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Friends of the Earth US



Last Updated: 3/18/2009

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City: WASHINGTON
State: WASHINGTON DC
Country: US
Signup Date: 7/1/2006

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Thursday, June 05, 2008 

Category: Life
Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) is a federation of 70 member groups and 16 affiliates, who are all autonomous environmental organizations from different countries who agree to campaign together on certain crucial issues, such as global warming. 

FOEI just released their annual report online, to keep it paperless and accessible to everyone. 

Sophie from FOEI writes:

Dear friends,
We are proud to announce the 2007 Friends of the Earth International annual report! You can view it here:

http://www.foei.org/en/publications/annual-report/2007

For the first time in our nearly 40-year history, we have decided not to print our annual report but to share the highlights of the previous year with you via our website. Not only do we want to save a few trees, but we hope to create and share with you a dynamic library of our projects, victories, learnings and reflections that we can build on year after year.

Find out what you helped us to achieve in 2007 here: http://www.foei.org/en/publications/annual-report/2007

Thank you for your continued support!

Sophie and the team at Friends of the Earth International

Thanks!
Sophie


http://www.foei.org/en/publications/annual-report/2007

Mobilize, Resist, Transform!

rebecca

7:11 PM 
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Wednesday, May 21, 2008 
Our friends, Friends of the Earth EWNI, are running a competition on their myspace page for an exclusive concert. Go here:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=121855148&blogID=397284972  to learn all about it. 

It's really simple though--all you have to do is post a comment on their profile, telling them why you deserve to be there!

Good Luck!
Friends of the Earth US
5:40 PM 
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Thursday, April 10, 2008 

Category: News and Politics
The fight to stem global warming -- perhaps the greatest fight in our species’ history -- has an ominous new front: our public schools.

Friends of the Earth has received a copy of American Government, published by mammoth Houghton Mifflin, which is used in AP government classes in high schools nationwide. The latest edition’s chapter on "Environmental Policy" contains a discussion of global warming so biased and misleading it would humble a tobacco industry PR man:

    * "It is a foolish politician who today opposes environmentalism. And that creates a problem, because not all environmental issues are equally deserving of support. Take the case of global warming." (p. 559)

    * "The earth has become warmer, but is this mostly the result of natural climate changes, or is it heavily influenced by humans putting greenhouse gases into the air?" (p.559)

    * "On the one hand, a warmer globe will cause sea levels to rise, threatening coastal communities; on the other hand, greater warmth will make it easier and cheaper to grow crops and avoid high heating bills." (p. 559)

    * "But many other problems are much less clear-cut. Science doesn’t know how bad the green-house effect is." (p. 566)

These are not quotes from oil company press releases.  These and other such statements are made by the authors of American Government in the same omnipotent, textbook tone with which we are all familiar.

Two of the world’s most respected climate scientists, Dr. James Hansen and Dr. Michael MacCracken, have weighed in with Houghton Mifflin to denounce the book and demand revisions. "I find it alarming that a widely-used textbook from a respected publisher would contain so many gross errors," wrote Hansen. "Failure to correct the book’s errors will leave students gravely misinformed about the facts and science of global warming, one of the most serious problems that we as a society and a species face."

You can read Dr. Hansen’s Letter and Dr. MacCracken’s letter for more information.

Friends of the Earth has set up a two-in-one action on this issue: We will send a message from you to Houghton Mifflin asking them to revise the book and issue a corrective packet to all school districts using the current book -- and we will copy each of your governors, letting them know how outraged you are that state tax dollars are being spent in this dangerous manner.

Be heard, right now!

6:04 PM 
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Thursday, August 23, 2007 

Take Action and Don't Let Armenia Turn Teghut Forest into a Copper Pit

Teghut's forest is located in Armenia and is an ancient, pristine forest in a largely deforested nation.  Over 1,500 acres of this forest is about to be destroyed to accommodate a massive, open-pit copper mine.  Not to mention, the intense pollution from the mine could cause horrific health impacts on local communities.

Send a message to the U.S. ambassador to Armenia, asking him to stand up for Armenian protestors, and the forest.  Your message will be cc'd to the Armenian government so that it knows people in the U.S. are paying attention to Teghut forest and the activists in Armenia trying to save it.

 

Check out our Fact Sheet and TAKE ACTION!

7:39 PM 
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 
Several studies have shown the health risks, including cell death, posed by nanoparticles, molecules less than one thousandth the size of a human hair. But despite such findings, many companies are putting these particles into skincare products. Even worse, the FDA is allowing them to do so without adequate testing of the new technology or its consequences for human health.


In the absence of effective labeling or testing standards, Friends of the Earth has compiled a guide, Nanoparticles and Sunscreens: A Consumer Guide for Avoiding Nano Sunscreens, so that you can protect yourself and your family from the possible dangers of nanoparticles.


We asked 128 skincare companies about the ingredients of their sunscreens. Only nine confirmed that they keep nanoparticles out of their products; we know of 24 that do use the technology, either through their own statements or from other sources. Staggeringly, over 90 companies refused to say what's in their products.


Use the guide, to see which brands are nano-free and which are to be avoided. Then sign our petitioncalling on the FDA to require sensible safety testing of products containing nanoparticles and mandatory labeling so consumers can protect themselves.


Sign our petition to the FDA.
5:37 PM 
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Wednesday, August 01, 2007 

Take Action: Make Sure House Does Energy Right!



The House's work on its energy bill will conclude as soon as this week. The good news is that the bill is better than the Senate's, with which it must be reconciled. But it could use one big push to make it a lot better.

As currently drafted the legislation does the following good things:

Increases protection for public lands:  The previous Congress and the Bush administration have systematically weakened protections for public lands to encourage oil and gas development. The House bill takes important steps toward restoring sound stewardship to the management of our public lands, ensuring responsible domestic energy development. The bill also incorporates Friends of the Earth recommendations to create a comprehensive framework to help address the impacts of global warming on our wildlife, public lands, oceans, and coasts.

Increases Energy Efficiency: The House bill uses the force of law to encourage the efficient use of energy by creating new and stronger appliance efficiency, weatherization, and the green building code standards.

Begins to "Decarbonize" the Tax Code: The energy bill begins the massive tax shift needed to encourage renewable energy and energy efficiency investments by cutting subsidies to oil and gas companies and redirecting the revenue to better use. In total, the bill cuts more than $15 billion from oil and gas companies as well as closes down a tax break for the purchase of SUVs, and then reinvests this funding in renewable energy and energy conservation.

So what does the bill still need?

It needs standards for renewable energy sources. Representatives Tom Udall (D-NM) and Todd Platts (R-PA) will be leading efforts on the House floor to add such standards; Friends of the Earth is asking members of Congress to support increasing our use of homegrown renewable resources like wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass to 20 percent of America's electricity by 2020. The Senate bill failed to include this important component and this is our chance to get it in the final legislation.

It needs tough new fuel economy standards. The best proposal that might make it into the bill is from Rep. Markey (D-MA), and matches the Senate's cautious 35 mpg target - though it lacks the Senate's loopholes, making the target more likely to be met. Even this proposal, which is as good as Markey could make it without certain defeat, has yet to overcome fierce opposition from the auto industry and its allies in both parties. Tell your Representative you expect better.

Send a message to your Representative applauding the good steps but warning against the pitfalls.

6:54 PM 
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Thursday, July 12, 2007 

SAVE YELLOWSTONE!

The National Park Service is taking comments on its plans for snowmobile use in Yellowstone.

Tell them their "preferred plan" to expand the use of snowmobiles STINKS!

What would nature loving Americans do if three separate studies showed that a single, preventable type of activity was damaging the majestic Yellowstone National Park?

If you were George Bush's National Park Service, you'd nearly triple that activity!

Yes, it's true. The National Park Service (NPS) proposes Yellowstone guidelines that will nearly triple nitrogen oxide emissions, double hydrocarbon emissions, and push carbon monoxide emissions up 60 percent in the park.

To what end would our government increase such pollution, you ask? To allow a near threefold increase in snowmobiling.

Despite the analyses in 2000, 2003, and 2004 finding current snowmobile emissions and noise levels a threat to the park's health, The NPS just couldn't bear to bridle these fuel-dripping, 2-stroke screamers. Instead it seeks to expand the daily number of snowmobiles in the park from an already-harmful 250 to a whopping 720.

Fortunately, the NPS is taking comments right now on the rule change for snowmobile use. It's pushing its "preferred alternative" to up snowmobile numbers, but there is another alternative we can support -- "Alternative 2" -- that would allow motorized access through the park only through snowcoach, and would phase out the use of snowmobiles (see below to find out just how dirty snowmobiles are).

Submit your comment now, urging the NPS to adopt "Alternative 2" -- then get everyone you know who cares about the preservation of national parks to send in a comment too.

Using snowmobiles in Yellowstone is a bad idea -- expanding their use there is sheer madness.

TAKE ACTION: Stop Pollution in Yellowstone!

8:18 PM 
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Monday, June 18, 2007 
TAKE ACTION and Tell Congress to Confront Global Warming!!!




The new Congress is trying to pass the buck on global warming and we can't let them. As currently written, legislation now coming to the floor of the Senate contains provisions that would actually take us backwards.

At present, the Senate package contains: insufficient vehicle emissions standards with truck-sized loopholes; language that strips the EPA of important regulatory powers; and biofuels provisions that rely on inefficient corn ethanol.  It might also get amended to include incentives for liquid coal, even more filthy than gasoline.

We must take on congressional timidity and demand an end to half measures and industry favors. It's too late in the global warming crisis for this new Congress to let us down.


TAKE ACTION: VISIT http://www.foe.org/Congress_is_Failing


9:05 PM 
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Friday, June 01, 2007 

 

Apologize for Bush…

 

Your president is embarrassing you and the red, white and blue in front of the entire planet.

In preparation for next week's G8 summit in Germany, conservative German Chancellor Angela Merkel proposed a responsible declaration regarding global warming for the participating nations. The declaration's simple goal: to prevent an increase in global temperature of more than 2 degrees Celsius.

All participants agreed - except President George W. Bush.

"The treatment of climate change runs counter to our overall position and crosses multiple 'red lines' in terms of what we simply cannot agree to... We have tried to 'tread lightly' but there is only so far we can go given our fundamental opposition to the German position."
- White House document; 5/14/2007


In fact, Bush sullied our names further on Thursday - only days before the G8 summit - by unilaterally extending his own proposal. In it he calls for nations to set global emission goals after discussions that would not begin until later this fall - emission goals, by the way, that would go into effect after he leaves office and be non-binding in any case.

Friends of the Earth is collecting signatures and statements from Americans, apologizing to nations participating in the G8 meetings for Bush's behavior. We will send the signatures and statements directly to the participating nations' G8 coordinating teams before next week's meeting - and hand deliver them on Tuesday to the German embassy.

Please help us show other nations that Bush does not represent us!

The Statement You Will Be Signing:

On behalf of the United States of America, I apologize for the actions of our president, George W. Bush. His rejection of global warming measures to be endorsed at the upcoming G8 meeting is shameful, and does not represent my views or those of the American people.

 A space is provided for you to add your own comments.

http://www.FOE.org/Bush-Does-Not-Represent-Me/


Spread the word!!!  Copy and paste:

9:09 PM 
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Wednesday, May 09, 2007 

Say NO to Bingaman Bill

Corn Ethanol is Not the Answer



Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), chair of the Senate Energy and Resources Committee, has passed through his committee a bill that would require an annual production of 36 billion gallons of biofuels per year by 2022.  This bill is on course to be the backbone of major energy legislation that will come to a vote on the Senate floor in early June.

Tell your senators to overhaul or scrap this bill.

What?!?  But aren't biofuels an alternative to fossil fuels -- and part of the answer to energy security?  Shouldn't an environmental group like Friends of the Earth be backing such initiatives?

The truth is that biofuels can be a good alternative to oil and coal, and Friends of the Earth is excited about the opportunities offered by the production of some biofuels.  But science matters, and science tells us that not all biofuels are created equal.

Sen. Bingaman's bill would mandate production of up to 15 billion gallons of corn ethanol -- equivalent to half the corn currently grown in the entire United States.  This is not a clean prospect.

Growing and processing this much corn for fuel would:


    * Create over 100 million metric tons of global warming pollution

    * Lead to the ecologically damaging conversion of millions of acres of land

    * Increase non-sustainable agriculture, erosion, pesticide use and fertilizer use

    * Require 60 billion gallons of water

    * Drive the price of corn through the roof, effectively taking it out of the diet of many of the world's poor (the amount of corn it would take to fill one 25-gallon SUV tank with ethanol could feed a person for a year!)

Perhaps most discouraging, recent reports suggest the burning of corn ethanol generates as much or more pollution as the burning of gasoline.

Senators need to know there are promising biofuel crops out there -- including switchgrass and even algae -- that can be converted to fuel with less intensive use of resources and result in cleaner final products.  Like many things, the devil is in the details, and when it comes to biofuels the Senate must pay attention to those details.

Our activists in states with a senator serving on Bingaman's committee weighed in before this bill passed out of committee, and their pressure helped Friends of the Earth staff negotiate some important improvements -- including mandates for a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gasses for biofuels produced in newly built factories.  But this bill is still far too bad to support.  Tell both of your senators that Sen. Bingaman's bill, as written, should not be the foundation for major energy legislation.

To find out more about why this legislation is bad,
check out our fact sheet.


 - Friends of the Earth


Stand up to a misguided Senate bill today!

Help spread the word about and stop this potentially devastating bill; copy and repost:




3:45 PM 
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