We're making great progress in Iraq, Bush said recently

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The Bush's routs of Saddam may have made them appear to be warrior kings. But in the context of their overwhelming domination of the inept Saddam and the hapless Iraqi army, they more resemble Don Quixote.

In the classic tale of the ideal vs. the real, Quixote battles windmills that appear to be giants, and sheep that look to him like armies. He believes himself the victor, comes to his senses, only to be trapped by his delusion; forced to play the conquering hero.

"We're making great progress in Iraq, Bush II said recently in Lexington, Kentucky. "I don't care what you read about."

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6040.htm

[tiedye]

1. Progress

Yes, progress in Ethnic Cleansing and creating chaos. I'd even venture to say he has been "successful" at these tasks. If you never read independent media, life is great. As Zinn quoted Vonnegut, It's a Fa-loon. The whole Commander in Chief bull, its like the Wizard of Oz. The curtain is the mainstream press and independent media struggles like Toto to expose the lies and deceit. Luckily, we don't have to convince the country to hate GW Bush, just withdraw their consent. That's an easier struggle. Please, someone tell me why I should like John Kerry? Just give me one substantial issue and we can build on that.

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2. Welcome tiedye

The Environment.

[tiedye]

3. The environment

Okay. No drilling in Alaska? No nuclear burial in Nevada and Utah? How about Kyoto protocol and the superfund projects that are being litigated against by General Electric? I'm interested in more details if you have some. Thanks, this is a good platform to begin with. Keep it coming... What is on Kerry's platform that is positive? and.... he needs to be stronger against the Iraq war. How about the environmental Depleted Uranium catastrophe in Iraq?

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4. John Kerry-Progress Without Pollution

Download John Kerry's full plan in PDF format
http://www.johnkerry.com/communities/enviros/long_enviro.pdf


John Kerry Calls for a Comprehensive Plan for Environmental Protection, a Cleaner and Stronger Economy, and a Commitment to Communities


Rejects Bush-Cheney Old Idea that We Can’t have Progress without Pollution


John Kerry is calling for a New American Prosperity based on his view that our economy is best served by forward-looking environmental policies that protect our health, our lands, and our jobs. Our economic strength as a nation – and Americans’ deeply rooted love and respect for our magnificent resources – depends on our commitment to clean air, clean water, and our quality of life.

Throughout his career, John Kerry has been an environmental leader, fighting on our behalf to clean up toxic waste sites, to keep our air and water clean, and to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other pristine wilderness areas.

The League of Conservation Voters has called Senator Kerry an “environmental champion.” In addition to supporting important environmental initiatives, John Kerry has turned a spotlight on the Bush Administration’s rollbacks of our hard-won environmental gains and their outdated, old-economy notions that clean air, clean water and our national treasures must be sacrificed in the name of short-term profit.

As President, John Kerry will set a new standard of environmental excellence for America. He will vigorously pursue an agenda that will honor America’s special treasures and pay tribute to her heritage, while renewing our nation’s promise of clean air, clean water and a bountiful landscape for all.

John Kerry recognizes that we owe it to our families, our communities, and to our planet to unapologetically pursue our environmental values. Unlike the Bush-Cheney Administration, where special interests rule and the environment suffers, a Kerry Administration will build its policies around citizens’ needs and aspirations.

John Kerry has outlined a six-point plan for restoring America’s environmental values, while making American businesses stronger:

1. A new and permanent commitment to “Green and Clean Communities.”

-John Kerry believes that by giving attention to the environmental needs of our communities, we will improve the economic vitality and quality of life of the places where we live and work. He will fight for “Green and Clean Communities” by removing the threat of toxics from our communities, reinvigorating the Superfund cleanup program, improving our parks, and taking on traffic congestion and sprawl. John Kerry will:

-Leverage Superfund cleanup dollars to assist communities that are disproportionately impacted by contaminated sites, increasing the program’s focus on former manufacturing sites that are blighting our communities and blocking economic development by creating Environmental Empowerment Zones where federal cleanup dollars will be spent on a priority basis;

-Create a Toxics Task Force at EPA that will identify the top toxics threats to our citizens and develop an action plan to address them;

-Work with states and local communities to redirect federal funding to ball fields and parks, with the goal of ensuring that every American child has access to a clean and safe neighborhood ball field or park; and

-Coordinate federal transportation policies, federal housing incentives, federal employment opportunities, and the use of federal dollars to acquire parks and open space to help local communities deal with traffic congestion and sprawl that are threatening economic prosperity and diminishing our quality of life.

2. A new “Conservation Covenant” with America to protect and restore our nation’s Parks, lands, and other treasures for the benefit of future generations.

-John Kerry will enter into a “Conservation Covenant” with the American people to tread lightly on the public lands and preserve America’s treasures for our children, and their children. To implement the Conservation Covenant, John Kerry will:

-Reinvest royalties obtained from extracting resources from public lands back into protecting our lands and special places;

-Require that before remote public lands are opened up to new resource development, the federal government evaluate the long-term economic and environmental costs associated with such actions;

-Put new teeth into requirements that private companies and individuals who lease public lands return the land to its original state after completing energy development, grazing, or timber operations;

-Reinstate the protection of roadless areas in our National Forests, and presumptively ban logging in our rare, old growth forests;

-Honor the solitude and beauty of wilderness areas and our National Parks by keeping snowmobiles and jet skis out of Yellowstone and other sensitive areas, and by honestly addressing visitor and wildlife needs in our National Parks;

-Celebrate the biodiversity of our nation, and implement the Endangered Species Act in a cooperative manner that extends the benefits of wildlife and habitat protection to public and private lands; and

-Modernize our mining laws and provide a fair return to the American people for mining operations on public lands.

3. Protecting our Health by Reducing Dangerous Air Emissions.

-As President, John Kerry will immediately reverse the Bush-Cheney rollbacks of our nation’s Clean Air laws.

-Kerry will also address the key connection between air pollution and public health. He will take bold steps to protect the health of all Americans – particularly our most vulnerable seniors and children -- by:

-Plugging the loopholes and vigorously enforcing our Clean Air laws;
Adopting an aggressive program to meet ozone and particulate air quality standards, stop acid rain and reduce mercury emissions;

-Addressing global warming emissions through a combination of innovative programs that drive technology change and create jobs; and

-Improving indoor air quality.

4. A new “Restoring America’s Waters” Campaign.

Our nation has fallen far short of the Clean Water Act’s goal of making our waters “drinkable, swimable and fishable.” Many of our nation’s waters are polluted; we can no longer be assured of an abundant supply of clean water. Meanwhile, watersheds continue to be degraded by the loss of wetlands, by excessive erosion, and uncontrolled runoff from feedlots to timber operations.

John Kerry will lead a “Restoring America’s Waters” Campaign to clean up our nation’s waters, protect communities’ fresh water supplies, and help communities reclaim their riverfronts and lake-fronts as new centers of economic growth. His Campaign will:

-Work with states and cities to tackle the toughest water quality challenges that threaten sensitive rivers, lakes, bays, and estuaries: stormwater run-off and sewer overflows, and pollution from factory farms;

-Encourage the efficient use of water in industrial, urban and farming operations through broader public disclosure of water use and the use of incentives to promote water efficiency;

-Restore damaged wetlands and watersheds by vigorously enforcing the Clean Water Act;

-Coordinate federal, state and local investments in American’s riverfronts, lakefronts and coastal communities and reinforcing the ties that many communities have to their waterfronts; and

-Work to restore the depleted fisheries in our coastal areas and give renewed attention to the health of our oceans.

5. Reasserting American leadership in the international community to tackle climate change and other key global environmental challenges.

John Kerry understands that some of our most serious environmental challenges – and opportunities – are taking place on an international stage and that they require American leadership in the international community. Unlike the Bush Administration, John Kerry will not abdicate this responsibility and opportunity. He will:

-Reengage in the development of an international climate change strategy that will address the worldwide problem of global warming, and identify workable responses that provide opportunities for American technology and know-how;

-Meet new challenges associated with the global exploitation of marine resources;

-Provide leadership in protecting fragile ecosystems that provide unique contributions to our world’s climate and biodiversity; and

-Work with the international community to address the global crisis of access to fresh water supplies.

6. A new energy economy that will reassert American energy independence and power job growth and environmental improvement.

The Bush Administration has pursued a destructive energy policy. Developed in secrecy in coordination with Bush/Cheney friends in the oil and gas industry, the Administration is pushing for more tax breaks for the oil and gas industry and for drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Rocky Mountain Front, on the false promise that by “Drilling America First” we can shake our dependence on Middle East oil.

John Kerry will not take our country down this dead-end path. Our nation’s oil reserves are small; we cannot drill ourselves to energy independence. The Bush Administration’s headlong rush to open up pristine areas for oil and gas drilling is a foolhardy and environmentally destructive response to a much more serious energy policy challenge.

John Kerry recognizes the interplay between energy and environmental needs. He will take the country in new energy directions that would help the economy and the environment. John Kerry will:

Establish a national commitment to reduce dependence on Middle East oil through a new Energy Security and Conservation Trust;
Reduce oil dependence by increasing fuel efficiency now and create new incentives to make sure American industries lead the way; and
Assure that 20 percent of electricity comes from renewable sources by 2020.

_________________________________________________________________


League of Conservation Voters Endorse Kerry

"John Kerry is a man whose unparalleled record on environmental issues has earned him an extraordinary lifetime rating from the League of Conservation Voters."

"John Kerry understands that the American people need a President who will never roll over to corporate contributors at the expense of the health and safety of the public. I urge citizens and environmentalists to cast their vote for John Kerry."
--Deb Callahan, President of League of Conservation Voters

Read More About the Endorsement
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0124b.html

Highlight: Strengthening Superfund

"We are faced with a list of Superfund sites so long that if the EPA cleaned up one each day it would take them nearly four years to finish the job. Yet one in four Americans’ homes are within four miles of a hazardous waste site. These aren’t simply facts and figures. These are families who are forced to worry about sending their kids outdoors to play or letting them take a drink of water from the tap."

Find out more
http://johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2003_1201b.html


What Leading Environmentalists are Saying About John Kerry!

"Rifle through the archives of the League of Conservation Voters, and you'll find he gets an A+--literally. Kerry has a 96% lifetime voting record, outscoring all of the other candidates. Despite concerns that Kerry is a 'limousine liberal,' there seem to be few contradictions between his environmental image and his track record."
--Amanda Griscom of Grist Magazine

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Here’s What Leading Voices Are Saying About John Kerry and The Environment:

"With a history of engagement that extends back to the first Earth Day in 1970, Senator Kerry is one of America 's premier environmental leaders. His voting record has earned him the highest lifetime LCV ranking of all the presidential candidates. On a range of domestic issues, from clean air to clean water to public lands, Kerry has repeatedly staked out pro-environment positions. His record on international issues is equally distinguished; he sponsored legislation to incorporate environmental protections into trade negotiations and has participated in international climate change negotiations beginning at the 1992 Earth Summit and extending through Kyoto."
--League of Conservation Voters

Read More Here:
http://www.lcv.org/

"From getting America back into the game in the fight against global warming to making the Federal government a better partner in each community struggle to make their families safe, healthy and economically secure, John Kerry has the depth of understanding, the leadership skills and the passion for the environment to make a critical difference for all of America."
-- Earl Blumenauer
Congressman (OR)

“John Kerry always does what’s right for our nation, our people and our planet. Whether he’s fighting for cleaner air and water, to find clean energy alternatives or to protect America’s natural treasures, he has demonstrated that a strong economy and a clean environment go hand in hand.”
-- Jeanne Shaheen
Former Governor of New Hampshire

"When it comes to the environment, John Kerry ‘gets it’ like no one else. He has always recognized that our economic health and quality of life are inextricably linked to a clean environment. And he is the one candidate who has stood up again and again to the special interests who would sacrifice our natural resources in the name of progress.”
-- David Hayes
Former Deputy Secretary U.S. Department of the Interior

“John Kerry will be the best friend of the environment we have ever had in the White House. He has been a national leader in the fight to protect our air, water, land and health for more than two decades. No other candidate is as well equipped to hold George W. Bush accountable for his Administration’s shameful record.”
-- Jim Gomes
Executive Director Environmental League of Massachusetts

“Kerry's been a consistent environmentalist. He strongly opposed Bush's efforts to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling and backed the Kyoto Protocols.wants 20% of America's electricity to come from renewable sources and sponsored a bill with John McCain to improve auto efficiency. He wants to give the EPA strong enforcement powers.”
-- Time Magazine

Read more here:
http://www.time.com/time/election2004/candidates/kerry_env.html

"John Kerry has been a leader and fighter on environmental issues for our state and country for more than 20 years. And in every single one of the battles every single day he has been on the front lines, a true champion and leader. Whether it be for his home state - cleaning up Boston Harbor, protecting the drinking water of Cape Cod, taking on corporate polluters - or the nation - ANWR, Kyoto, CAFE standards and much more - John has stepped forward to lead. Massachusetts and the world are the better as a result. When it comes to passion, commitment and knowledge, in my experience, John Kerry is the class of the field."
-- John P. DeVillars
Massachusetts Secretary of the Environment
New England EPA Administrator

“When Bill Clinton needed support on tough and politically difficult issues like climate change, the one person we could always count on was John Kerry. He came to every round of negotiations over the Kyoto Protocol all around the world and was a strong voice for action. He was always out-numbered by corporate lobbyists and opponents of environmental progress, but he never back down. He not only has vision, he has guts.”
-- Roger Ballentine
Former Director- White House Office on Climate Change

“He is a passionate advocate for our planet. He brings the same level of energy to advance stewardship and fight the polluters as he did to ending the Vietnam War. His fight to save the environment is one he continues to wage every day of his public life.”
-- Sally Yozell
Former Kerry Environmental Advisor
Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere

"Throughout his career, John Kerry has shown time and time again that he understands - and is willing to fight for - the vital link between our nation's environmental and economic health. His knowledge, commitment, and passion would without a doubt make him the finest environmental president in the history of the United States."
-- Bob Massie
former Executive Director Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES)

“John Kerry stands head and shoulders above the other candidates in terms of his commitment to and understanding of the environmental work we need to do. His participation in international climate change conferences is unique among the candidates and illustrates his grasp of the complex environmental issues where we need new leadership.”
-- Clifton Below
New Hampshire State Senator

"Rifle through the archives of the League of Conservation Voters, and you'll find he gets an A+ -- literally. Kerry has a 96-percent lifetime voting record, outscoring all of the other candidates. Despite concerns that Kerry is a limousine liberal, there seem to be few contradictions between his environmental image and his track record."
--Amanda Griscom
Grist Magazine

Read More:
http://johnkerry.com/pressroom/clips/news_2003_0923b.html

_________________________________________________________________


Join Environmentalists for Kerry: http://www.johnkerry.com/signup/enviros.php

____________________________________________________________________

A Cleaner and Greener America
Throughout his career, John Kerry has been a top leader on the environment, fighting to clean up toxic waste sites, to keep our air and water clean, and to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other pristine wilderness areas. In addition to supporting important environmental initiatives, John Kerry has turned a spotlight on the Bush Administration’s rollbacks of our hard-won environmental gains and their outdated, old-economy notions that our environment must be sacrificed in the name of short-term profit. John Kerry has the courage to take on the polluters that are trying to gut our clean air and water laws. John Kerry has the vision to create a new Manhattan Project to make America independent of Middle East oil in 10 years by creating alternative fuels like ethanol and making cars more efficient. We’ll create half a million new jobs here at home at the same time – and we’ll never have to send our sons and daughters to war for Mideast oil.

America is only as healthy as the communities in which we live, and our economic strength as a nation – and Americans’ deeply rooted love and respect for our magnificent resources – depends on our commitment to clean air, clean water, and our quality of life. Unlike the Bush-Cheney Administration, where special interests rule and the environment suffers, a Kerry Administration will build its policies around citizens’ needs and aspirations. We owe it to our families, our communities, and to our planet to elect a president who will unapologetically pursue our environmental values.

Reduce our Dependence on Foreign Oil

John Kerry has outlined a comprehensive energy plan that will tap America’s initiative and ingenuity to strengthen our national security, grow our economy, and protect our environment. Kerry’s plan will increase and enhance domestic energy sources and provide incentives to help Americans use energy more cleanly and efficiently. When sixty-five percent of the world’s oil reserves lie beneath the Persian Gulf states and only 3 percent lie beneath America, we cannot drill our way to independence. We can, however, develop and deploy clean energy technologies that will make us more efficient and allow us to capitalize on domestic and renewable sources of energy. John Kerry’s plan for a renewable energy trust fund to invest in the development of renewable energy will reduce our oil dependence by more than 2 million barrels of oil a day – about the same amount we import from the Persian Gulf. Kerry’s plan will also create 500,000 new jobs over the next decade and work toward producing 20 percent of US energy from renewable fuels by 2020.


See John Kerry’s Energy Plan

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/energy/

_______________________________________________________________

John Kerry’s Long History Supporting the Environment
Kerry Spoke at First Earth Day in Massachusetts 33 Years Ago – Senator John Kerry, having returned from service in Vietnam, spoke at the first Earth Day in Massachusetts on April 22, 1970. “Kerry, who gave some of the first speeches of his career at Boston’s first Earth Day in 1970, said he has seen much improvement in the environment since then: less lead pollution, a cleaner Charles River and Boston Harbor, and a vanishing threat of extinction to gray whales and bald eagles.”

Kerry’s Fight Against Acid Rain Goes Back More Than 20 Years — As Lt. Governor of Massachusetts, Kerry co-chaired the 1983 Acid Rain Task Force and issued the "Call for Action ," saying," ‘Today we are releasing what we believe to be the most comprehensive analysis of the damage caused by acid rain in this country,’ Kerry declared on the Statehouse steps.” In his year first year in the Senate, John Kerry introduced the National Acid Rain Control Act in order to improve standards for clean air and establish a fund to finance emission reductions. Later Kerry called for Senate hearings into the global impact of Acid Rain and criticized the Reagan Administration for its weak commitment to end acid rain.

Kerry Worked to Strengthen the Clean Air Act– John Kerry has worked to strengthen the Clean Air Act and was an instrumental leader in fighting the first Bush Administration’s attempts to weaken it. Kerry also pushed legislation to create stronger “anti-smog” regulations and promote cleaner air. <101st Congress, S. 57, S.Amdt.1348; Boston Globe, 4/29/90>

Kerry Leads the Charge to Fight Global Warming – Kerry’s work for the environment includes significant efforts to fight global warming. Kerry introduced the “Global Climate Change Act of 2001” to “speed national action to address global climate change.” Kerry also successfully attached an amendment to the 2001 Bush budget package to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address global climate change concerns, protect global environment, promote domestic energy security and to provide increased funding for voluntary programs that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” <107th Congress, S.1716, S. Amdt. 249>

Kerry Worked to Guarantee Clean and Safe Drinking Water - John Kerry worked to guarantee cleaner and safer drinking water by strengthening the Safe Drinking Water Act, and fought efforts to weaken it. In 1996, the Kerry Amendment to the budget resolution ensured “protection in the quality of our water.” Most recently Kerry voiced his strong opposition to President Bush’s attempt to rollback drinking water standards for arsenic. More recently, Kerry criticized President George W. Bush and his EPA report on the environment stating that Bush's policies have "gutted important provisions of the Clean Water Act." <104th Congress, S.Amdt. 3990; Associated Press, 6/23/03>

Kerry is the Senate Leader in Protecting Marine Mammals – John Kerry, a member of the Oceans and Fisheries subcommittee, authored the Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 1994 that was later signed into law by President Clinton. In 1990, Kerry authored the Driftnet Act Amendments of 1990/Fishery Conservation Amendments of 1990 in an effort to preserve marine mammal population. “In what its sponsor calls a major reform of the nation's fishing laws, legislation banning the use of drift nets that threaten marine mammals was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee...” <103rd Congress, S. 1636, PL103-238; 101st Congress, S. 1025; Boston Globe, 5/23/90>

League of Conservation Voters: Kerry’s Leadership “Unsurpassed” –

“Kerry’s exceptional lifetime score of 96 percent on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard and his unsurpassed leadership on clean air, safe drinking water, and open space issues make him an invaluable environmental leader in Congress.”

Today, Kerry Continues His Fight for Better Environments

Kerry Has Highest LCV Rating of Any Presidential Candidate – John Kerry has long been noted as a leading advocate for the environment and, according to the League of Conservation Voters’ annual Scorecard, John Kerry has the highest career rating of any of the Presidential candidates. Senator Kerry’s 96.5% is tops amongst the seven candidates rated by the LCV.

Kerry & McCain Work for Higher CAFE Standards –

Kerry teamed with John McCain to propose an historic increase in the nation’s fuel efficiency standards. The measure, strongly opposed by President Bush and the automotive industry, would substantially increase the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards while both improving the environment and lessening America’s dependency on foreign oil. “Kerry, McCain propose new fuel rules--Automakers fight increased standards--U.S. Sens. John Kerry and John McCain have reached a joint proposal to increase the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards to 36 miles per gallon by 2015 from the current fleet average of 24 m.p.g.”

LCV Congratulates Kerry on His “Courage” to be the First Senator to Oppose the Nomination of Gail Norton as Secretary of the Interior –

Kerry was lauded by the League of Conservation Voters for his “courage” to be the first Senator to oppose the nomination of Gail Norton as Secretary of the Interior. “From his commitment to filibuster drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to his courage as the first Senator to oppose Gale Norton's nomination as Secretary of the Interior…John Kerry has proven his clear commitment to protecting America’s environment through bipartisan action, not mere rhetoric.”

Kerry Was a Leader in Senate Filibuster to Stop Drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge –

Kerry along with other environmental leaders in the Senate led the fight against Republican attempts to open the Artic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. "This is a national treasure," said Sen. John Kerry, one of the Democrats who successfully blocked attempts to lift the drilling ban last year.”

Kerry Earns “Friend of the National Parks Award” –

John Kerry scored a perfect 100% on the 107th Congress scorecard from the National Parks Conservation Association and earned a “Friend of National Parks” award.

Kerry is Holding the Bush Administration Responsible for Their Environmental Misdeeds -

John Kerry is holding the Bush Administration responsible for their poor environmental record and during a recent committee hearing in the Senate said, “the administration was not doing enough to reduce emissions and fight global warming. He criticized the administration for claiming the science on the cause of global warming was unclear and using that as an excuse for not tackling the problem.”

Kerry & LCV Worked Together to Protect the Environment in Global Trade Agreements –

Kerry and the LCV worked together to strengthen our nation’s commitment to the global environment by advising members and other Congressional offices of the importance of Kerry’s amendment to the Trade Promotion Authority bill. “LCV urges you to support an amendment to the Baucus (D-MT) trade promotion authority bill (H.R. 3009) sponsored by Senator Kerry (D-MA) that will help ensure that trade agreements do not lead to continued assaults on environmental and public health protections… The Kerry amendment would require that investment provisions in future trade agreements be in accordance with the United States Constitution. In doing so, it would ensure that corporations do not receive rights that enable them to undermine our environmental laws, and those of other countries.

On the Record for a Better Environment
Los Angeles Times: Kerry Has a “Strong Record” on Environmental Causes –

“Kerry Introduces New Acid Rain Bill”

“Kerry Critiques Bush Environmental Agenda as Falling Short”

John Kerry is “an active environmentalist” and a “significant force in Congress on a number of environmental issues”

“Kerry Call for Stronger U.S. Commitment to Fight Acid Rain”

“He's no Johnny-come-lately on environment” – “ was a player who worked to strengthen the recent compromise on the Clean Air Act…Kerry attempted to push for stronger antismog standards in the Clean Air Act…Some of Kerry's environmental initiatives are controversial and may become issues as he campaigns for reelection. But his opponents will not be able to say that he just discovered the environment.”

“hreats of a filibuster to block ANWR drilling legislation, led by Senator John Kerry (D-MA) appear to be holding firm.”

“Nowhere is presidential leadership more lacking than in the debate over global warming.” – John Kerry

"When it comes to protecting our environment, Sen. John Kerry leads where others falter," said Deb Callahan, national president of the League of Conservation Voters.”

“Sen. John Kerry, a Democrat seeking the presidential nomination, characterized the EPA as bleak, the result of President George W. Bush's policies that have "relaxed the laws governing polluting power plants" and "gutted important provisions of the Clean Water Act."

"Clean water, clean air, and safe places to live and work are basic necessities that will dictate the quality of life for today and future generations"—Senator John Kerry

“Democratic Senator John Kerry promised to try and block the bill when it arrives in the Senate. ‘I will filibuster any effort to drill in the refuge. It will never pass the Senate.’ ”

Kerry’s Introduction of his Marine Mammals Protection Act of 1993/1994: “The original MMPA has far exceeded expectations in its protection of dolphins, whales, seals, and sea lions among other marine mammal stocks. Prior to 1972 when the original MMPA was enacted, hundreds of thousands of marine mammals were killed each year, intentionally from hunting and accidentally due to their interactions with commercial fishermen. I believe this reauthorization will strengthen our efforts and further reduce the mortality and serious injury to our marine mammal stocks. I hope my colleagues in both Houses will pass this important initiative.”
Kerry Addresses the Senate on Clean Air, Global Warming and Fuel Efficiency in 1990: “…there is no single step that we can take that will do more to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Forty-six percent of the oil consumption of this country is foreign-dependent. Nothing can do more for the security of this country, to reduce the principal global warming gas, which is CO2, which we in the United States provide the majority of in the world.”


Kerry’s Marking of the 20th Anniversary of Earth Day: “20 years ago, 20 million of us took to the streets to tell anyone who would listen that we were outraged at what was happening to our environment. As a veteran having just returned from the Vietnam war, I was sensitive to how modern technology was effecting our lives. From the other side of the globe I had witnessed how man and his technology could turn Asian farm land into wasteland. There I saw soldiers exposed to toxic chemicals like agent orange. And when I traveled back home what I found was millions of Americans being exposed to filth in our air--carcinogenic wastes in our waters--and radioactive toxins in our earth. When I came home, I joined thousands of veterans in asking our Government to stop the mistake of the war in Vietnam. And

I joined millions of Americans asking their Government to put an end to the environmental disaster resulting from a decade of industrialization without recognition of the environmental consequences…On Earth Day, 1970, together all around the country we stood up to say we had had enough. We declared then that we were going to take back our air--take back our water--and take back our land--from those who were polluting them. Nature walks, lectures, parades and cleanup efforts were carried out nationwide. The U.S. Congress stood in recess so that Members could devote the day to discussing environmental issues with their constituents at home. The wave of environmental support from the first Earth Day is credited with raising people's consciousness about the environment. That celebration resulted in the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and brought us new laws such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.”

Kerry Takes to Senate Floor to Criticize Bush’s Failed Global Warming Policies: “Indeed, since the earliest days of the administration, the President has made a series of policy decisions that will profoundly impact our ability to protect the global environment, all the while purporting to be simply studying the issue. So it is really clear that while the President says they are going to study it, that he has asked for his Cabinet review, and while the President says there are certain unknowns that impact the choices we will make, the President is not neutral in the choices he is making which will have a long-term impact on the choices with which we are left with respect to this issue. Specifically, while the administration claims to be studying the issue, the President has repeatedly questioned the underlying science of climate change and attempted to reignite the debate over whether the threat is real. This was done despite the fact of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a scientific panel founded at the behest of his own father; despite earlier assessments by the National Academy of Sciences; and despite some top government and university researchers in this Nation; and despite personal statements of concern from researchers around the country.”

Kerry Works to Save Antarctic Ecosystem from Mineral Mining, Exploitation: “Antarctica plays an important and unique role in our global ecosystem and it must be protected. I rise today to submit a concurrent resolution urging U.S. representatives at the upcoming meeting of the Antarctic Treaty negotiators to carry out the intentions of legislation introduced last year by myself and the Honorable Silvio Conte, which calls for an indefinite halt to all mineral mining in Antarctica… Antarctica is precious for many reasons. Chief among them, however, is its near pristine wilderness which serves as a perfect laboratory for studying global warming trends. Many scientists believe that development is likely to cause ice caps to melt, which would not only cause sea levels to rise, but would also reduce the ocean's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide--one of the main greenhouse gases. Altering this ability of our ocean to absorb CO2, is clearly counterproductive to the findings in the report issued yesterday by the National Academy of Science on global warming trends. If the Antarctic environment gets sullied, we will lose a perfect testing ground for measuring global change and other critical scientific issues.”

Kerry’s Introduction of Recycling Act of 1992: “Today I am introducing the National Recycling Markets Act of 1992 which I view as a crucial component of a national comprehensive solid waste plan. Recycling as a component of a comprehensive waste management plan holds the answer to many of our concerns. Recycling is an historic response to a new and ever-mounting environmental problem. We are borrowing--recycling, if you will--a practice that was commonplace during World War II. Recycling not only will minimize pollution. It will reduce the number and contentiousness of issues surrounding the siting of incinerators, while at the same time it will save energy and create an entirely new industry in the United States.”

Kerry Environmental Legislation-

100th -

-Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 1988

101st -

-Motor Vehicle Fuel Conservation Act of 1989/National Acid Rain Control Act of 1989

-"Coastweeks '89".Designates the period of September 16 through October 9, 1989, as Coastweeks '89, recognizing the importance of coastal zones. Designates September 16, 1989, as National Estuaries Day and September 23, 1989, as National Beach Cleanup Day.

-A bill to amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
Coastal Zone Improvement Act of 1989

-A bill to carry out long-term research on the effects of oil spills on the marine and estuarine habitats and resources of Prince William Sound

-Antarctic Protection Act of 1990

-Driftnet Act Amendments of 1990/Fishery Conservation Amendments of 1990

-Motor Vehicle Air Conditioner Ozone Depletion Act

-Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Wild and Scenic River Study Act

-Marine and Coastal Monitoring Act of 1990/National Oceanic and

-Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1990/Florida Keys

-National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act

102nd -

-A concurrent resolution calling for the United States to support a new agreement among the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties which would provide comprehensive environmental protection of Antarctica and would prohibit indefinitely commercial mineral development and related activities in Antarctica.

-A concurrent resolution calling for a United States policy of strengthening and maintaining indefinitely the current International Whaling Commission moratorium on the commercial killings of whales, and otherwise expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to conserving and protecting the world's whale, dolphin, and porpoise populations.

-A concurrent resolution to express the sense of the Congress concerning the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

-A resolution to designate May 21, 1991, as "National Land Trust Appreciation Day", and to recognize the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Trustees of Reservations.

-A resolution to encourage the European Commission to vote to ban driftnets for all European Community fishing fleets on July 8, and for other purposes.

-National Flood Insurance, Mitigation, and Erosion Management Act of 1991

-A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide for improvement of the quality of

-Boston Harbor and adjacent waters.

-National Recycling Markets Act of 1992

-National Marine Sanctuaries Program Amendments Act of 1992/Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary Act

-New England Groundfish Restoration Act

-International Dolphin Conservation Act of 1992

-Antarctic Environmental Protection Protocol Act of 1992

103rd -

-Boston Harbor Wastewater Treatment Act of 1993

-National Environmental Trade Development Act of 1993 Atlantic Tunas

-Convention Authorization Act of 1993

-Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 1993/1994

-Sustainable Fisheries Act/Fisheries Stock Recovery Financing Act/Atlantic Tunas Convention Authorization Act of 1994

104th -

-A bill to establish the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

-Antarctic Science, Tourism, and Conservation Act of 1996

-Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

105th -

-Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

106th -

-Coastal Stewardship Act: Coral Reef Protection Act of 1999&2000/National Marine Sanctuaries Amendments Act of 1999/Coastal

-Zone Management Amendments of 1999

-Taunton River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 1999

-Shark Conservation Act of 2000

107th -

-A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the policy of the United States at the 17th Regular Meeting of the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas in Murcia, Spain.

-A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the policy of the United States at the 54th Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission.

-A resolution expressing the Sense of the Senate regarding the policy of the United States at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and related matters.

-North Atlantic Right Whale Recovery Act of 2001

-Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail Study Act of 2001

-Global Climate Change Act of 2001

_________________________________________________________________

Time and time again, the Bush Administration has pounded the environment in order to satisfy campaign contributors.

Now is your chance to tell W that he is wrong on the environment, wrong on climate change, and the wrong choice for America.
Go to an Earth Day event or rally in your area.


-Take information on Kerry and Bush's record


-Sign up new supporters for John Kerry


-Send completed sign up sheets to the campaign.
Together we will Change America!

Get more information on tabling here!
http://www.johnkerry.com/features/earthday/tguide.html


-Use Evite to Plan your Tabling/Clipboarding Event

Kerry Supporters across the country are using tools like "E-vite events" to plan and find tabling and Clipboarding actions in their community. Follow this step by step guide to find or plan your own Earth Day event.

Step One: Find an Earth Day event in your area below.
No Earth Day event near you? Head out to a local farmers market or neighborhood event where you can share information on John Kerry and recruit new supporters. Make sure you write down all of the details so you have all the info to register your own event.

Find the Earth Day event in your area
http://www.earthday.net/g&e/eventSearch.asp?country=USA&state=

Step Two: Set Up your Tabling Action!

Click here and follow the instructions
http://www.evite.com/loginRegForm?redirect=%2Fpages%2Fgt%2Fwizard%2Findex.jsp%3Fstart%3Dyes&message=In+order+to+post+a+public+Evite%2C+you+must+login+or+register

Step Three: Registering your Earth Day Event

Let us know about your event by registering.

Sign-Up Sheets (PDF)
http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/toolkit_signup.pdf

Enviro Talking Points (PDF)
http://www.johnkerry.com/features/earthday/Environment_Talking_Points.pdf

Kerry vs. Bush on the Environment (PDF)
http://www.johnkerry.com/features/earthday/WvsKerry_%20Environment.pdf

Check out the Guide to Tabling!
http://www.johnkerry.com/features/earthday/tguide.html

Join Enviros for Kerry
http://www.johnkerry.com/signup/enviros.php

_______________________________________________________________


Progress Without Pollution

"America is only as healthy as the water our children drink, the air they breathe, the yards and parks in which they play and laugh, and the communitites in which they live.
The question is whether armed with that knowledge, our generation will leave our children and grandchildren an earth that is cleaner, not more degraded; more beautiful, not more polluted; healthier and safer for children than the world we inherited from our parents and grandparents."
-- John Kerry