WASHINGTON, March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Will the "Contract With
America" succeed in reversing 25 years of environmental progress? Not
if the nation's leading environmental organizations can help it. In the
face of a formidable challenge to the body of environmental protections
they worked so fiercely to achieve, an unprecedented coalition of
national and local environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, the
National Audubon Society, the American Oceans Campaign, and Campaigns
For the Environment (CFE) announced plans today for a massive grassroots
demonstration at a Washington rally on the 25th Anniversary of Earth
Day.
Speaking for the coalition, Fred Krupp, executive director of the
Environmental Defense Fund, said, "We've called this rally because
legislation which has already passed the House of Representatives
undermines 25 years of health and safety protections for the American
people."
The multi-media rally on the Washington Mall in front of the Capitol
will feature speeches by the nation's preeminent environmental leaders,
including Gaylord Nelson, former Wisconsin senator and governor who
conceived the first Earth Day in 1970. Many of America's favorite
musical artists will be performing on the main stage, including Mary
Chapin Carpenter, Kenny Loggins, Kathy Mattea, Toad the Wet Sprocket and
numerous other performers to be announced shortly.
"The original Earth Day sent an unmistakable message to our
political leadership," Nelson said. "I hope this year's event will
serve as a resounding reminder to decision makers that Americans are
more committed than ever to protecting the environment. We have a duty
to future generations to create a society that is economically and
environmentally sustainable. I implore anybody who is concerned about
the environment to get involved in Earth Day activities in their local
community or attend the 25th Anniversary National Earth Day Rally in
Washington."
Gene Karpinski, executive director of the U.S. Public Interest
Research Group, said, "In 1970 we had rivers on fire, our cities were
choked with smog, and DDT was killing America's wildlife. The strong
environmental laws created in response to the first Earth Day started to
change all that. Now, Congress wants to roll back 25 years of
environmental progress. On Earth Day, we're going to show them we won't
let that happen."
"It's easy to take for granted just how far we've progressed since
the first Earth Day," added Michael Martin, executive director of CFE,
the non-profit producer of the educational event. "That's why
environmental leaders and popular artists from across the country are
coming together to focus the nation's attention back on the environment.
Artists like Kenny Loggins and Mary Chapin Carpenter will help us
communicate the message that we can `Never Call It A Day' when it comes
to environmental protection. We simply can't afford to stop now."
In a united call to action, members of the coalition sponsoring the
25th Anniversary National Earth Day Rally stated, "Some of the most
important environmental legislation passed in history is up for
reauthorization before Congress. The Clean Water Act, the Endangered
Species Act, and the Superfund are examples. These acts could be
weakened or completely rolled back without environmentally concerned
citizens' action. It is important that Washington, the American public,
and the media know that the time to be active is now. This is not the
time to rest on past successes."
The organizations represented in the coalition include:
American Oceans Campaign Center for Marine Conservation
Defenders of Wildlife Environmental Action Foundation
Environmental Defense Fund Friends of the Earth
League of Conservation Voters National Audubon Society
National Parks and Conservation National Wildlife Federation
Association Natural Resources Defense Council
Native American Rights Fund Sierra Club
Physicians For Social U.S. Public Interest Research
Responsibility Group
Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund World Wildlife Fund
The Wilderness Society
Zero Population Growth
Earth Day Weekend kicks off Friday, April 21, at 6 p.m. when WHFS
Radio and Concerts For the Environment present a modern rock benefit
concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion, featuring Natalie Merchant, Toad
the Wet Sprocket, Collective Soul, and They Might Be Giants. Tickets
are available through all PRO TIX outlets (703-218-6500 and
410-581-0110).
Saturday's day-long rally at the Washington Mall on Earth Day,
April 22, is expected to attract a huge gathering of citizens who are
concerned about the health of their children and the quality of their
lives.
"Music has the ability to go through the mind and directly to the
heart," said Kenny Loggins, a popular recording star who is also a
committed environmentalist. "That's why music is so powerful for
creating change. I'm involved in Earth Day to make the point that we
have to use our minds and our hearts to get the message out to people
all over the world."
Also participating in the rally are Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who plays
Elaine on "Seinfeld"; Jeff Goldblum, of "Jurassic Park"; LeVar Burton,
of "Star Trek: The Next Generation"; and Ed Begley, Jr., currently
starring in David Mamet's "Gryptogram" on Broadway.
"Americans overwhelmingly support environmental protection," John
Adams, executive director of the Natural Resources Defense Council,
said. "Eighty-three percent of Americans who voted during last
November's election considered themselves to be environmentalists.
Clearly, mainstream America cares deeply about the environment. The
question is -- is Congress listening to the American public?"
The State Public Interest Research Groups, The Calvert Group, Ben &
Jerry's, The Surdna Foundation, and several national environmental
groups are providing financial support for the 25th Anniversary National
Earth Day Rally. The Earth Communications Office (ECO) and
Environmental Media Association (EMA) are additional supporters.
Concerts For the Environment(CFE) is a Minneapolis-based national
501(c)(3) non-profit organization which uses music to link musicians,
the environmental community, businesses, and the general public through
concerts and events. Campaigns For the Environment is a 501(c)(4)
non-profit which uses music to encourage political action.
/CONTACT: Francesca Dixon of Podesta, 202-393-1010, for the
coalition/
CO:
ST: District of Columbia
IN: ENV ENT
SU:
Transmitted: 95-03-28 00:00:00 EST
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wed Mar 29 12:39:03 MST 1995
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 14:39:37 -0500
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Lights Off for the Environment, Artist Suggests
BONN, Germany (Reuter) - A German artist proposed Tuesday that people
around the world turn off their lights at the same time on April 5 to urge
world leaders to take action at a U.N. climate conference in Berlin to
protect the environment.
Self-professed ``media artist'' Hermann Josef Hack said the action, which
he dubbed ``global switch,'' would let the silent majority show they back
efforts to save the earth.
``On April 5 at exactly 8.50 p.m. (2.50 p.m. EDT) various media will tell
the public that everyone who wants to take this seriously should turn off or
turn down all lights and electrical devices that are not absolutely
necessary,'' he said in a news release.
The United Nations opened its 11-day conference Tuesday aimed at averting
global warming and climate change.
Reuter/Variety
Transmitted: 95-03-28 17:57:33 EST
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wed Mar 29 12:47:52 MST 1995
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 14:48:25 -0500
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Governments Urged to Act Over Global Warming
By Neil Winton, Science and Technology Correspondent
LONDON, March 27 (Reuter) - While scientists argue about global warming
theory, interest groups and lobbyists say it is time to stop talking and act.
``Action must be taken now in order to stabilize the climate and prevent
catastrophic changes in our environment,'' says Earthaction, a pressure group
made up of citizens' groups in 127 countries.
Delegates from more than 100 countries meet in Berlin from March 28 to
April 7 to discuss progress on the Framework Convention on Climate Change,
signed in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
The U.N.-sponsored meeting will discuss progress made in curbing the
growth of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, said to be the main cause of
global warming and the ``greenhouse effect.''
Those who believe in the greenhouse effect say carbon emissions from
power stations and cars will cause the world to warm up, melting the earth's
ice caps and submerging low-lying areas. Climate patterns would be disrupted
and food production hit.
Some groups have been disappointed by progress on cutting CO2 emissions
since the Rio agreement. They say governments' fine words have been not been
matched by action.
``In the three years since they signed the Climate Change Treaty, the
world's governments have failed to respond effectively to the threat of
climate change,'' said an article in the current issue of the U.S. magazine
``World Watch.''
The belief that little has been done to match the Rio target -- that
carbon dioxide emissions should be stabilised at their 1990 level by the year
2000 -- was recently underlined in a report by Paris based consultancy DRI.
``It is also clear .... that none of the western European countries even
approaches stabilising its emissions, with the growth in energy-related CO2
emissions tending to accelerate after the year 2000,'' said DRI's European
Energy Service.
The DRI report said energy-related CO2 emissions in Europe will increase
by 6.4 percent between 1990 and 2000, and by a further 15 percent between
2000 and 2015.
Experts say that north America and Japan, among industrialised nations,
have shown little interest in action to curb the gases said to cause global
warming.
Earthaction has published a six point programme to cut pollution, which
says nations should:
- Steadily phase out fossil fuels - replacing them with renewable energy
like wind, solar, and hydro power.
- Discourage private cars and trucks in favour of public transport.
- Set minimum standards for energy efficiency.
- Halt construction of power stations without an environmental test.
- Offer development assistance to encourage renewable energy.
- Halt deforestation.
Environmental group Greenpeace believes the summit will make progress,
but warns big business might seek to dilute action.
``Some companies will be seeking action to protect the environment,''
said Greenpeace negotiator Bill Hare, ``but major oil, car and chemical
companies will have lobbyists there, and they have close links to OPEC and
the energy lobby.''
And if action is not forthcoming, environmental lobbyists believe they
have a powerful trump card to play.
They say energy companies could be vulnerable to lawsuits seeking
compensation for wilful damage to the environment, similar to action in the
U.S. against tobacco firms.
REUTER
Transmitted: 95-03-27 06:30:29 EST
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wed Mar 29 12:56:09 MST 1995
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 14:56:41 -0500
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Australia Greenhouse Gas Performance Criticized
I know we have some subscribers from Down Under, and was hoping they could
add their insights to the following Reuters piece.
--Katharine English
-----------------------------------
By Bernard Hickey
CANBERRA, March 29 (Reuter) - Australia's latest attempt to meet its
international commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions will be judged a
failure at the Berlin Climate Change conference, Green groups said on
Wednesday.
Australia, along with more than 100 other countries, agreed at the Rio de
Janeiro environment conference in 1992 to stabilise its greenhouse gas
emissions at 1990 levels by 2000.
But the government's latest forecast is that emissions will have risen
three percent by 2000, even after government measures to cut emissions,
making Australia one of the worst per-capita greenhouse gas producers in the
world.
The government's latest package of measures includes voluntary reduction
agreements with industry and the planting of more trees, which help soak up
carbon dioxide.
Green groups said the package did not do enough to cut emissions, relied
too heavily on voluntary cuts and would be judged harshly by others at the
Berlin conference.
``This report is a recipe for failure because most of the initiative
comes from voluntary agreements,'' Greenpeace Australia spokesman Ian Fry
told Reuters.
``This will reflect badly on Australia's position when it goes to
Berlin... It's going to look very poor,'' Fry said.
``Australia will be right down the bottom of the pack (of countries at
Berlin) in terms of the initiatives taken so far to reduce those emissions,''
Australian Conservation Foundation director Trish Caswell told radio.
Environment Minister John Faulkner is due to present Australia's position
at the conference next week and must explain why Australia has not stabilised
its emissions.
Carbon dioxide produced by cars and power stations and methane produced
by farm animals is thought to cause global warming, as they capture the sun's
heat in the atmosphere.
Faulkner, who tried but failed to convince his government colleagues to
introduce a tax on carbon dioxide emissions, told reporters such a tax could
have stabilised emissions.
But he said the latest proposals would not embarrass Australia in Berlin.
``The effort that Australia has put in will compare very favourably with
with other developed nations,'' Faulkner told a news conference.
In contrast to the complaints from the Greens, industry and mining groups
said they supported the government's package, which they described as
balanced and constructive.
``The package ensures that Australia can substantially advance reductions
in greenhouse gas emissions without major economic or social disruption,''
Ian Spicer, the chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, said in a staement.
Few developed countries are on course to stabilise their emissions at
1990 levels.
The Berlin conference finishes on April 7.
REUTER
Transmitted: 95-03-29 05:09:48 EST
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wed Mar 29 12:58:38 MST 1995
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 95 11:59:05 PST
From: Lisa Corsetti <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: eating plants vs eating animals
Here is a response about why it is more "morally" right to eat plants
rather than animals. Livestock animals live off of plants. It takes
16 pounds of grain to produce a pound of beef, etc. So, if you are
eating the animal protien, you are not only killing the animal to eat
it, but you are also by association killing all the plants the animal
ate. If we eat plants directly, we would be killing fewer plants.
Hope this helps.
Lisa Corsetti
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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The earth does not belong to us.
We belong to the earth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
