MAKE TOXIC DUMPERS PAY

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ACTFORCHANGE ACTIVISM UPDATE: March 7, 2002

You are receiving this newsletter because you have previously taken action on

ActForChange in support of progressive values.

IN THIS BULLETIN:

*FEATURED ACTION: Make Toxic Dumpers Pay

*ACTIVISM OPPORTUNITIES: Two Actions to Take

*SPECIAL OFFER: Working Assets Long Distance

-FEATURED ACTION-

MAKE TOXIC DUMPERS PAY

Buried in an obscure section of President Bush's 2003 budget is a proposal to

slash taxes on industrial polluters and pass the bill for toxic cleanups to

the taxpayer. The proposal will eliminate the main source of income for the

Superfund, the trust fund created in 1980 to clean up hazardous waste at

industrial sites. The last three presidents, including Reagan and Bush

senior, all supported the Superfund and its slogan, " the polluter pays. "

However, the current Bush wants to give big polluters (and big donors) a

break -- at the expense of regular citizens and the environment.

<A HREF= " http://act.actforchange.com/cgi-bin7/flo?y=aFzN0DU4AA0C4X0TxU0Am " >

workingforchange.com/activism/action.cfm?ItemId=12926 & afccode=TOX001</A>

Since the Superfund's inception, 1,551 hazardous waste sites have landed on

the Environmental Protection Agency's national priority list. The sites are

contaminated with highly toxic chemicals, including lead, arsenic, mercury,

and PCBs that poison soil and groundwater, and cause everything from cancer

to birth defects in nearby communities.

Bush's proposal not to reauthorize the corporate tax, which brings in about

$1 billion a year from corporations such as General Electric and Dupont,

means that taxpayers will have to pay a significantly greater percentage of

the cost of the fund in order to ensure the cleanup of these contaminated

sites. Passing the bill for toxic cleanups to taxpayers is outrageous.

Industrial polluters should be held accountable for their own messes.

Urge your senators to oppose Bush's proposal to let polluters off the hook by

passing the cost of toxic cleanups to the taxpayer.

<A HREF= " http://act.actforchange.com/cgi-bin7/flo?y=aFzN0DU4AA0C4X0TxU0Am " >

workingforchange.com/activism/action.cfm?ItemId=12926 & afccode=TOX001</A>

-ACTIVISM OPPORTUNITIES-

ASK YOUR SENATORS TO SUPPORT A RESPONSIBLE ENERGY PLAN

Urge your senators to oppose any amendment to the energy bill that would open

the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling and to support a proposal

to increase fuel economy standards for cars and trucks.

<A HREF= " http://act.actforchange.com/cgi-bin7/flo?y=aFzN0DU4AA0C4X0Twl0AA " >

workingforchange.com/activism/action.cfm?ItemId=12887</A>

URGE PRESIDENT BUSH TO JOIN THE LANDMINE BAN TREATY

Urge the president not to turn away from the U.S. commitment to join the Mine

Ban Treaty and encourage him to step up efforts to eliminate anti-personnel

landmines entirely from the U.S. arsenal.

<A HREF= " http://act.actforchange.com/cgi-bin7/flo?y=aFzN0DU4AA0C4X0Twm0AB " >

workingforchange.com/activism/action.cfm?itemid=12903</A>

-SPECIAL OFFER-

WORKING ASSETS LONG DISTANCE: THE ALTERNATIVE

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alternative to the Big Three. We're the only phone company that donates 1% of

your charges to progressive nonprofit groups. And we do it automatically --

at no extra cost to you. Sign up now for a sweet deal: 12 coupons for a FREE

pint of Ben & Jerry's® ice cream and 360 FREE long distance minutes.* It's

quick and easy to sign up.

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*The free minutes will be credited at 7¢ a minute with this rate plan.

Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holdings, Inc., 2002. Ben & Jerry's is a registered

trademark of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holdings, Inc. and is used by Working

Assets under license.

Simpson

Manager

ActForChange.com