Take Action For the Environment...Online
*************************************
Dear The American Cannabis,
Last week's election brought dramatic and troubling
changes to the outlook for enacting innovative policy
solutions to environmental challenges, at least at
the national level. With the election results still
fresh, Environmental Defense wants to offer a few thoughts
about what these changes will mean for policies to
protect your health and the health of the planet.
THE BAD NEWS:
- Special interests will again swarm the Capitol, eyeing
unique political opportunities to advance their goals
and undermine efforts to find innovative solutions
to climate change, energy use, air pollution, declining
fisheries and more.
- Big changes in the U.S. Senate now mean that control
of several key legislative committees are in the hands
of senators with long records of opposition to environmental
protection. We will be paying particularly close attention
to the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee
and Energy and Natural Resources Committees, two committees
where much of the environmental agenda begins.
- The biggest victim of the election may be efforts
to develop a sound national energy policy that reduces
our oil dependence, reduces the threat of global warming,
keeps our air clean, and keeps our wild lands free
from oil rigs and pipelines.
THE GOOD NEWS:
For now, states are beginning to show progress and
leadership on those same environmental issues that
Washington is looking backwards on. In short, the states
just became much more critical. For example, last summer,
California Governor Davis signed groundbreaking legislation
to cut greenhouse gas emissions from new cars. We will
work to help other states follow suit.
Environmental Defense will continue its tradition of
working with both political parties to protect our
environment. And we will also work hard to oppose any
legislative attacks on the environmental laws that
have helped us clean our air and water, and protect
our wild lands over the last 30 years.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
- Help us win important legislative fights in Congress
and in your state. Invite 5 friends in your town or
across the country to take action for the environment...online:
http://actionnetwork.org/join-forward.html?domain=EDF_Action_Network&r=tpqEA-41mPJj
- Take action now! Visit Environmental Defense's Action
Center to take action on our most current action alerts.
Make change happen - today:
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/action
- Politics got you down? Take action in a new way and
live a green lifestyle. Visit Environmental Defense's
Green Adviser and get tips and advice on living green:
http://www.greenadviser.com
For more information about the election aftermath,
visit Environmental Defense on the web at:
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/article.cfm?ContentID=2458
