HOW! copy and paste

Dolphins Captive


Dolphins are being caught in the wild, in violation of a ban on such activities, and shipped to "theme parks." You can do the following: 
1) Compose an email note, or fax,  to the Solomons Islands Prime Minister. 
2) Forward this "alert" to all whom you know might do the same. 
To just send the note, please, scroll down to "WHAT YOU CAN DO:" To learn more about the issue, of dolphins being caught in the wild, and shipped to "theme parks," read on. 
Thank you, very much, 
Jay Miller

Action Alert:


Solomon Islands Dolphin Captures (here we go again!)
        As many as twenty dolphin were recently captured in the Solomon Islands to meet supply and demand for the epidemic of captive dolphin "abusement" parks popping up around the world.  At this early stage we don't know exactly where the "Solomon Twenty" are going to.  When we find out we will inform you.
        Dolphin dealer, Christopher Porter of Marine Export Ltd (MEL), apparently has a buyer for 20 dolphins.  Mr. Porter is working with his partners, Wildlife International Network Inc. (WIN).  You may recall that WIN is also know as "Ocean Embassy" (OE) in Panama.  OE applied for a permit to capture 80 dolphins from Panamanian waters.  A grass roots campaign is underway in Panama to stop these captures.  Some of the WIN corporate players are: Ted N. Turner (no relation to the CNN Ted Turner), Robin Friday, and Mark Simmons.
        The Solomon Islands has a ban in place which prohibits the export of dolphins from the country.  However the new government may have changed their mind about the export ban.  We need to flood the Solomons Prime Minister -- and the newspapers -- with e-mail messages in order to stop this international traffic in captive dolphins.


       
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
        Please take the time to send a short note asking the Solomons Prime Minister to uphold the ban on dolphin exports from the Solomon Islands -- and please CC the newspapers.  Also ask that the government do everything it can to insure the live release of these captive dolphins back into their ocean home.  Please do it today!
Send your note to: Prime Minister Mannesah Sogavare: <amaesulia@pmc.gov.sb>       Fax  011-677-28154     Fax  011-677-28626.
Please CC The Solomon Star newspaper:  <solstar@solomon.com.sb>  and the Solomon Times: http://www.solomontimes.com/contact.aspx
Thanks,
Richard O'Barry
Marine Mammal Specialist
Earth Island Institute
Phone/Fax: 305-668 1619
Mobile: 786-973 8618
Japan: 81-80 3637 8654
ricobarry@bellsouth.net
www.SaveJapanDolphins.org

HOW!!!?

I took this alert, and using a copy and paste technique created an intelligent, direct letter I was able to forward on to the Prime Minister and the newpaper.  It only took me a few minutes to do.. Thanks,Jay Miller who carefully wrote the alert message to include all the information in a concise manner.  I added my own particulars in the last paragraph so the letter is obviously personal.  See below:

Captain Donna Lange
Solo Round the World Sailor
www.donnalange.com
"For the Love of Oceans!" Corps


Dear Prime Minister Mannesah Sogavare:

It has come to my attention that as many as twenty dolphin were recently
captured in the Solomon Islands to export to meet supply and demand for the
epidemic of captive dolphin "amusement" parks popping up around the world.

The Solomon Islands has a ban in place, which prohibits the export of
dolphins from your country. This letter is to implore the Solomon Island
government to uphold the ban on dolphin exports from the Solomon Islands.
Also ask that the government do everything it can to insure the live release
of these captive dolphins back into their ocean home.
I am writing as the
president of the advocacy organization "For the Love of Oceans!",  an
experienced sailor and advocate of the Dolphin, a necessary mammal in the
macro ecosystem of our oceans globally.  I look forward to hearing of the
continued support that the Solomon Islands has shown for the preservation of
our oceans, our earth, all mankind as you continue to ban the export of
dolphins from your country.

Fairest of Winds and Love,
Captain Donna Lange
USCG Licensed Captain
President 'For the Love of Oceans' Corps.

Act Now to Save Red Snapper

Red snapper has been the signature fish of the Gulf of Mexico for decades, but that popularity has come at a price - chronic overfishing. Please respond to this alert and urge the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to once and for all end overfishing of red snapper. We are now at an important crossroad in the Gulf. In early June, our Gulf fishery managers will either put red snapper on the road to recovery or continue down the path to peril. Failure to stop the depletion of red snapper and rebuild the population poses threats for the fish, fishermen, consumers and coastal economies. Its up to all of us that care about the future of fish to stand up and be part of the solution. Please take action now to urge the Gulf Council to end overfishing of red snapper. For more information on red snapper, please click here.
Sincerely, Bill Blome
Gulf Region Outreach and Constituency
Manager Ocean Conservancy Conservancy

Copper Pots Armenia

This alert isn't about legislation or global warming.  It isn't even about an issue that is happening here in the United States.  It's about an ancient ecosystem, an unfriendly government, and environmental activists in another part of the world who need our help right now.

Teghut's forest is located in Armenia and is an ancient, pristine forest in a largely deforested nation.  Over 1,500 acres of this forest is about to be destroyed to accommodate a massive, open-pit copper mine.

Environmental activists in Armenia are trying to battle the mine, but without the freedoms of speech to which we in the U.S. are accustomed, and with a government openly siding with industry, they need outside pressure to make their path easier.

Send a message to the U.S. ambassador to Armenia, asking him to stand up for Armenian protestors, and the forest.  Your message will be cc'd to the Armenian government so that it knows people in the U.S. are paying attention to Teghut forest and the activists in Armenia trying to save it.

You might point out in your letter that:

• The mine will not support long term economic development
• Mining will create air and water pollution destroying habitats and damaging communities
• A biologically diverse, global treasure will be at risk - including its already endangered species, like the Caucasian Persimmon and Gray Bear
• There are other ways to create jobs and stimulate the economy - like turning Teghut into an eco-tourism destination.

The Armenian Copper Program, operator of the infamous Alaverdi Smelter that is crippling the health of the surrounding population, has already received support from Armenia's Ministry of Nature Protection to strip the trees and dig the pit.  But it's not too late to put a stop to it.

Armenia is sensitive to international pressure, particularly from the United States.  Let's show the government of Armenia that the U.S. is paying attention and doesn't like what it sees.

Write the U.S. ambassador to Armenia now.

Thank you,
Kate McMahon
Friends of the Earth
 

Take action here:

http://www.FOE.org/Save_Teghut

Critical thinking it through

Pesticides in Play Areas

Here is a great bill to start to working with. All about youth safety and grass.  Public Grass!! and keeping it safe for kids to play without being hurt by the effects of pesticides, chemicals that are used to kill unwanted weeds and bugs but  is also damaging to young peoples bodies.

How do you feel about pesticides being used in areas where you might be walking or playing sports?

What do you know about pesticides?

Using key words in Google like "pesticides and health risks'' ,"pesticides and chemicals effects" and do some reading  about pesticides and their effects on your health. 

What are alternatives to pesticides? Google words like "pesticide alternatives"

Do some creative thinking.  What could be some alternative solutions to the problems for which adults use pesticides on grass?

How difficult or easy would it be to adopt a different method of controlling weeds and unwanted bugs, or maybe you think that the bugs and weeds aren't as much a problem as the chemicals.  Give your ideas.

How much would it cost to use a different method of controlling the growth of the grass? 

Consider cost effectiveness including what it costs to deal with the loss of health of children exposed to the chemicals.

When using a source for information, be careful to look at who is giving the advice, the source of the information as you want to find sources that do not have a commercial bias and just want to sell their own products.

Envision your own ideas for solutions and build a concept you can share with someone.

Introduce yourself in a letter. (examples to follow)

Write a letter, as if you are talking to  someone who you know cares about your concerns.  Site your reasons for concern and what you found in your research that has lent you to have the opinion and vision for the solution you have come to believe is a good solution.

Sign the letter sincerely and email it to donna@donnalange.org, plus mail the original to your representative in the legislature, depending on where you live. I can help you find that person.  As ths site grows, all that information will be accessible.

You can also send off the letter to your local paper as an editorial as a citizen who is concerned about the upcoming decision to be made.

Share your concerns and ideas with your parents who may also choose to add a letter to reinforce your feelings or their own.

Senate Bill No. 0560
BY Perry, Connors, Gallo, Jabour
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY --

PESTICIDE CONTROL {LC1550} (protect children from exposure to lawn care pesticides by prohibiting the application of such at schools and day care centers)

02/15/07 Introduced, referred to Senate Environment and Agriculture

04/25/07 Scheduled for hearing

04/25/07 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

05/16/07 Scheduled for consideration

05/16/07 Committee continued

06/06/07 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

06/06/07 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

06/13/07 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

Friends of the Earth

Also in this issue:

1. Big Court Win Over Bush Admin.
   
2. Effort Against Planktos Keeps Paying Off!
   
3. The House Energy Bill
   
4. Is Your Sunscreen Safe?
   
5. Victory On Toxic Trains
   

Big Legal Victory Against Bush Administration

When the Bush administration refused to follow a 1990 law requiring the production of scientific reports on global warming, Friends of the Earth and allied groups took the administration to court.  This week, a U.S. district court ruled that the Bush administration was in violation of the law and that it is compelled to produce the reports.  As a result the administration will have to produce a national assessment containing the most recent data on global warming, as well as a plan to guide federal research on the issue.  The Center for Biological Diversity and Greenpeace were co-plaintiffs with Friends of the Earth in this case.

 

Planktos Iron Dump Hits Stormy Waters

Friends of the Earth's campaign to prevent an iron dump into the ocean near the Galapagos Islands is making waves. This May, we learned that a company called Planktos planned to seed the ocean with iron dust to spur the growth of plankton and absorb carbon from the air.  But leading scientists warned that such "iron fertilization" wouldn't work (while it's hard to measure the effects, it's likely that much of the absorbed carbon would eventually return to the atmosphere). Even worse, scientists cautioned that Planktos' plans had the potential to damage the ocean.

Friends of the Earth sprung into action, along with allied groups including the ETC Group in Canada and the International Center for Technology Assessment in the U.S.  Our work has led to adverse media coverage of Planktos' plans, a congressional inquiry that may lead to oversight of the carbon offsets market, and Planktos' stock plummeting by more than half.  Most important, Planktos' iron dumping plans have been postponed, and the ocean has not yet been harmed.  So what's next?  In November, the International Maritime Convention will hold a meeting to discuss whether the law of the sea should be altered to limit or prevent iron fertilization schemes.  Click here to send a message to the IMO to ask it to stop Planktos?and any other companies that think it's okay to manipulate the ocean for private gain.

 

House Passes Energy Bill With Key Provisions
Debate Now Moves to Conference Committee

Thanks in part to the thousands of Friends of the Earth activists who shook Congress' cage, the House of Representatives has passed energy legislation with a landmark "Renewable Energy Standard" to require 15 percent of U.S. energy to come from clean, renewable sources such as wind and solar by 2020.  The House bill also includes a key Friends of the Earth priority: ending 15 billion dollars in subsidies to the polluting oil and gas industries and using that money to support renewable energy and energy conservation.  Another important part of the bill requires the government to address developing countries' global warming adaptation needs.

The next step for energy legislation is a conference committee, in which senators and representatives will hash out differences between the House and Senate bills.  Keep your eyes out for ways to limit the influence of major polluters on the committee process.



Our New Guide on Nanotech Particles in Sunscreens

This week Friends of the Earth released Nanotechnology and Sunscreens: A Consumer Guide to Avoiding Nano Sunscreens, which can help you choose safer skincare products. Many cosmetics companies are using nanoparticles, less than a billionth of a meter wide and capable of penetrating cells and even crossing the blood-brain barrier.  You can also look at our report from late last year that includes a look at additional personal care products.  Because manufacturers are not required to warn consumers of the presence of nanoparticles, people are applying them to their skin without even realizing that they are doing so.

Read the Report



Victory: Toxic Trains Stay Out of Major Cities

Friends of the Earth started campaigning last year for a measure to keep trains carrying hazardous materials from passing through major cities, citing the huge damage that an accident or sabotage involving toxic cargo could do in a metropolitan area. In August, the President signed legislation including this important protection -- a victory for popular pressure and for Friends of the Earth.

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