The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

January 2005 TAKE ACTION - Stop Car Company Global Warming Lawsuit UPDATES - Bush Issues Ocean Plan; Super-Activists on the Ground; Arctic Wildlife Refuge Threats Continue FEATURES - Eating Sustainable Shrimp; Upcoming Battles in Congress Take Action! Our Campaigns Tell Car Companies: Innovate, Don't Litigate Car companies are at it again, fighting progress on global warming instead of innovating with new technologies. What now? Two years ago, California put in place a landmark policy to cut global warming pollution from new cars (40% of California's greenhouse gas emissions come from vehicles). The car companies' response? Nine of them, General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota and others, filed a lawsuit to block the rule. Send a message to the car companies telling them consumers expect them to innovate, not put the brakes on progress. Take action! Activists at Work - Updates and Victories Hope for Restoring Oceans? Bush Issues Ocean Plan In December, President Bush issued his Ocean Action Plan, responding to a major study by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy on the decline of the world's oceans. While the president's plan calls for creating a Cabinet-level committee to advise him on oceans solutions, a step in the right direction, his plan fails to respond to 90% of the report's recommendations. What's next for restoring fish populations and protecting our oceans? Sign the Oceans Alive Pledge and call on President Bush to be a Teddy Roosevelt for our oceans - protecting our oceans just as Roosevelt protected special places on land. Then, spread the word. Find out more. Super-Activists Help to Undo Global Warming Our Global Warming: Undo It! effort owes a lot to the over 381,000 Environmental Defense activists who have spoken up for global warming solutions by signing the Emissions Petition. This month, we've profiled a few super-activists who made even bigger contributions, spreading the word about the effects of global warming with petitions and clipboards in hand. They've gathered thousands of Emissions Petition signatures in likely and unlikely places – from church, to local supermarkets, and holiday dinners. Read how they did it. Then, spread the word with e-cards or collect signatures by downloading a printable Emissions Petition (pdf). Congress and Oil Companies Still Eyeing Arctic Wildlife Refuge Congress' return to Washington has brought oil drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge to the top of the agenda for some politicians and oil companies, despite widespread public opposition to opening this sensitive wildlife habitat. Over 21,000 Environmental Defense activists have already taken action, letting President Bush and Congress know they oppose trading wilderness and wildlife for more global warming pollution and a six-month supply of oil. Send your message to Congress today. Already have? Spread the word. Features Seafood Selector Tip of the Month - Shrimp If you like shrimp, seek out coldwater shrimp and U.S. farmed shrimp. Imported warm water shrimp are farmed in ways that destroy coastal habitat and pollute local waters, and wild shrimp from abroad are often trawled in nets that kill large numbers of other creatures including sea turtles. So choose spot shrimp (also called prawns), Newfoundland northern shrimp, or U.S. farmed whiteleg shrimp. Learn more. What's on the Radar – Upcoming Battles on Capitol Hill With a brand new political season comes new challenges in Congress for environmental protections. High energy prices will spike the debate on the Energy Bill, the misnamed "Clear Skies" plan will be reintroduced, and the Endangered Species Act will come under fire. But the new session also means another opportunity to pass the Climate Stewardship Act, the bipartisan bill cutting global warming pollution. Learn more about battles heating up in Washington. PSSST! SPREAD THE WORD Invite friends and family to join over 280,000 people taking action online for the environment. Spread the word!