It's Your Country | Green Energy News

February 20, 2005 – Vol.9 No.48

IT’S YOUR COUNTRY.

Just because a politician manages to get elected doesn’t mean he has a mandate to do what he pleases once in office. Politicians need to be closely monitored - and hounded by the electorate - from the day they’re sworn in to the day they clean out their desks.

Few U.S. politicians have made global warming a major issue. President Bush has asked for only voluntary action with some government help for technologies that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as hydrogen fuel cells.

Yet the issue that may determine the future course of life on the planet is becoming a topic of mainstream concern.

The Climate Crisis Coalition has organized "The People's Ratification of the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty "and is collecting online signatures of U.S. citizens, companies, and organizations who want their country to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

In part the petition reads "...we do not go along with the Washington party line. We want to set a good example and be responsible stewards. We care deeply about the future viability of the planet. And, we are ready to commit ourselves to a clean energy future."

The group, naturally, is hoping millions will sign. Millions in the U.S. are certainly aware that the treaty is a first step in mitigating climate change. Millions need to be aware of the petition in order to sign it. (Read that as pass this on.)

Sign the petition and view a sample list of organizations and individuals that have already signed at http://www.kyotoandbeyond.org/ . Visit the Climate Crisis Coalition at http://www.climatecrisiscoalition.org/ .

The title of a press release from the Wilderness Society says it all : Sneak Attack Threatens Arctic Refuge And Our Democratic Process - Wilderness Society Shines a Spotlight on Stealth Budget Maneuver.

According to the Wilderness Society a bipartisan national survey has shown that, by a margin of 53 to 35 percent, Americans oppose proposals to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Further, 73 to 18 percent think the issue is too important to the American public and future generations to be snuck through the budget process.

And snuck through is what the Wilderness Society claims some members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are planning to gain government approval to begin drilling. Those members, the organization says, want to include opening up ANWR in an upcoming budget resolution. (Budget resolutions often get passed because they’re needed to keep government in business.)

The Wilderness Society wants your help and is asking people to contact their Congressmen to close this back door maneuvering. The group has an online petition to sign or a letter to send to your congressmen. Visit the Wilderness Society at http://www.wilderness.org/arctic .