Join me in signing the Declaration of Energy Independence

[Guest guest]

>From: " F. Kennedy, Jr. " <biogemsnews@...>

>Subject: Join me in signing the Declaration of Energy Independence

>Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 13:26:14 -0800 (PST)

>

>Dear Friend,

>

>There is nothing patriotic about handing over our natural heritage to

>the oil industry. But that's exactly what the White House wants to do

>in the name of national security.

>

>I'm asking you to join me in opposing the senseless destruction of our

>environment by going to <A HREF= " http://www.savebiogems.org/declaration.asp " >

http://www.savebiogems.org/declaration.asp</A> and

>signing the Declaration of Energy Independence. The declaration calls

>on our government to pursue a sustainable energy future that will

>preserve -- not destroy -- our last, unspoiled wildlands.

>

>We have little time to lose. With the nation's attention focused

>almost exclusively on the war against terrorism, the Bush

>administration has moved quietly but aggressively in recent months to

>open up fragile wildlands to giant energy corporations. In Utah, they

>were in such a hurry to lease millions of acres of our redrock

>canyonlands for oil and gas development that they skipped the

>environmental review that is required by law. My colleagues here at

>NRDC have already gone to federal court to block this illegal giveaway

>of redrock country.

>

>But that's only the beginning. The Bush-Cheney energy plan -- hatched

>in closed-door meetings last year with Enron and other energy giants

>-- would pave the way for oil and gas companies to despoil an alarming

>number of our last wild places: the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge,

>the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, Wyoming's Red Desert, and many,

>many more.

>

>President Bush says we need the oil to become more energy independent.

>Don't buy it! Using the tragic events of September 11th as an

>opportunity to advance the special interests of the oil industry will

>not enhance America's energy security. Our nation simply doesn't have

>enough oil to drill our way to self-sufficiency.

>

>If we really want to declare energy independence, then the only answer

>is to dramatically reduce our appetite for oil. For starters, we could

>increase the fuel efficiency of our cars and light trucks to 40 miles

>per gallon. That would save nearly two million barrels of oil a day by

>the year 2012 -- more than all the oil we imported last year from

>Saudi Arabia.

>

>The Declaration of Energy Independence sets forth plenty of other ways

>to slash our dependence on oil. It proves that fighting terrorism does

>NOT require the destruction of our own natural heritage.

>

>Please do your part by visiting

><A HREF= " http://www.savebiogems.org/declaration.asp " >

http://www.savebiogems.org/declaration.asp</A> and signing the Declaration

>of Energy Independence. It will take you less than a minute.

>Then please forward this message to your family and friends. If

>millions of us sign the declaration, then the White House and Congress

>will be unable to ignore its message.

>

>And thank you for helping to save America's last wild places.

>

>Sincerely yours,

>

> F. Kennedy, Jr.

>Senior Attorney

>Natural Resources Defense Council