Dear Friends,
Francis Thicke requested I share the letter that was
published in the DM Register on Wed May 28th. I haven't
seen what they put in yet but will try to locate it. In the
meantime here is the full text of what I sent them. This
appeared in the Fairfield Ledger on Thur. May 22.
Dear Editor:
As the military action in Iraq comes to a close the
President and lawmakers are turning their attention to
domestic issues such as the economy. One issue, however,
which is being largely ignored even by Democratic
contenders for the White House is that of the environment.
While U.S. soldiers were fighting and they, along with
Iraqis were dying, the Bush administration was quietly
continuing its assault on many environmental protections
which legislators in both parties worked hard to establish
decades ago. This assault has taken many forms, from
cutting of funding for clean water programs to drilling for
natural gas and other fuels in previously protected natural
areas including sites sacred to Native American tribes, to
the President's refusal to renew taxes on toxic waste
polluters. Often announcements about changes in
environmental rules are made on Fridays or other days when
media attention is scant. At other times, however,
industry-friendly but environmentally-toxic programs are
promoted which have deceptively reassuring names.
President Bush's "Clear Skies" program is a prime example.
This plan, which relaxes key pollution controls on power
plants will actually make our skies less clear and our
lungs more irritated, sometimes with fatal consequences.
According to the Physicians for Social Responsibility, the
Bush plan would allow 450,000 more tons of nitrous oxide to
be released than is currently allowed under existing Clean
Air Act provisions and three times more pollution by
mercury, a metal known to be highly toxic, especially to
developing human fetuses and children. The plan would also
fuel global warming by allowing the oldest, dirtiest plants
to continue operating without pollution reduction upgrades.
We supposedly went to war in Iraq to protect Americans, but
according to a report by the Rockefeller Family Fund
(www.rffund.org)in 2001,, U.S. power plants were
responsible for the death of about 5,000 people, more than
those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks on the World
TradeCenter. The
"Clear Skies" proposal is expected to greatly increase the
number of air-pollution related deaths due to asthma,
cancer, and cardiopulmonary disease. Industry lobbyists
which, not surprisingly, support the Bush plan are also
vigorously opposing bi-partisan legislation introduced into
Congress which would strengthen pollution control and would
dramatically reduce major power plant pollutants. They are
hoping warm and fuzzy names like "Clear Skies" will either
not be noticed by most Americans, or accepted on face
value. Well, now you know. And we shouldn't let them get
away with it. Call your Congressman in Washington, D.C. at
1-800-839-5276 and ask them to support a plan which will
make our air cleaner not dirtier, a bill called the Clean
Power Act which is being introduced by James Jeffords
(I-Vt) and Susan Collins (R-Me).
Sincerely,
James L. Fleming, M.D.
51 E. Broadway, Ste. 203
Fairfield, Iowa 52556
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