Date:         Wed, 17 Apr 2002 18:20:00 -0400
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Norm Saunders <marshhawk@ATT.NET>
Subject:      Fw: Senate vote likely on Arctic Refuge this week!
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Magnusson, Nancy C." <Nancy.Magnusson@jhuapl.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 5:56 AM
Subject: FW: Senate vote likely on Arctic Refuge this week!


> The moment of truth has arrived for the Arctic National Wildlife
> Refuge. The U.S. Senate is likely to vote as early as Thursday on an
> amendment to open America's greatest sanctuary for Arctic animals to
> oil development and sprawling industrialization. Even if you have sent
> a message to your senators about this issue before, new developments
> make it critical that you do so again right now by going to
> http://www.savebiogems.org/arctic/takeaction.asp?step=2&item=1190
>
> Our defense of the Arctic Refuge is hanging by a slender thread -- a
> mere handful of senators who are likely but not certain to vote with
> us. As the critical vote nears, the pro-oil lobby is resorting to
> increasingly cynical schemes to lure these "swing" senators to their
> side. Drilling proponents have offered to guarantee healthcare
> benefits for unemployed steelworkers in return for opening the refuge
> to oil development. They have offered to guarantee a supply of oil to
> Israel. More eleventh-hour ploys are sure to follow today and
> tomorrow. It is an insult to the American people to tie such issues to
> the fate of the Arctic Refuge. Providing for steelworkers and
> promoting peace in the Middle East should not depend on destroying our
> greatest remaining wilderness.
>
> These attempts to cut backroom deals that will sell out the refuge are
> especially repugnant because the Senate has already voted AGAINST an
> amendment that would have improved fuel economy standards for cars and
> light trucks. That single measure alone would have saved far more oil
> than the Arctic Refuge could ever produce. But pro-oil senators would
> rather sacrifice America's premier wildlife refuge so that oil giants
> can sell even more oil that can then be wasted in the world's most
> inefficient gas-guzzling vehicles. This is special-interest politics
> at its absolute, public-be-damned worst. It can only be countered by
> millions of pro-environment messages from people like you and me.
>
> Please do your part by contacting your two senators immediately. If
> you want to have the greatest possible impact, then **pick up the
> phone right now** and call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
> Speak to your senators' staff and ask them to tell your senators to
> oppose any amendment that would allow oil exploration or development
> in the Arctic Refuge. It will take you only about 3 minutes, but will
> make a big impression.
>
> If you have less than 3 minutes or you're not within reach of a phone,
> then go to
> http://www.savebiogems.org/arctic/takeaction.asp?step=2&item=1190
> and send an electronic fax or email (and please take a few seconds to
> personalize the sample message by adding your own thoughts about why
> preserving the Arctic Refuge is important to you).
>
> However you choose to contact your senators, *please do it instantly.*
> This may be our last, best chance to stop the oil giants from
> plundering America's irreplaceable sanctuary for polar bears, white
> wolves, and 130,000 caribou.
>
> And thank you, as always, for your continued support of NRDC.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> John H. Adams
> President
> Natural Resources Defense Council

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