Tuesday, April 22, 2003

Earth Day QUOTE OF THE DAY " The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction." - - Rachel Carson http://www.rachelcarson.org/ APRIL 22 IN HISTORY: 1970 -- First Earth Day observed. Millions of US citizens participate in anti-pollution demonstrations. RHINO HERE: 23 years of Earth Days and where are we now? In the era of the shrub gang legislative efforts, we're backsliding so fast if you listen carefully, you can hear Mother Earth singin' the blues. There are a variety of web based organizations offering facts, figures, suggestions for environmental actions & great educational resources for teachers & parents. Below are excerpts from just a few of those web sites. And at the bottom, is as always, RHINO'S BOTTOM LINE, which today tells how the nation's all time biggest polluter is lobbying Congress to exempt it from major requirements of the five bellwether environmental laws regarding clean air, marine mammals, clean up of toxic waste sites & safe handling & disposal of hazardous waste. Are you wondering who this Noxious Jabba The Hut of America could be? Read The Bottom Line. The Earth Day Energy Fast - Pull the Plug There are many ways to Pull the Plug at home and at the office on Earth Day, and to cut energy waste the rest of the year. In the U.S. the average person generates 45,000 pounds of carbon-dioxide per year, with the average home producing 22,000 lbs of CO2 (twice what a car produces). Americans, only 5% of the Earth's population, use 25% of its energy and produce 25% of the greenhouse gases causing global warming. [carbon-dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas]. Purchase clean energy where available, and where not available call your utility company and demand it. - Contact your local utility! Get a FREE energy audit. [USA] - Instructional Resources: Educators, Kids | Kids 2 | Kids 3 - Learn about Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficiency - Visit Green Schools and Energy Smart Schools - Links to Energy Savings Powersmart | Energy Guide.com | Energy Savers - ENERGY CALCULATORS Airhead | American Forests | Earth Day Network http://www.earthdayenergyfast.org Envirolink.org's "Welcome to Earth Day 2003 Online" The EnviroLink Network has served as the online clearinghouse for environmental information since 1991. This website compiles a comprehensive list of Earth Day events occurring in 2003, regardless of size, geographic location or organizational affiliation. - History of Earth Day - Learn all about how Earth Day was started - Organizer's Guide - What can you do to help celebrate Earth Day in your community? - Earth Day 2003 Calendar - Find events in your community - View all Earth Day 2003 Events - Search all Earth Day 2003 events by location. http://earthday.envirolink.org Care2.com's Earth Day Actions SIMPLE WAYS TO ACT 1) Stop the Weakening of Environmental Laws! Away from public view, lobbyists for big companies are getting big support from the Bush administration that would turn back efforts to stop pollution, destruction of public lands, and also make taxpayers, rather than polluters, foot the bill for cleaning up toxic wastes! 2) Help Ensure Clean Air. Take Action for our future by working with Care2 to collect thousands of signatures to protect our natural resources and the air we breathe. 3) Get Care2's Green Thumbs-up. This cool tool enables your purchases to generate thousands of dollars to the environment while shopping online. It also tells which companies are green while surfing. 4) Use Environmentally Friendly Email. Help generate donations every time you click "send" with our FREE online email services! 5) Connect & Network with eco-friendly people! Sometimes it's easier to be earth conscious when you have friends to help! Find hundreds of kindred spirits, safely through our anonymous Care2 Connect service - for friendships and to take action together for the environment! 6) Race to Save Wildlife & Habitats. Each FREE daily click generates donations from our race sponsors - remember, a click a day keeps environmental degradation at bay! 7) Become a Care2 Charter Member. http://www.care2.com/earthday The American Catholic's Tribute to Earth Day & Saint Francis of Assisi Earth Day and the Catholic Saint Francis of Assisi share the goal of protecting the environment and all of God's creation. - Who Was St. Francis? - Environmental Justice: A Call to Stewardship - Peace Pledge for Earth Day - Renewing the Face of the Earth: by Jesuit Al Fritsch http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Francis/earthday.asp 7:38:04 AM    comment

RHINO'S BOTTOM LINE - Military doesn't want to go green Military doesn't want to go green Pentagon pushing for exemption from environmental laws By CHARLES POPE, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 13, 2003 ...At issue is a request by the Pentagon -- backed by President Bush -- that would exempt the military from major requirements of five bellwether environmental laws. The laws form the foundation of the nation's efforts to protect clean air and the health of marine mammals, clean up toxic waste sites and ensure safe handling and disposal of hazardous waste.... ...The Pentagon insists it needs the flexibility to prepare its forces in a time of war and formally asked for that power in legislation submitted this month. The laws get in the way of critical military training and should be relaxed during a time of war, officials said. In explaining the request, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Raymond Dubois told the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 6, "The impacts on readiness must be considered when applying environmental regulations to military-unique training and testing activities." The idea isn't new. The Pentagon submitted a similar environmental request last year, but it was quickly dismissed because it came late in the legislative year. But it has been a clear goal for senior military planners. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has pushed the initiative, testifying several times that it would simply "clarify environmental statutes which restrict access to, and sustainment of, training and test ranges essential for the readiness of our troops and the effectiveness of our weapons systems in the global war on terror." Environmental groups and Democrats in Congress view the effort as a blatant attempt by one of the nation's biggest polluters to remove itself from laws that have worked well for decades. Moreover, opponents insist that the laws as currently written provide ample flexibility for the military in times of crisis. The president or other senior government officials can request narrow waivers of the law... THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IS POSTED AT: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/112242_pentagonxx13.shtml "RHINO'S BLOG" is the responsibility of Gary Rhine. (rhino@kifaru.com) Feedback, and requests to be added or deleted from the list are encouraged. SEARCH BLOG ARCHIVES / SURF RHINO'S LINKS, AT: http://www.rhinosblog.info RHINO'S OTHER WEB SITES: http://www.dreamcatchers.org (INDIGENOUS ASSISTANCE & INTERCULTURAL DIALOG) http://www.kifaru.com (NATIVE AMERICAN RELATIONS VIDEO DOCUMENTARIES) Articles are reprinted under Fair Use Doctrine of international copyright law. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html All copyrights belong to original publisher. 6:46:05 AM    comment

© Copyright 2005 Gary Rhine.