Tag Archives: environment

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A few words on the crisis in Japan …Philip Radford, Greenpeace


The nuclear situation in Japan continues to deteriorate. Our thoughts are with the people of Japan as they grapple with this crisis.

Like everyone else, I couldn’t stop following the news after I first learned of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. While these things are nothing new to the region, it was obvious that this was something bigger. The Japanese response has been nothing short of amazing, and it’s awe-inspiring to see the human spirit in action to help worldwide.

But sadly, the worst was far from over.

Within hours, reports started surfacing that the nuclear facilities at Fukushima had been seriously damaged. Soon our fears were confirmed.

Greenpeace is no stranger to the issue of nuclear power. In fact, monitoring nuclear testing off the coast of Alaska was our first mission. For nearly 40 years, we’ve been educating on the dangers of nuclear power as an unacceptable risk to humanity and the environment. Obviously, we’re concerned for the people of Japan as the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disasters unfold.

Many of our members have come to us with questions and concerns about this crisis. Could we face a similar disaster in the U.S.? What’s our country’s policy on nuclear power? These are important questions, and, we’ll be working to bring you the most up-to-date information. And we’ll continue to be the voice we have been for nearly 40 years — one committed to protecting and conserving the environment and to promoting peace.

To read more about our history and our work on nuclear energy visit our website at:

http://us.greenpeace.org/site/R?i=B1mwKbkpEeaPu8AGAKofeg..

In peace and solidarity,

Philip Radford

Greenpeace USA Executive Director

P.S. Please forward this message on to any of your friends and family who are following the situation in Japan

~ Recent Post

Trees are life … from Earth Day Network


Let’s forget about carbon for one day and focus on a simple fact: trees are life. Over a billion people living in extreme poverty rely on forests to survive. They need trees to provide food, shelter, fuel, and to preserve the very fabric of their culture.

Think of Haiti. Its people rely heavily on local forests. But harsh economic realities have forced forest management to take a backseat to survival. The result: rampant deforestation, leading to devastating landslides, erosion, and floods.

Scenarios like Haitian deforestation are calls to action – it’s our duty to answer them. And we have. Using sustainable agroforestry, we planted 500,000 new trees last year to combat centuries of environmental degradation and bring life-sustaining fruit to Haitian communities.

Much work is left to be done. Frankly, we cannot do it alone. Thus, we created the Canopy Project – a people-powered campaign designed to plant a new tree for every dollar our supporters give. Let’s get to work! Will you help us plant 10,000 new trees by March 31st?

www.democracyinaction.org

Please join the Canopy Project and defend forests where they are threatened most. We will plant a new tree for every dollar you give.

Our tree programs have brought over a million new trees to life in forests and communities around the world. We’ve enhanced thousands of lives. With your help, we can do so much more.

Maybe you can’t travel to Haiti or Mexico to plant trees, but you can still stop the decline in forests worldwide. For just one dollar, plant a tree! Contribute $50 or more to receive a t-shirt as a token of our appreciation.

Help us reach our goal of 10,000 new trees by March 31. Give to the Canopy Project and fight the global threat of deforestation.

www.democracyinaction.org

Thank you for your amazing support! Who says you need to get your hands dirty to make a real difference?

The Team,

Earth Day Network

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

RepoWEr America …


Inspiring. That’s the word that came to mind as I looked through some of the stories you sent us that share what your communities are doing about climate change.

Over the past few weeks, more than a thousand of you wrote in to tell us how you are doing your part to solve the climate crisis. And I was thrilled to learn how many of you are taking action — in your workplaces, schools, your local governments, and in your own homes.

Now, I’d like to invite you to read some of these stories. Will you take a moment to read a few of the inspiring stories we’ve received about people like you who are helping us solve the climate crisis? Click below to read the stories on our blog.

http://acp.repoweramerica.org/climate-stories

Read about a teacher who found effective ways to save energy at a Montessori school in Lexington, Kentucky. Or read about new solar panels that will provide 20% of the energy needs for the Cincinnati Zoo.

There may still be people out there who wonder if a clean energy future is achievable. Your stories prove that it is possible. All across America, people are standing up and taking steps that put us on a path to solving the climate crisis — creating momentum for the change we need around the world.

Click here to read some of the stories about people across the country addressing climate change.

Sincerely,

Maggie L. Fox

President and CEO

Alliance for Climate Protection

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

RepoWEr America … House slashes climate funding


We need your help. The House of Representatives passed a federal funding proposal over the weekend that would make drastic cuts to programs that help solve the climate crisis.

Read our latest blog post to find out more — then share it on Facebook.

http://www2.repoweramerica.org/page/m/396e8df6/6fdeebac/57d8fef/19ba7704/3702897640/VEsE/

The funding bill the House of Representatives voted in favor of is an attack on climate change solutions and climate change science. The House cuts would:

Prohibit the EPA from setting limits on greenhouse gas pollution from power plants, factories and refineries, among the most significant sources of greenhouse gas pollution in the United States.

http://www2.repoweramerica.org/page/m/396e8df6/6fdeebac/57d8fef/19ba7704/3702897640/VEsC/

Prohibit the EPA from collecting information about the sources where greenhouse gas pollution is coming from.

Eliminate funding for a Climate Service at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This program would efficiently supply scientific data and information about climate change and its impacts.

Slash the EPA’s total budget by about 29%.

Fortunately, both the Senate and the President still need to weigh in on the funding proposal. They must act before March 4. We need your help if we are going to make sure they take the climate crisis more seriously than the House of Representatives did. Read our summary here — and then spread the word among your friends and family.

http://cpaf.repoweramerica.org/budget-blow

Thanks for all you do,

Maggie L. Fox

Chief Executive Officer

Climate Protection Action Fund

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Science and health under attack: Stop the Dirty Air Act today


For more than 40 years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has used the Clean Air Act to save lives, protect human health, and safeguard our environment.

But now, this critical piece of legislation is under attack, as is the very science upon which it is based.

“I have said many times, and there was a report a couple of weeks ago that in fact you look at this last year, it was the warmest year in the last decade, I think was the numbers that came out. I don’t – I accept that. I do not say that it is man-made.”

— Representative Fred Upton (R-MI)

This is part of a well-coordinated, well-funded war on science—backed by opponents looking out for their own interests in an effort to obstruct progress on important environmental and human health protections.

We need your help. Please urge your representative to stand up for science and the health of our families by opposing efforts to undermine the Clean Air Act.

http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/solutions/big_picture_solutions/clean-air-act.html

The Clean Air Act was created to regulate dangerous pollutants and to implement a science-based method for the EPA to identify and address new threats to human health. In 2009, after conducting an exhaustive scientific review, the EPA concluded that global warming emissions threaten public health and welfare.

We cannot allow our elected officials to senselessly reject the EPA’s scientific assessment that global warming emissions endanger the public. Nor can we allow them to roll back the hard-fought human health and environmental protections we’ve won in the last few years! Please take action today.

Amidst the inflammatory rhetoric of media personalities and polarizing politics found in our national and state capitols these days, it’s becoming harder and harder to find leaders who are willing to stand up for science and for practical solutions to America’s energy and climate challenges.

Please urge your representative to say no to this attack on science and human health by supporting efforts to protect the EPA’s authority to reduce global warming emissions.

Sincerely,

Kate Abend

National Field Organizer

UCS Climate and Energy Program