Environmental Roundup: August 4, 2009

Senate Must Fix Biofuels Mistake
As the debate over energy and climate change moves to the Senate, corporate agribusiness lobbyists see an opportunity to remove biofuels safeguards.  The Waxman-Markey bill that passed the House in June removed protections from a federal biofuels mandate, allowing the use of biofuels that create more global warming pollution than gasoline.   Last week we asked you to take action and tell your Senators that this is unacceptable, and so far we've sent almost 6,000 letters.  If you haven't yet taken action, please do so now. If you already have, please consider using this form to forward the action to friends.

Forty Years of Friends of the Earth
This year marks Friends of the Earth's 40th Anniversary. On Thursday, October 1, Friends of the Earth will celebrate this anniversary at the Josephine Butler Parks Center in Washington, D.C.  The event will honor the leadership of our president, Dr. Brent Blackwelder, who will be retiring later this year, and will include a special awards program and the latest on our fight for real clean energy and climate change solutions. For more information please contact Hillary Blank at hblank@foe.org, 415-544-0970 x219 or visit http://www.foe.org/forty-years.

Ship Shape: Whale Impaled by Cruise Ship
Last week, a cruise ship on a voyage from Alaska impaled a fin whale.  The strike was only noticed after the cruise ship arrived at the Port of Vancouver with the whale's dead body wedged against its bow.  A test is currently being performed to determine if the whale was alive when it was struck -- which is the norm for such strikes.  This unfortunate incident occurred despite the cruise line's assertions that is has "strict whale avoidance procedures in place when our ships are in the vicinity of marine life" and goes to show that more must be done to protect these wondrous creatures. Read more.

Dirty Coal Lobbyists Caught in Forgery Scandal
Late last week, reports surfaced that a D.C. lobbying firm hired by the coal industry had forged letters to Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) in an attempt to weaken energy legislation. The letters were purportedly from the local NAACP and a local Latino group, but in fact were sent without those groups' knowledge.

Friends of the Earth responded immediately, partnering with activists from Avaaz.org to hold a protest that afternoon outside the offices of the firm, Bonner and Associates, to call out the firm's naked fraud. Also on Friday, environmental champion Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) announced he had launched a congressional investigation into the matter. Then, on Monday, we learned similar forged letters had been sent to two other members of Congress.

This shows just how low polluting industries are willing to stoop in their quest to block clean energy. As energy legislation moves to the Senate, we'll need your help to counter their efforts. Stay tuned for more info about how to become engaged.

Save the Dates
This fall is chock full of important events. Simply contact us for more information about any of the listings.
Sept. 21: Age of Stupid Global Premiere. Don't miss out. For more information, go to www.ageofstupid.net.
Oct. 1: Friends of the Earth 40th Anniversary party celebrating Dr. Brent Blackwelder.
Oct. 24: 350.org is sponsoring a national day of action for climate. In D.C., we'll be a part of an event called "Poverty and Pollution."

News
The End of the Beginning of the Collapse
GetEnergySmart.com

Coal Lobbyists Now "Outraged" by Fraud, But Kept Silent During Clean Energy Vote
Think Progress

Climate Activists in Denial
Financial Times

Senator's Overtures Don't Have Comfort Zone
The Tennessean

Current Actions
Demand Climate Justice

Tell Senate to Fix Biofuels Mistake

Help Obama Strengthen Climate Goals

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