[Pil-pc-oceania] Historic victories this summer mean critical work this fall

[Deb Guildner]

UCS Campaign Highlights Summer 2007
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Union of Concerned Scientists Action Network 
To: Deborah Guildner 
Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 3:33 AM
Subject: Historic victories this summer mean critical work this fall


   



                        Dear Deborah, 

                        This summer we made some major progress together on issues affecting our health, security, and environment. Just this week, a federal court in Vermont ruled that states can regulate global warming pollution from vehicles, with the judge reviewing Union of Concerned Scientists technical analysis when making his deliberations

                        Also this summer, as Congress worked to develop a comprehensive Energy Bill, you helped us achieve two significant victories. For the first time in more than 30 years, the Senate increased fuel economy standards for vehicles, and for the first time in history, the House passed a national renewable electricity standard. We'll be looking for your help to ensure Congress passes a combined Energy Bill that includes both a 35 mile per gallon fuel economy standard AND a 15 percent renewable energy standard. 

                        You've also pressured the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to protect the integrity of science, helped eliminate funding for the administration's dangerous new nuclear weapons plans, and supported stronger regulation for genetically-engineered crops.  

                        This fall is gearing up to be packed with legislative opportunities on all these issues-and more! We'll be looking to you to ensure our successes this summer are turned into concrete policy changes this fall. Thank you for continuing to take action to help build a healthy environment and a safer world. 


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                        Energy Bill   

                        As noted above, UCS supporters helped achieve two significant victories in Congress. The Senate Energy Bill increased fuel efficiency standards for vehicles for the first time in decades, requiring an average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020. Meanwhile, for the first time in history, the House passed an Energy Bill that included a national renewable electricity standard requiring electric utilities to acquire 15 percent of their power from clean, renewable sources-such as the wind and sun. If passed into law, these standards will increase America's energy security and reduce the threat of global warming. Congress will begin the process of reconciling the House and Senate Energy Bills in a conference committee this fall. In order to turn this progress into actual law, we'll need your help to ensure strong, clean energy standards and strong fuel economy standards are included in the final version. Read more about our clean vehicles work including the fuel economy standard victory and our clean energy work including the national renewable energy standard. 
                         
                                UCS was chosen as one of 12 groups to participate in Ploughshares Fund's Peace Primary, an effort to build awareness around peace and human security issues during this election season. You can support us and help our chances to win $100,000 by visiting peaceprimary.org and voting for UCS.  
                             
                        Global Warming 

                        With the help of activists across the country, UCS has worked to create more momentum than ever before for congressional action to address global warming. A growing number of representatives and senators support the level of reductions consistent with avoiding dangerous warming, and key congressional committees are poised to consider comprehensive climate legislation this fall. In July, UCS and a team of independent experts issued a new report illustrating the effects global warming will have on the natural resources, economy, and character of nine states in the Northeast. The report also details practical solutions to reduce emissions. More . . . 

                        Scientific Integrity 

                        UCS activists have spent the summer pushing for scientific integrity at the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. UCS is also working with Congress to reduce the manipulation and distortion of science on endangered species. Meanwhile, we released a new tool for educators-the Scientific Integrity Curriculum Guide-and "Truth" prevailed in our annual Science Idol editorial cartoon contest. More . . .  

                        Global Security 

                        In June, with the help of thousands of UCS supporters, we achieved a significant victory when the U.S. House eliminated all funding for the administration's plan to build a new generation of nuclear bombs. The Senate is on a path to reduce the funding level for the program while prohibiting work beyond a basic design and cost study. Also, both the House and Senate took steps to significantly cut funds for the administration's ill-conceived and dangerous scheme to reprocess nuclear waste-which would seriously undermine efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. More . . .  

                        Food and Environment 

                        Capitalizing on an announcement by Tyson Foods that the company would no longer use antibiotics in producing its fresh grocery store chicken, UCS supporters called on fast-food companies to promise to buy meat from suppliers that adopt similar policies. Thousands of activists also weighed in on proposed changes to federal regulation of pharmaceutical and industrial crops. And UCS launched the first installment of our new web feature, Green Cuisine: Earth-Friendly, healthy recipes from top chefs and local farmers. More . . .

                        Invasive Species

                        America's forests are threatened by the spread of destructive invasive forest insects, such as the emerald ash borer, which can be transported by firewood. This summer, more than 10,000 UCS supporters pledged not to transport firewood when they go camping, visit state and national parks, or go on vacation. More . . .  

                        Clean California

                        Thanks in part to the thousands of emails that were sent by UCS supporters like you, along with lots of analytic and advocacy work by UCS staff over several years, California now has the nation's first regulation to clean up diesel emissions from construction equipment! Other states may now adopt this life-saving new standard. UCS volunteers also helped push legislators to vote for the California Clean Car Discount bill, a bill to reduce global warming pollution from California's cars and trucks. Although we were close, the bill ultimately failed by only four votes. This critical bill, which UCS helped draft, will be back for another vote in January 2008. UCS experts and activists also played critical roles in the passage of bills to move the San Joaquin Valley closer to healthy air, and ensure that low-carbon transportation fuels such as ethanol are produced in a sustainable way. More . . . 


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