COEJL ACTION ALERT:

Speak Out to President Bush on Global Warming (4/4/01)

BACKGROUND

In the last few weeks, President Bush has repeatedly demonstrated an alliance with industry at the dangerous expense of the environment and public health.  In addition to halting new standards regarding arsenic in our water and on contaminants from mining, and opposing the protection of our National Forests, President Bush is dramatically stepping back from the commitments he made during his campaign on global warming.

In the last few days, the President has confirmed that the Bush Administration has “no interest in implementing” the Kyoto Protocol (the global climate change accord signed by the United States in 1998, which is still in negotiation, and will require ratification by the Senate). Although the President says that he is aware of the dangers of global warming and intends to address the problem, his decision to back away from the international treaty on Climate Change and his decision two weeks ago to break his campaign promise to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants damage our credibility abroad and raise serious questions about how he intends to address the problem at home. 

The President is devoting considerable attention to energy issues and Vice President Cheney is developing an energy policy agenda for the Administration.  All indications are that the plan will focus primarily on increased drilling for oil.  It is vital that at this juncture we express the necessity of considering the impact of energy policy on global warming, public lands, and human health.

This is an urgent time to speak out, particularly for the religious community. In her memo of March 6 to President Bush on global warming, Administrator Whitman noted that “for the first time the world's religious communities have started to engage in the issue.” And the Washington Post ran a story on senior Jewish and Christian leaders’ criticism of the President concerning his statements and actions on global warming.

ACTION NEEDED: Please send a letter to President Bush, and to send copies to EPA Administrator Whitman and to your Senators. A draft letter follows. While faxes are more effective than phone calls, please also call the White House comment line at (202) 456-1414.

COEJL STRONGLY encourages you to make edits directly to the sample letter below.  An individualized letter is best, but please reply even if you don't have time to personalize the letter.

1. CUT AND PASTE THE LETTER BELOW INTO A SEPARATE DOCUMENT
2. EDIT THE LETTER SO THAT IT IS IN YOUR OWN WORDS
3. PRINT IT OUT ON PLAIN PAPER OR YOUR LETTERHEAD
4. FAX TO Andrew Card, White House Chief of Staff, at (202) 456-1907.
5. FAX A COPY to Christine Whitman, EPA Administrator, at (202) 501-1450.
6. SEND A COPY TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND TO YOUR TWO SENATORS at:   The Honorable (First Name, Last Name), United States Senate, Washington, DC, 20510

Thank you. Please email a copy of your letter to COEJLinDC@coejl.org. For further information, contact Ariana Silverman, COEJL legislative assistant in Washington, D.C., at: coejlindc@coejl.org or 202.387.2800 ext. 29.

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