Our House of Representatives is in the process of screwing the pooch on energy and climate. Friends of the Earth is asking that we all contact our Representatives - they make it easy for you with a zip code lookup - just a few buttons to press and you're done.
Government of the people, by the people, for the people. The 4th of July is upon us. Remember that famous document our forefathers wrote? It's called The Declaration of Independence. I feel you all must get tired of my preaching, but really, we all must become more active in our own governance. Most don't realize it yet, but it's a different world out there. There is no "back to normal". Okay, I'm preaching again.
Pick your cause. Pick a few causes. Become active in them. Join. Send them a little bit of money. Volunteer locally to help them. I know, believe me, I know it's a pain in the ass and none of us has time for this. But we all have to make the time. The alternatives are a much, much bigger pain in the ass. Real pain.
Thanks in advance. Here is the press release:
* Global Warming
* Energy
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Nick Berning, 202-222-0748
Erich Pica, 202-222-0739
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Friends of the Earth launched an advertising campaign today against the energy and climate change bill that is expected to come to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives later this week.
The progressive environmental group's ads will run on a variety of progressive and environmental blogs and websites. The ads call attention to the fact that the bill is based on a blueprint written in part by polluting corporations like Shell Oil and Duke Energy, which has undermined the ability of the bill to solve the problems it is intended to address.
Friends of the Earth President Brent Blackwelder had the following statement:
“Corporate polluters including Shell and Duke Energy helped write this bill, and the result is that we’re left with legislation that fails to come anywhere close to solving the climate crisis. Worse, the bill eliminates preexisting EPA authority to address global warming—that means it's actually a step backward.
“Last November, the American people voted for change. Unfortunately, while the party in power may have changed, the process through which this bill was negotiated makes it clear that the overwhelming influence of corporate special interests has not. This exercise in politics as usual is a wholly unacceptable response to one of the greatest challenges of our time, and it endangers the welfare of current and future generations. Speaker Pelosi and congressional Democrats simply must do better. We are calling on them to vote against this bill unless it is substantially strengthened. If the ‘political reality’ at present cannot accommodate stronger legislation, their first task must be to expand what is politically possible—not to pass a counterproductive bill. This is the message carried by the ad campaign we are launching today.”
The initial ads that are running in the campaign can be viewed at: http://www.foe.org/new-ads-opposition-house-climate-bill.
Friends of the Earth is urging citizens to send messages about the bill to Congress, and has set up a web page where they can take action at http://action.foe.org/t/8815/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1117.
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Friends of the Earth (www.foe.org) is the U.S. voice of the world’s largest grassroots environmental network, with member groups in 77 countries. Since 1969, Friends of the Earth has been at the forefront of high-profile efforts to create a more healthy, just world.
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