URGENT, YOUR HELP WILL TURN THE TIDE . (4/27/2001 ).

[Guest guest]

YOUR HELP WILL TURN THE TIDE. (4/27/2001 )

 

YOUR VOICE IS HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR !

 

Dear Caring Friend ,

 

Your VOICE is heard loud and clear time after time

in the Congress and in the Government . It proved your

CALL/LETTER/EMAIL are turning the tide towards

Humanity and Peace gradually .

Please we must all continue the efforts for billions of

suffering animals and our increasingly endangered

Environment .

 

This email contains 4 issues :

 

1: NATIONAL MONUMENTS .

2: MINING POLLUTION: Comments Deadline: MAY 7th (Monday )

3: STOP CRUEL AERIAL GUNNING AT CASTLE PEAK,

COLORADO.

4: STOP DUCKS IN FACTORY FARMS.

 

p.s.: The following different issues and campaigns will be separated

by " @@@@@@ " .

 

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

 

Campaign 1 :

 

NATIONAL MONUMENTS :

Please Urge Gale Norton and President Bush etc. to

uphold protections for our national monuments.

 

From the forests of the Pacific Northwest to the turquoise

seas of the Caribbean, America's national monuments

encompass areas containing exceptional ecological,

archeological, geological, and historical resources. Many of

our nation's newest national monuments protect areas of

critical importance to plant and wildlife species, as well

as significant archeological sites. The Carrizo Plain

National Monument provides crucial habitat to thirteen

threatened or endangered plants and animals, and protects

the last remnant of the vast grasslands that once dominated

California's central valley. The Upper Missouri River Breaks

National Monument protects the last free-flowing stretches

of the Columbia River, once traveled by Lewis and Clark.

Canyons of the Ancients, a new monument in Colorado,

encompasses irreplaceable Native American ruins such as

cliff-houses, adobe towers, and other ruins dating back

thousands of years. Without monument protection, these

sensitive areas would be seriously undermined by commercial

development, urban sprawl, and vandalism.

 

But today these and other areas are in grave danger of

losing their protection. By inviting elected officials to

suggest boundary or other changes for nearly two dozen new

national monuments, Interior secretary Gale Norton is

attempting to undermine current protections for these

national treasures. In doing so, she is ignoring the

extensive participation the public, local officials, and

others had in establishing these monuments and is failing to

heed the wishes of an overwhelming number of Americans who

have a legitimate stake in the future of these treasured

lands.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO: (Sample letter and all Contacts follows).

 

 

SAMPLE LETTER : (Please write your own letter if you wish. )

 

Please uphold the public's wishes by maintaining

current protections for all of the national monuments.

Please Protect our NATIONAL MONUMENTS.

 

Dear Honorable Secretary Norton ,

 

The newly designated national monuments

safeguard significant parts of our country's unique natural heritage.

I strongly urge you to heed the public's wishes and maintain their

current protections.

 

The new monuments safeguard areas of tremendous ecological

importance. Monuments such as the Carrizo Plain National

Monument in California protect crucial habitat for many

threatened and endangered plant and wildlife species. Upper

Missouri River Breaks National Monument safeguards the last

free-flowing part of the Columbia River -- an area of

tremendous natural beauty and historical significance. Other

designations, such as Canyons of the Ancients, contain

invaluable archeological ruins that are testaments to our

country's rich and diverse heritage.

 

Out of some 18,000 species and subspecies around the globe

examined so far by the scientists in year 2000, there are

11,046 plants and animals risk disappearing forever, according to

the most comprehensive analysis of global conservation ever

undertaken, reported by the World Conservation Union's 2000

Red List of Threatened Species .

 

Conservationists estimate that the current extinction rate is

1,000 to 10,000 times higher than it should be under natural conditions.

THE PRIMARY REASON : HUMANS. EVERYTHING FROM

EXPANDING CITIES TO DEFORESTATION, AGRICULTURE ,

FISHING and HUNTING pose a significant threat to the planet's

" Biodiversity " .

 

Their status as national monuments ensures that these

singular places and their resources will be protected from

the mounting threats posed by commercial development and

urban sprawl.

 

Interior Department attempts to undermine current protections for

these national treasures. In doing so, they ignore the extensive

participation the public, local officials, and others had in establishing

these monuments and is failing to heed the wishes of an overwhelming

number of Americans who have a legitimate stake in the future of

these treasured lands.

 

The public was extensively involved in establishing these monuments

and continues to overwhelming support these new designations.

I urge you to maintain current protections for these treasures.

 

Not only we urge you to fully support all of the National Monuments

designated by all of the previous leaders, but also we strongly urge you

to Expand and Designate more of the Federal land to National

Monuments so that to prevent any commercial and human encroachment.

 

Protecting and conserving those special national lands is something

we owe to the past, present and future. The beauty and peace of

the National Monuments are conserved for all of the Americans

and its thousands of generations to come to enjoy.

 

Sincerely Yours,

 

Your name

Address,

City , State, Zip,

Country

U.S. Constituent(s) (if you live in US. )

Country

--------

 

CONTACT INFORMATION :

 

 

a: Contact Secretary of Interior Gale Norton ,

PLEASE CALL/WRITE TO HER.

(Address to : Dear Honorable Secretary Norton , )

 

Secretary Gale A. Norton

U.S. Department of the Interior

1849 C Street, NW

Washington, DC 20240

U.S.A.

Phone: 202-208-3100 (in USA )

Email: gale_norton (@ios.doi.gov )

 

b: Contact President Bush :

(Address to : Dear Mr. President , )

(using the above same letter .)

 

President Bush,

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20500

U.S.A.

Tel: 202-456-1414 ( 9am-5pm, stay on line to talk to Operator. )

Fax: 202-456-2461 (in U.S.A.)

E-mail : president (@whitehouse.gov )

 

 

Please also CC to First Lady Laura Bush and

Vice President Dick Cheney and Mrs. Cheney :

(copy the following address and paste to CC field. ) :

note: must have comma between addresses.

The following two addresses has @whitehouse.gov

 

first.lady ,

vice.president ,

mrs.cheney ,

 

 

c: Contact : EPA Administrator Christine Whitman ,

PLEASE CALL/WRITE AND EMAIL TO HER.

(Address to : Dear Honorable EPA Administrator Whitman ).

 

Address :

Christine T Whitman

EPA Administrator,

1101A , USEPA Headquarters

Ariel Rios Building

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W.

Washington, DC 20460

U.S.A.

Tel: 202-564-4700 (in USA )

Fax: 202-501-1450 (in USA ).

EMAIL: whitman.christine (@epamail.epa.gov )

 

 

d: Contact Chairman of the U.S. Senate

Energy & Natural Resources :

(Please address to : Dear Honorable Senator Murkowski )

 

The Honorable Senator Frank Murkowski

US Senate

Washington, DC 20510

U.S.A.

Tel: (202) 224-6665 (in USA )

Fax: (202) 224-5301 (in USA )

Email: thru the web site :

http://murkowski.senate.gov/webmail.html

 

 

e: Contact U.S. Senator Domenici :

(A Senior member of the Resource Committee ).

(Address to : Dear Honorable Senator Domenici , )

Email: http://domenici.senate.gov/contact/contactme.cfm

 

The Honorable Senator Domenici,

328 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510-3101

U.S.A.

Tel: (202) 224-6621 (in USA )

Fax: (202) 224-3844 (in USA )

 

 

f: Contact US Senator Bingaman :

(Address to: Dear Honorable Senator Bingaman )

senator_bingaman (@bingaman.senate.gov )

 

 

g: Contact : U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

(Address to : Dear Senate Committee on Energy and Resources, )

 

U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

364 Dirksen Building,

Washington, DC 20510

U.S.A.

Tel: (202) 224-4971,

Fax: (202) 224-6163 ,

Email: committee (@energy.senate.gov )

 

 

h: It is important to Contact Chairman JIM HANSEN

OF the US HOUSE RESOURCE COMMITTEE THRU

THE FOLLOWING WAYS :

 

Congressman James Hansen,

242 Cannon House Office Building,

Washington, DC 20515

USA

Tel: (202) 225-0453 (9Am to 6Pm, eastern time, USA ).

Tel: (202) 225-2761 (9Am to 6Pm, eastern time, USA ).

 

i: Contact :

 

The U.S. House Committee on Resources

1324 Longworth House Office Building

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515-6201

USA

Tel: (202) 225-2761 (in USA )

Email: resources.committee (@mail.house.gov )

 

j: Contact U.S. Congressman Nick Rahall

(A Ranking member of the House Resource Committee ).

nrahall (@mail.house.gov )

 

k: Contact US Congressman Ed Markey

(A member of the House Resource Committee )

 

The Honorable Congressman Markey,

2108 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Tel: 202-225-2836 (in USA )

 

 

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

 

Campaign 2 : MINING POLLUTION

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS DEADLINE :

MAY 7th, 2001 (Monday )

 

Tell the Bush administration to protect our public lands

from mining pollution

 

In January, after four years of research, debate and public

comment, the government established new, stronger mining

safeguards. The new rules would allow the federal government

to prohibit new mine sites on sensitive federal land and

prevent mining pollution from reaching waterways (an

estimated 12,000 miles of America's rivers and streams have

already been polluted by the mining industry's cyanide,

arsenic, and other toxic waste). The rules also would

require companies to pay for clean-up and restore public

lands ruined by mining activities.

 

But after a few short weeks in office, President Bush and

Interior secretary Gale Norton proposed suspending the new

rules and replacing them with the old ones, which haven't

been substantially updated in decades. The administration

announced a 45-day comment period (which ends on May 7) to

effectively undo a four-year process. In the meantime, new

mines are being proposed adjacent to people's homes, upwind

from elementary schools, in wilderness areas, at the

headwaters of critical fish habitat, in fragile desert

ecosystems, and amidst the wild lands that provide a home to

our few remaining grizzly bears.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO :

 

Send a message before the May 7 comment deadline telling the

Bush administration (official comments are sent to the

Bureau of Land Management) to leave the current rules in

place.

 

 

CONTACT INFORMATION :

 

Bureau of Land Management

Administrative Record

401 LS, 1849 C St, NW

Washington, DC 20240

Email: WOComment (@blm.gov )

 

 

SAMPLE LETTER :

 

Attention :

AD22 -- Please Don't roll back mining regulations

 

Dear Director,

 

I strongly oppose your proposal to suspend the current

mining regulations that became effective January 20 and

replace them with the old, outdated, mining rules.

 

The old rules have left a legacy of streams and drinking

water polluted with acid, heavy metals like arsenic, and

poisons like cyanide, while the current rules contain

standards that would prevent mining pollution from reaching

our waterways. The current rules also allow the government

to deny mine proposals that would irreparably harm the

environment; the old rules made it close to impossible to

deny these permits.

 

And, the current rules require mining companies, not

taxpayers, to pay for expensive mine clean-ups. Too often,

the old rules allowed these companies to walk away from

their environmental messes.

 

The current rules were established after four years of

research, dozens of public hearings and thousands of public

comments. The mining industry may not like them, but the

rules should stay in place.

 

Again, do not suspend these regulations, and do not replace

them with the old rules.

 

Sincerely,

 

Your name

Address,

City , State , Zip

Country.

U.S. Constituent(s) (if you live in USA )

 

---

(References source : http://www.nrdc.org/action)

 

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

 

Campaign 3 :

 

STOP AERIAL GUNNING AT CASTLE PEAK, COLORADO.

 

Send an email, letter or fax to BLM today demanding they stop the

outrageous destruction of native wildlife in a proposed wilderness!

 

This alert contains :

What's At Stake

What You Can Do

Points to Make

Sample Letter

Sender Information

 

WHAT'S AT STAKE

 

At the request of the federal government's Wildlife " Services " (formally

Animal Damage Control) , BLM has approved the aerial gunning of

coyotes in the popular recreation and important wildlife area of

Castle Peak Proposed Wilderness. This request would benefit a

single rancher at the expense of every American taxpayer and the

thousands of people who visit the Castle Peak area each year.

 

Castle Peak is one of 49 areas proposed for wilderness by Colorado

citizens and included in federal legislation introduced by

Rep. Diana DeGette. According to law, BLM should manage proposed

wilderness to protect natural values including wildlife, natural systems,

and opportunities for quiet and solitude.

 

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO :

(Key points and Sample letter enclosed below.)

 

KEY POINTS TO MAKE IN YOUR LETTER :

 

A: PLEASE STOP AERIAL GUNNING AT CASTLE PEAK.

PLEASE STOP THIS CRUEL OUTRAGEOUS DESTRUCTION

OF NATIVE WILDLIFE IN A PROPOSED WILDERNESS !

 

B: BLM planned action violates federal law in several important

regards: · Through relying on a poorly written, outdated analysis; ·

Through abrogating agency responsibility to manage BLM lands; ·

Through ignoring significant social and environmental costs; ·

Through ignoring strong public opposition to aerial gunning; ·

Through treating all BLM lands the same (proposed wilderness included);

and, · Through not analyzing impacts to newly listed sensitive species.

 

C: The aerial gunning of native wildlife simply does not belong in

areas managed for their wilderness qualities; and,

 

D: The affected rancher should be required to document other

methods of livestock protection prior to this extreme measure.

 

----------------------

 

SAMPLE LETTER also provided here :

 

 

RE: PLEASE STOP AERIAL GUNNING OF WILDLIFE .

PLEASE STOP THIS CRUEL OUTRAGEOUS DESTRUCTION

OF NATIVE WILDLIFE IN A PROPOSED WILDERNESS !

 

Dear Ms. Huebner:

 

I am writing to voice my strong opposition to the

AERIAL GUNNING OF WILDLIFE in the Castle Peak Proposed

Wilderness. I appreciate and cherish the wildlife, which inhabit our

public lands. I think it is a travesty that our government is spending

millions of dollars to kill these animals simply to benefit a few

ranchers who already enjoy wide access to the public's land for their

private selfish interests.

 

It is BLM's responsibility alone to ensure compliance with federal law on

agency lands. The BLM cannot simply put that responsibility off onto

another agency. The Castle Peak area is proposed for wilderness by

citizens and is part of federal wilderness legislation. It is a

disservice to

the American people to allow this subsidized slaughter to continue on

our shared public lands, especially those lands with unique and

important natural values.

 

Wildlife " Services " is part of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The primary service,

which this program provides to wildlife, is killing them, mostly to

benefit a handful of ranchers in the West; " Livestock Services " would

clearly be a more accurate name. In Fiscal Year 1999,

Wildlife " Services " spent $10 million of taxes to aerial gun over

33,000 animals, including more than 30,000 coyotes, the obvious

target of choice. Other animals targeted include wolves, bear,

cougar, raccoons, and several other species.

 

Wildlife " Services " operates under a shroud of secrecy.

In addition to wasting millions of dollars on the destruction of

native wildlife, itself reason enough to oppose this program.

Wildlife " Services " conducts much of its activity on public lands,

lands which belong to all Americans and that are habitat for many

species of animals.

 

Federal law requires that activities that impact public lands be carefully

analyzed for environmental and social impacts. Predator control activity

on Colorado Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands is based on

an October 1997 Environmental Assessment (EA), titled

" Predator Damage Management in Western Colorado. "

The EA analyzing this activity covers a ridiculously broad and

diverse range of ecosystems and circumstances, over an area

spanning 31.5 million acres, 29 counties, six national forests, and nearly

all of the state's BLM lands.

 

Such a broad glance clearly renders meaningless any site-specific value

it may pretend to provide. In addition to failing to include any specific

information about particular BLM lands, the EA reaches its

conclusion that shooting thousands of animals from low-flying aircraft

has no significant environmental impact by applying at least three

premises that are simply FALSE . The EA reaches its conclusion

by relying on the three (among ten) following premises, that :

 

a: There are no unique characteristics such as park lands, prime farm

lands, wetlands, wild and scenic areas, or ecologically critical areas

that would be significantly affected;

b: The effects on the quality of the human environment are not highly

controversial;

c: An evaluation of the proposed action and its effects on T & E species

determined that no significant adverse effects would occur to such

species.

 

In fact the proposed activity is slated for a legislatively proposed

wilderness area, which BLM manages as a Special Recreation

Management Area; aerial gunning of wildlife is highly controversial in

Colorado, as much recent press coverage has clearly and unequivocally

demonstrated; and, there are several newly listed endangered or

sensitive species--such as the Sage Grouse and the Canada Lynx--which

have never been considered in any environmental document regarding

this activity, in clear and flagrant violation of federal law.

 

The need for more site-specific and detailed analysis of predator control

in general, and aerial gunning specifically, is obvious. The EA, which

is a legal document required to allow this activity, simply ignores any

meaningful discussion. It includes nowhere any discussion about

any specific BLM lands in Colorado, but instead only the broadest

kind of a general review.

 

Absent in the EA and conformance review is any detailed discussion

about wilderness, potential wilderness or other unique BLM lands,

any discussion about newly listed and candidate

species under the Endangered Species Act, or any discussion of the

controversial aspects of predator control: that the majority of the

public likely finds it reprehensible; that there is strong scientific

dispute about its effectiveness; and that the economics of this subsidy

for a handful of private interests is simply too costly and totally

misused .

 

The Environmental Assessment for this activity, which is supposed

to result in a finding of no significant impact, arrives there simply by

ignoring any meaningful discussion.

 

BLM should require that the affected rancher document other methods

of predator control and protection of livestock prior to approving

this extreme cruel measure by using U.S. taxpayers to pay for

cruel shooting native wildlife from low flying aircraft in this area.

 

I am strongly opposed to this cruel and misused activity under

any circumstance. PLEASE STOP AERIAL GUNNING OF

WILDLIFE . Thank you.

 

 

Sincerely,

Your name

Address

City, State, Zip.

Country.

--------

 

CONTACT INFO :

 

Contact :

Anne Huebner,

Area Manager Glenwood Springs Resource Area

Bureau of Land Management

PO Box 1009

Glenwood Springs, CO 81602

Fax : 970-947-2829

EMAIL to: Anne_Huebner (@co.blm.gov )

 

Please send a copy of your comments to APHIS/Wildlife " Services " :

If send by Email, please CC to :

Craig Coolahan, Colorado State Director

USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services 12345

W. Alameda Parkway, Ste. 210

Lakewood, CO 80228

U.S.A.

Fax: 303-969-5798 (in USA )

Email: hcooney (@news.aphis.usda.gov )

 

Also CC (if send email) to :

EMAIL: Action (@cecenviro.org )

 

 

Contact : (Please FAX/Write to her office ).

Ms. Nina Rose Hatfield

Acting Director

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

1849 C St NW, Room # 5660

Washington, DC 20240

U.S.A.

Fax: 202-208-5242

Tel: 202- 208-3801

 

(Address to: Dear BLM Director Hatfield , )

 

 

 

Contact :

Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman :

U.S. Department of Agriculture

14th & Independence Ave., SW

Washington, DC 20250

U.S.A.

Fax: (202) 720-2166

Tel: 202-720-3631

email: ann.veneman (@usda.gov )

(Address to : Dear Honorable Secretary Veneman ).

 

 

Contact :

Marketing and Regulatory Programs

United States Department of Agriculture

Room 228-W

Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building

12th & Jefferson Drive, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250

U.S.A.

Tel: (202) 720-4256

(Address to : Dear MRP, )

 

 

Contact :

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Marketing and Regulatory Programs

United States Department of Agriculture

Room 312-E

Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building

12th & Jefferson Drive, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250

Tel: (202) 720-3668

Email : ace (@aphis.usda.gov )

 

(Address to : Dear APHIS , )

-------

 

(Reference Source : For more information contact:

Pete Kolbenschlag, Colorado Environmental Coalition:

pete1 (@cecenviro.org )

 

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

 

Campaign 4 :

 

STOP DUCKS IN FACTORY FARMS:

 

All animals in factory farms suffer tremendously, and for ducks, that

suffering is increasing. Factory farming of ducks has been on the rise in

the United States, and many upscale health food stores carry duck meat

despite the inherent cruelty. While such stores depend on conveying a

" wholesome " image, many customers don't know that the ducks they buy have

been factory farmed .

 

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

(Sample letter and Contact info enclosed below for your convenience).

 

 

SAMPLE LETTER :

 

Dear Mr ...... ,

 

Upon learning how ducks are factory farmed,

I was outraged. I urge you to withdraw duck meat from

all of your stores immediately.

 

Ducks, like other animals raised for food, are excluded from the

federal Animal Welfare Act.

 

The modern ducks are factory farmed --- deprived of free access

to water, sunlight, or anything akin to their natural environment.

Thousands are stocked in each factory unit. The filth often results in

painful ammonia burns from rising urine levels. Unsurprisingly,

many ducks become diseased and die. In the crowded sheds, others

are pushed on to their backs where, unable to right themselves,

they starve to death. Those kept on wire floors or in cages often

suffer from untreated abrasions, bruises, and tears on their feet.

 

The intense stress of factory farmed-life leads ducks to fight and

peck each other to death, so they are " de-beaked, " a painful

procedure in which their beaks are seared off with a hot knife,

without anaesthesia at all.

 

Ducks have evolved to eat, swim, dive, play and clean themselves

in water. On some factory farms the only water they get is from

nipple drinkers. Farmed ducks are confined in sheds by the thousands

where they are forced to live in filth. Some are unable to stand, while

others suffer eye problems. The farmed duck's life ends violently

after seven weeks. Many are fully conscious when their throats are cut.

 

Breeding stock, which supply the eggs for hatching, are forced into

molting by being forcibly starved. All feed is removed until they lose

almost one third of their body weight. About half will shed most of

their primary feathers. Some will die. This cruelty is legal and is

designed

to produce an extra egg-laying cycle. Some farmers add a further twist-

by removing all water for 24 hours at a time.

 

Please do not participate in this cruelty by selling duck meat.

I look forward to your response.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Your Name,

Address,

City, State, Zip

Country

 

----

 

CONTACT INFORMATION :

 

 

John Shields, CEO

Trader Joe's

P.O. Box 3270

South Pasadena, CA 91031

U.S.A.

Tel: 626-441-1177 (in USA )

 

 

Mr. Lee Scott, President

WAL-MART

P.O. Box 116

Bentonville, AR 72712-9956

USA

Tel: 800-925-6278 (in USA )

 

 

D.J. Richardson, President

Winn-Dixie

1550 Jackson Ferry Rd.

Montgomery, AL36104

U.S.A.

 

 

John Mackey, CEO/Founder

Whole Foods

601 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite 300

Austin, TX 78703

U.S.A.

Tel: 512-477-4455 (in USA )

Email: rs.team (@wholefoods.com )

 

--------------------

(References source:

http://www.vivausa.org/Campaigns/Ducks/ducks.htm )

 

==================================

Thanks for your kindness, compassion and help.