I am writing to express support for a strong Endangered Species Act and to oppose any changes to the consultation regulations that would reduce consultation, narrow the circumstances under which consultation occurs, or creates exemptions for greenhouse gas emissions or other pollutants. The requirement that federal agencies consult with scientific experts in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries Services to ensure that their actions don't jeopardize endangered species or adversely modify their habitat is critical to the survival and recovery of endangered species. As such, I oppose any regulations that weaken or relax the standards by which federal agencies carry out their duty to consult. In particular, I oppose any changes to the regulations that would allow federal agencies to evade consultation through self-consultation; that limit the scope of consultation by excluding off-site effects, such as emission of pollutants into the atmosphere; or that limit consideration of cumulative effects. It is my belief that the existing regulations, when properly implemented, do an adequate job of protecting endangered species and thus I would be satisfied if no new regulations were proposed. Thank you for considering these comments.
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/t/5243/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27584
While the Great Lakes Compact protects this magnificent international treasure, it fails to apply the Public Trust doctrine affirming that water belongs to the people and not to corporations; that is, water is a public resource that must be managed by the state governments in trust for the benefit of citizens. Publicly owned natural resources are essential to meet the basic needs of all citizens and communities, regardless of economic status!
Further, the Compact contains dangerous exceptions that allow bottling water for profit and establish a precedent that water can be grabbed by profit-hungry corporations. It can be argued by those wanting to exploit the Great Lakes that its waters can be converted into a "product,” exempted from the ban on diversions and falling within the claws of international trade laws. Act now to ensure the following conditions to the Compact:
- Delete the "product" exception to the definition of "diversion" in the diversion ban. - Delete the bottled water provision! Bottling Great Lakes water must be banned unless it is in the public interest, without harm, and for fair consideration to the public.- All water should be protected by the public trust doctrine! Great Lakes waters must not be subjected to private ownership. Reasonable use of a public water resource is allowable - privatization is not.
Join Food & Water Watch as we fight for clean, affordable, and public water as a human right! If youtake action today, we will continue to keep you updated on this and other issues that impact the right to water.
Letter to President Obama:
Thank you.
Dear President Obama, Majority Leader Reid, and Speaker Pelosi:
It's time to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). At this moment of change and progress, it's time to undo a serious mistake made by Congress 13 years ago. The federal government has no business discriminating against loving families by selectively withholding the 1,300 or so legal protections that only legal civil marriage affords.
It's time for the President to fulfill his promise to the American people to eliminate DOMA. And it's time for Congress to show leadership on this issue and send him long overdue legislation to repeal this relic of hatred.
https://secure.pfaw.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=dump_doma&autologin=true&JServSessionIdr011=p8n4xah9j2.app304a
No More Money for Failed Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs; Invest in Comprehensive Sex Education Instead
Tell Congress to Follow President Obama's Lead: No More Money for Failed Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs; Invest in Comprehensive Sex Education Instead.
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=837
When it comes to global warming in the lower 48 states, theAmerican pika is the canary in the coal mine. This adorable rabbit relative, which lives near mountain peaks in the American West, cannot tolerate exposure to warming temperatures from climate change. As temperatures rise, pikas at lower elevations are rapidly disappearing. Already, more than a third of studied pika populations in the Great Basin mountains of Nevada and Oregon have gone extinct, and lower-elevation pika populations have disappeared from portions of California's Sierra Nevada mountains.Fortunately, there's still time left to protect pikas and their mountain homes -- but only if we act quickly. In response to the Center for Biological Diversity's scientific petition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting a review to determine whether the American pika should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. The public has until July 6 to subit comments. This is the first important step toward listing the pika under the Act in order to protect the species and its alpine habitat from climate change.Rapidly reducing global greenhouse gas pollution to safe levels is critical to preventing the extinction of the pika. Please, write today to support protection for the pika and to urge the government to reducegreenhouse gas pollution to levels that will protect pikas and other wildlife species from extinction.
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/t/5243/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27538
Please Visit Appalachia and See the Truth About Mountaintop Removal
http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/
Right now, while many Americans are working together to build a clean energy economy, the most destructive oil project on Earth is sneaking across our border. This project, the Canadian tar sands -- a massive plan executed by Big Oil and their allies in Canada's government -- is coming into the United States pipeline by pipeline, refinery by refinery, permit by permit. This project is so huge that it will undermine our climate leadership, perpetuate our addiction to oil, pollute our air and water, violate Indigenous land rights in both Canada and the U.S., and lock us in to a dirty energy infrastructure for decades just when we are finally trying to move to a new clean energy economy. In the words of President Obama: I believe in the new clean energy economy. I believe in green jobs, energy independence and tackling our climate, energy and economic challenges all at once. Tar sands do not fit into our new clean energy economy. Secretary Clinton, I urge you not to grant any State Department permits for the Alberta Clipper pipeline, or any other dirty tar sands pipelines.
http://ga3.org/campaign/statetarsands/exdw7uw44jx55mw5?
A loophole in the Brady Law allows private dealers to make sales without conducting Brady criminal background checks. That leads to illegal gun trafficking and senseless deaths.
Follow up with your Senators and Representative to urge them and their colleagues to close the gun show loophole now.
http://www.bradycampaign.org/action/gunshowloophole/?bro_issue=jun&bro_year=2009#getactive
American ingenuity and determination can certainly develop energy alternatives rather than develop more offshore oil platforms. Congress wavered in 2008, but we can get back on track toward protecting our oceans and ending climate change if you let your representatives know that you believe offshore drilling is not the answer. Drill home that point, by asking your representative to reinstate the drilling moratoria!
http://takeaction.oceana.org/t/6438/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=25198
The Mercury Pollution Reduction Act, H.R. 2190, would make the outdated "Foul Four" chlorine plants update their equipment to modern technology that doesn't utilize or release mercury.
Recently, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection moved the bill to the full House Energy and Commerce Committee for their consideration. And soon, a Senate version of the bill will be introduced.
Even though 95 percent of US chlorine is made without the use of mercury, four outdated plants continue to use old technology and collectively release hundreds of pounds of mercury into our air and water every year. When released to the environment, mercury ends up in our oceans, contaminating seafood.
http://takeaction.oceana.org/t/6438/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=11
In the last months of the Bush Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed some bad rules that significantly weaken the oversight of genetically engineered crops. These rules are bad for consumers, the environment, and would allow the biotechnology industry to regulate itself. Can you demand that the Obama Administration ditch the Bush rules, and make rules that will adequately regulate genetically engineered crops?
