NRDC's Earth Action, 10/18/07

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NRDC's Earth Action, 10/18/07

> ========================================

> NRDC's EARTH ACTION:

> The Bulletin for Environmental Activists

>

> October 18, 2007

> ========================================

> In This Issue:

>

> --Action Alert--

>

> Urge your senators to make sure the new farm bill protects the

> environment

>

> Plus: Two upcoming opportunities to speak out to stop global

> warming

>

> ======================================================

> You will also find this alert in NRDC'S Earth Action Center,

> which includes tools for taking action easily online, at

> http://www.nrdc.org/action

>

> ============

> Action Alert

> ============

>

> Urge your senators to make sure the new farm bill protects the

> environment

>

> The Senate has begun considering the farm bill, which is

> reauthorized only once every five years. As farm bill programs

> typically provide billions of dollars in payments to farmers who

> adopt practices to reduce pollution or provide wildlife habitat,

> this is one of the most important environmental bills in this

> decade. But existing programs are woefully inadequate to help

> farmers protect land, water and wildlife.

>

> More than two thirds of the farmers who apply for conservation

> assistance are turned away; many more never apply at all because

> they know they're unlikely to be successful. In the meantime,

> runoff from farms has degraded water quality throughout

> agricultural regions. In the Midwest, the toxic pesticide

> atrazine is pervasive in surface waters, and fertilizer runoff

> from the Mississippi River Basin contributes to an ever-larger

> " dead zone " in the Gulf of Mexico.

>

> Senator Harkin, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has

> proposed a set of reforms to improve conservation programs. But

> faced with hard-ball politics from farm bill subsidy recipients,

> Senator Harkin is now struggling to find the money needed to

> strengthen these programs. In addition, pesticide manufacturers

> were successful in winning a harmful amendment to the House

> version of the farm bill that would thwart attempts by the

> Department of Agriculture to promote environmentally friendly

> pest control practices and possibly even organic farming

> assistance programs; a similar provision must be kept out of the

> Senate version.

>

> == What to do ==

> Send a message urging your senators to make sure the

> reauthorized farm bill provides adequate funding for strong

> conservation programs and helps farmers promote organic farming

> and environmentally friendly pest control practices.

>

> == Contact information ==

> You can send a message to your senators directly from NRDC's

> Earth Action Center at

> http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/nrdcaction_101607a

> If you prefer to call your senators, the Capitol switchboard

> number is 202-224-3121.

>

> ====================

> Special Announcement

> ====================

>

> Two upcoming opportunities to help stop global warming: Power

> Shift and Step It Up!

>

> As attention to climate issues continues to grow, NRDC is

> supporting two major events in early November to further engage

> and mobilize the public. We hope you'll get involved:

>

> Power Shift -- November 2-5

> Thousands of students will gather at the University of land

> from November 2nd through 5th to participate in Power Shift, the

> first-ever youth summit on global warming. Participants will

> hear from expert panelists on global warming science,

> legislation and technological solutions, and will participate in

> workshops to develop advocacy and lobbying skills. If you are a

> student (or know one that might be interested), you can find out

> more information and register for the event at

> http://powershift07.org/

>

> Step It Up -- November 3

> Back in April, Step It Up was officially launched as a national

> campaign calling on Congress to reduce global warming pollution

> by 80 percent by 2050. On November 3rd thousands of people will

> participate in local events around the country, demanding

> leadership to slow, stop and reverse global warming. To find out

> about local events near you or to register your own event, visit

> the Step It Up website at http://stepitup2007.org/

>

> ==========

> About NRDC

> ==========

>

> The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit

> environmental organization with 1.2 million members and online

> activists, and a staff of scientists, attorneys and

> environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the planet's

> wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and healthy

> environment for all living things.

>

> For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of

> NRDC, please contact us at:

>

> Natural Resources Defense Council

> 40 West 20th Street

> New York, NY 10011

> 212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)

> Email: nrdcaction@...

> http://www.nrdc.org

>

> Also visit:

> BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places A project of the

> Natural Resources Defense Council http://www.savebiogems.org

>

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