Action Alerts 3-18 Please DU these before Congress recesses!

ACTION ALERTS- 3-18-2005

Please act immediately on these as Congress is moving fast on legislation before the recess, which begins Saturday! Please kick and forward these widely! Thanks.

TELL BIG OIL YOU WILL BOYCOTT THEIR COMPANIES IF THEY DRILL IN ALASKA’S WILDERNESS (From Barbara Boxer)

Today, my heart is heavy. By just two votes, we came up short in our effort to prevent oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, home to over 150 wildlife species. I offer my heartfelt thanks to the over 29,000 of you who joined with me and signed my petition to Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist, demonstrating our strong opposition to this disastrous policy.
In the end, over 90% of Senate Democrats voted to stop this madness -- we just didn't have the votes to overcome the Republican majority in the Senate.

But I want you to know that I won't give up in our fight to stop the drilling. And neither should you. I'm going to use every legislative tool at my disposal to reverse this vote and prevent this terrible policy from going into effect. But we can do more -- today.

I'm planning to organize a consumer boycott of any oil company that decides to drill in this pristine Alaskan wilderness area. If, through our pocketbooks, we can convince these companies to do the right thing, we can still save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from the destruction that would be wrought by the oil drilling rigs.
Send an email to the CEOs of ExxonMobil, BP, ConocoPhillips, Royal Dutch/Shell, and ChevronTexaco now and tell them to stay out of ANWR!
http://ga4.org/campaign/boycott/dkskdirzjkj3dw
And then invite everyone you know to join us.

TELL SENATE DEMOCRATS TO STAND TOGETHER & OPPOSE BUSH JUDICIAL NOMINEES (from Senator Charles Schumer)

Let the Senate Democrats know that they're not fighting George Bush and the reckless right wing of the Republican Party alone. Join us in this fight by signing our new petition today.

http://www.dscc.org/fight

I will fight judges who pose a threat to our fundamental constitutional rights -- civil rights, women’s rights, labor rights, our right to a clean environment, and our right to basic civil liberties.
On Wednesday, a number of Senate Democrats, including me, spoke at a MoveOn PAC rally where hundreds of people gave up their lunch hour to join our efforts to stop George Bush's court-packing scheme. They are ready to join our fight against right-wing judges and I know you are too.



THANK SENATORS WHO TRIED TO BLOCK OIL DRILLING IN ALASKA (From Capwiz)

Yesterday, a narrow majority of the United States Senate chose to ignore common sense, sound economics, and the protection of our natural heritage by voting in favor of drilling in America's pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The halls of the Capitol were clogged with oil industry lobbyists as the Senators rejected an amendment by Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington State to protect this great wilderness.

But the oil industry hasn't won yet. This is just the first step and we can still stop this outrage.

Click here to write to your Senators and tell them how you feel about their vote. Let them hear from you before the Senate votes again.

http://capwiz.com/lcv/issues/alert/?alertid=7233336&type=CO

Although this vote is a setback, this battle is far from over. The vote was 51-49, so we can turn this around. The most important thing you can do today is let your Senators know you are watching their every move on this and other important environmental issues.


ASK AUTO MAKERS TO DROP THEIR LAWSUIT AGAINST CALIFORNIA & INNOVATE, DON’T LITIGATE (From Environmental California)

In 2004, Environment California helped convince the state of California to adopt the world's first standards designed to cut global warming pollution from new cars and trucks. Now automakers are suing to prevent California and other states from setting these standards.

Please take a moment to ask Ford, GM, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota and Honda to innovate, not litigate. Ask them to withdraw from the lawsuit that would prevent the world's first standard for automotive global warming emissions. Then ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.

To take action, click on the link below or paste it into your Web browser:
http://environmentcalifornia.org/envirocaliftoxics.asp?id=737&id4=ES



PROTECT THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (From Take Action!)

For the bald eagle, the gray wolf, the peregrine falcon and hundreds of other species, the Endangered Species Act is working – it stopped their downward spiral toward extinction. But some in Congress are trying to weaken protections that make recovery possible. The Endangered Species Act is the world's most powerful law for protecting imperiled animal and plant species. Support our Back from the Brink campaign by telling Congress to build on the ESA's 30-year legacy, not to water down core protections that help America's endangered species recover. Take action
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/esa_threat/8k73ser4jkj338


HELP FARMERS & THE ENVIRONMENT—FIX FARM SUBSIDIES (From Take Action)

America's farm subsidy program is broken. Why? Despite costing billions, it rewards only a handful of large farmers, and leaves little money for popular conservation programs that help farmers protect their land. In 2003, over half of funding went to less than 2% of farmers. Tell your representatives in Congress to fix America's farm subsidies, and to fully fund conservation programs that reward farmers for environmental stewardship. Take action
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/farmbill2/8k73ser4jkj338

STOP GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA (From Media for Democracy)

Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that at least 20 federal agencies have made and distributed pre-packaged, ready-to-serve television news segments to promote President Bush's policies and initiatives.

Congress' Government Accountability Office determined that these "video news releases" were illegal "covert propaganda" and told federal agencies to stop. But last Friday, the White House ordered all agencies to disregard Congress' directive. Wednesday at a press conference, President Bush shrugged off responsibility for the deceptive nature of the releases, which are designed to look like television news segments. "Local stations ought to -- since there's a deep concern about that -- ought to tell their viewers what they're watching," Bush told reporters.
The Bush administration, in other words, is planning to continue using hundreds of millions of your tax dollars to manipulate public opinion.
1. If you agree that this is an illegal, undemocratic and propagandistic effort by the government to advance a partisan political agenda, join MediaChannel and other concerned groups in our effort to stop fake news. Write Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, and local television stations to express your opposition. Remember to tell them that you are not alone, but are writing as a member of the 75,000-strong Media For Democracy movement.
2. Sign petitions that will also tell Congress and the FCC to toughen and enforce laws against "covert propaganda" and demand that broadcasters come clean with viewers about using government-produced news.

Free Press: Stop News Fraud
http://www.freepress.net/action/fakenews

Start Change Now: Stop Fake News
http://www.stopfakenews.org/
3. In the weeks to come, we will work with groups like Free Press, Common Cause and the Center for Media and Democracy to connect you with others in your area working to ensure local broadcasters identify the sources behind the "news." We will create "citizen agreements" with local TV stations in our communities to stop fake news broadcasts. These agreements are documents filed at the FCC that -- if broken -- can be used to help communities deny broadcaster license renewals.
4. If you haven't already, sign up for our free daily newsletter Media Savvy, to stay abreast of the latest news about Fake News.
http://www.mediachannel.org/email/


STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY & OPPOS PRIVATIZATION (From Union Voice)

The tide’s turning our way. And it’s time to sink privatization once and for all. Please click this link to send a message to Congress urging them to sign the Pledge to Strengthen Social Security and oppose privatization:
www.unionvoice.org/campaign/sspledge

STOP THE ASSAULT ON FREE SPEECH!
OPPOSE CORPORATE-BACKED CHANGES TO THE TRADEMARK ACT
(From the Electronic Free Speech Association)

The Trademark Dilution Revision Act (TDRA, HR 683) is a
big company's dream. If it passes, the lawyers policing
a trademark could sue businesses and individuals for
using words, images, or even colors that look vaguely
like a famous brand - without even having to prove that
the company is being harmed. In other words, TDRA would
make it possible for UPS to sue Brown's Record Store, even
though nobody in their right mind would get the two
confused. This bill would chill speech and hand ownership
of common words to big companies. Fight the TDRA today!

Make your voice heard with EFF's action center:
<http://action.eff.org/site/Advocacy?id=113>

Text of TDRA:
<http://trademark.blog.us/blog/2005/03/14.html#a1628>

More resources to stop drilling in ANWR, ACT NOW...


Wednesday the US Senate voted to keep Arctic Drilling language in the budget. Now, more than ever, is the time to stand up for our planet and our communities! 51 US Senators do not have the power alone to trample on the wishes of the vast majority of the American public that oppose drilling in the refuge. Visit www.greenpeaceusa.org for more information and to find out how you can help

Learn what else you can do to save the Arctic Refuge!
http://www.alaskawild.org/campaigns_arctic_whatyoucando.html

Here's an article that appeared in the Washington Post for some objective information on the proposal's defeat:


Senate Votes to Open Alaska Wildlife Refuge to Drilling
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40670-2005Mar16.html
Measure to Strip Budget Provision Defeated 51-49