thank you for doing your part — for yourself, for your children, and for Thadeus.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Delinda Morrison EMAIL: ratchellee@yahoo.com IP: 68.12.156.215 URL: DATE: 08/03/2005 01:58:43 PM Our life depends on a healthy environment. Death or major reductions in widelife populations can advesely effect the entire eco-systems. Fight the b______s at every point. It has many years since I gave the large govenment, industry etc a clean bill of health. Fight, stand strong. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Matthew Morrison EMAIL: morrison_mj@cox.net IP: 68.12.156.215 URL: DATE: 08/03/2005 02:08:09 PM I am 9 years old, so far the only place I've seen polar bears and wide animals from the Artic regions (and many other parts of the world) have been at the zoo. I know we need oil but we need to find a balance. Animals die everyday because of human abuse, neglect, and place humans above animals. I think we should protect our animals and where they live too. My mom and I use envio-friendly pest control, and many other things to help our planet. I wish more people would care. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sue Ann Falco EMAIL: sjfalco@bellsouth.net IP: 65.10.74.96 URL: DATE: 08/03/2005 05:05:18 PM Maybe we should learn to not be so greedy. I remember the days when houses weren't air conditioned, the air smelled clean and you listened to the birds singing in the trees. We weren't afraid of toxic waste, or destruction of our lands. But, something went wrong....money, impressions, and indifference became a way of life. We have been fighting battles for existence since the 60's. Now are battles are for survival, not for a cause. If we destroy everything natural, the habitats of earths creatures, and continue to pollute the air......there won't be anything left alive. The live for today and the heck about tomorrow won't cut it anymore, because there won't be any tomorrow for our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Maybe they can sleep at night...save the Alaskan Wilderness...the trees, the animals, birds, pristine lakes and waterways. Let us still have a place to remember what it use to be like. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Jeff Felton EMAIL: jfelton@pwcwire.com IP: 208.129.212.192 URL: DATE: 08/03/2005 07:07:35 PM I think we need to find a way to convince society to give up on the pursuit of the fancy cars and huge houses and appreciate what is around us. No one seems to care anymore, they buy cars so they can go fast and show off, they need a bigger house to boost their ego, and all it amounts to is greed. This is not what life is about. We need to find a way to get the message across that life is dependant on nature, and if we don't change our ways, and learn to go back to some more simple ways of doing things, and learn to live with nature and not against it (to start with stop driving cars that guzzle gas unnecessarily) our children will be left in a wasteland and have us to thank for it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: susan wessel EMAIL: suewessel3@verizon.net IP: 209.158.88.119 URL: DATE: 08/04/2005 12:33:14 AM Just want to say that ever since I was about 9 years old, which is 37 years ago, I have been fascinated by Alaska. So much so that at the time I did a book report on Alaska. My dream vacation, which I know I would never be able to do, is a trip to Alaska, not the cruise kind but like a wilderness kind to see life, especially wildlife, the way it really is. I watch every show I can about Alaska and the Arctic Refuge and just sit in amazement and awe at the beauty of nature. So, why do we have to destroy it again? Hasn't one pipeline wrecked enough havoc on the ecosystem? What about the oil spill at Valdez? Didn't we learn enough of a lesson from that? Or have we all forgotten about that? Believe it or not, even all these years later, which I think would be about 20 or so, life is still affected in some way because of the spill. It's time we think again about how important the ecosystem is to the entire world. A threat/change to one system causes threats/changes to many others. All living things deserve the right to live the life they were meant to without other forces coming in and destroying their home. How would you like it if someone came to you and said get out, we need your land and are going to level your house? We don't care what happens to you or where you go we just want you out!! The Artic Refuge is the only place in the United States, and maybe the world, that is still prestine and untouched by human hands (well, except of the pipeline) let's try our best to keep it that way!! Our childrens' childrens' childrens' deserve to see and enjoy the beauty!! We've destroyed the earth in so many different ways over the past 50 years, let's start thinking about how we can save it for the future generations of the world! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nancy Evans EMAIL: evansgoirish@msn.com IP: 67.4.89.127 URL: DATE: 08/08/2005 02:21:55 PM My favorite animal in what is left of "the wild", is the Polar Bear. I can 't stand the thought of them losing their habitat because we have not even tried to use less fuel & drive cars that don 't use much fuel. I agree with each child that sent their heartfelt letter. Let 's take their thoughts to heart! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Nancy Evans EMAIL: evansgoirish@msn.com IP: 67.4.89.127 URL: DATE: 08/08/2005 02:23:36 PM My favorite animal in what is left of "the wild", is the Polar Bear. I can 't stand the thought of them losing their habitat because we have not even tried to use less fuel & drive cars that don 't use much fuel. I agree with each child that sent their heartfelt letter. Let 's take their thoughts to heart! We do not need the Artic Refuge for gas. Leave it alone forever! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dick Hinrichs EMAIL: hinrichsd@bellsouth.net IP: 65.0.175.187 URL: DATE: 08/08/2005 02:44:24 PM As i write this note i am tied up to a oil rig in the gulf of Mexico fishing in crystal clear blue water. No polution plenty of fish. Drilling for oil in the Alaska area would be no different. Wildlife would not be effected. I am as concerned as you are about saving the wild,but i see nothing that would do any harm. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Shannon O'Brien EMAIL: shan@net1plus.com IP: 66.152.240.162 URL: DATE: 08/10/2005 08:17:04 AM No matter how you try to convince yourself that an oil rig is doing no harm, you are wrong. The harm is much larger than just one oil rig. The harm happens over time, not just in the small amount of time one person can hold a job on any oil rig. This is damage that continuously happens over generations. It is time we Americans wake up and force the government who supposedly works FOR US to start using the alternative methods we already have, and research newer environmentally friendly methods of powering our oil/gas addicted nation. Let's stop pouring our hard earned money in the wallets of the already way-too-wealthy oil tycoons. It is time we ask our "leaders" why they go through so much to protect these oil buddies of theirs. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: marti woods EMAIL: kmarti@cableone.net IP: 24.119.156.81 URL: DATE: 08/12/2005 02:46:36 AM You know I read there is not that much oil up there to begin with so why would we bother????? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Vinay Jain EMAIL: jain@nwf.org IP: 70.17.78.8 URL: DATE: 08/13/2005 04:34:43 PM Did you know there's no guarantee that any oil produced from the Arctic Refuge would even stay in the U.S? It could be exported to other countries. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Shalen Fairbanks TITLE: Hitting the Road to Protect the Arctic Refuge STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: 0 ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: hitting_the_roa CATEGORY: Getting Involved DATE: 07/21/2005 04:12:00 PM ----- BODY:

Today, I’m proud to be an American.

I stood side by side earlier with people from all walks of life — and together we kicked off a nationwide campaign to keep oil drilling out of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. All of us there felt a shared sense of purpose: a sense those of us who believe in the enduring value of the refuge — standing united in the shadow of the nation’s Capitol, and all across the country — can win this effort to protect a spectacular wildlife treasure.

Starting this morning, two Arctic rally vans started a journey across America. They’ll stop at cities, towns, villages, summer fairs, festivals, Little League games and backyard barbecues — every place they can remind people what we stand to lose if oil companies set up shop in the heart of the Refuge. This is just the beginning: events are planned across the country to spread the message that our children and grandchildren deserve to inherit a place so spectacular that Alaskan Natives refer to it as the place “where life begins.”

But don’t wait for the vans or rallies to come to you. We have to act now. Starting today, we all need to speak to our neighbors and friends — and encourage them to speak to their neighbors and friends — until ultimately, our Congress hears the voices of millions of Americans who oppose Arctic drilling and want America to have a safer, cleaner and more secure energy future.

So call your members of Congress — and find out where they stand on drilling in the Arctic Refuge. Make sure to press them for clear answers; then, report their responses here at our website. And support the rally vans — for events in your area, send a message to alerts@nwf.org.

----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: jade EMAIL: shanaynayhaynay@yahoo.com IP: 217.81.253.51 URL: DATE: 08/04/2005 06:31:53 AM i feel bad for all those wild life creatures out in the wild by exctinction. There been alot more wild fires then before in our life. To me im a wild life lover. When i get older i plan on being a wildlife biologist. So im gonna pass my grades get good education and go to jcc collage. I dream of becoming one every night so im going to try to make that dream come true. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: shannon mathous EMAIL: shanaynayhaynay@yahoo.com IP: 217.81.253.51 URL: DATE: 08/04/2005 06:38:14 AM All those people out there I want to thank you for trying to keep wild life safe. I want to have a wolf pack and their enviroment right out back of my yard. I love wolfs and i love white sebarian tigers. Right now im going to try for the wolfs their like dogs to me. Just like that person jade im going to go to jcc which stands for: jefferson community collage. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Marge Scharr EMAIL: yacksalot1@aol.com IP: 205.188.116.202 URL: DATE: 08/08/2005 05:17:29 PM My family and I just returned from a trip to Alaska. I don't think I can adequately put down words to describe the vastness and beauty of the region. It was an experience of a lifetime. Once seen, the memory is haunting. The unspoiled peacefulness we got a glimpse of is powerful and should be guarded as a national treasure. It belongs to our nation of people and must be protected from the greed of big business and oil companies. It is OUR treasure to respect and enjoy, NOT theirs to abuse. We need to speak up and defend the Arctic from drilling. Politians need to LISTEN to their constituents and stop bowing to business interests or they may find themsleves out of office. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Carol Saal EMAIL: csaal46516@aol.com IP: 152.163.100.196 URL: DATE: 08/11/2005 02:45:27 PM We need to change the way we are doing things in the Artic or we are going to lose the Polar Bears, Bison, etc. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: B100 EMAIL: soy@bean.org IP: 131.225.176.69 URL: http://www.biodieselnow.com DATE: 08/31/2005 02:00:51 PM I hope by golly that those vans are using E85 or biodiesel, otherwise it looks kinda hypocritical. ----- --------